Tomm Willians

I’ll freely admit to upgrading things on my bike for absolutely no good reason other than “ that looks cool” but I’m hardly alone in this. So my question being: what would be some legitimate considerations on why one would consider going from DT Swiss 350 hubs to 240’s? Who or what would be the target rider, situation or environment that would actually see a gain or benefit with such a change?

Koyote

Someone with more money than sense?

Extremeengineer

As a stand alone upgrade that one makes no sense. If your 350 is worn out, rebuild it and add in the Ratchet, they last forever though, so unlikely it is worn out. Can’t justify the 40g weight savings, just not enough. The EXP Ratchet just isn’t a big enough difference either.

Now if you are going to a lighter wheelset, like a carbon wheelset, and it comes with 240s, I can see that, but that’s really only way. I’ve got the new 370 I upgraded to 54t, so basically I have a upgraded 350 now (370 has 18t, 350 has 36t) and I have thought about carbon wheelsets laced on 240s, but as my 54t set is not EXP, I could not swap it in, so that’s a con.

Camilo

Someone who likes them and can afford them?

sean.hwy

If you are buying a brand new wheel then it could make sense depending on what is important to you. I would not tear down a perfectly good wheel to install new/upgraded hubs.

wolfchild

There is no legitimate reason to upgrade hubs unless your hub is damaged and beyond repair.

GhostRider62

Rear hubs that sound like angry bees don't need upgrading, they need regraded........ by a steamroller.

GhostRider62

I replace and upgrade stock bearings all the time. Legit in my book.

I upgraded a new rear Flo60 hub with a Powertap rear hub, it was a great upgrade.

PeteHski

But what is their actual reason for “liking” them more?

GhostRider62

To match the handlebar tape, obviously.

Koyote

You’re right – – I violated my own rule, which is to not judge other people’s purchase decisions.

If someone wants all the quality of the DT 350 hubs, and wants to save a little bit of weight, then the DT 240 hubs are perfect. The weight is inconsequential, especially at that location… But there’s no accounting for taste.

indyfabz

Instead, spend the money on call girls from Dubai.

smd4

That's silly.

I swapped out my Ultegra hubs, which were perfectly fine, for Dura Ace. What's the problem? Why was this not "legitimate?"

wolfchild

If the bearings are worn out then sure it makes sense to replace or upgrade... Makes no sense to me to replace or upgrade perfectly good bearings.

smd4

After I swapped out my Ultegra hubs for NOS Dura Ace ones, I then proceeded to swap out the perfectly good steel bearings for ceramic ones.

Everything I do must make no sense to you!

wolfchild

Ceramic bearings definitely don't make sense to me.

smd4

They're lighter and smoother. What exactly doesn't make sense?

GhostRider62

Factory bearings are typically garbage. I do not want garbage on my bike. I understand that you have a different view.

I want bearings that are smooth, low friction, and last 30,000 miles not 2,000 miles. Steel. NTN or NSK with LLB or VV seals.

Do you enjoy tearing hubs down on a tour? I do not nor do I like the feeling of ground up glass in SRAM/Zipp crap bearings

indyfabz

Are you honestly unfamiliar with the fact that he likes to make inane statements to get rises out of people?

rosefarts

To save money instead of going to 180's

smd4

Eh. I probably don't interact with him enough to have a good feeling for what he does.

Camilo

You're absolutely correct there's no accounting for taste. This is usually said with the implication that the other person's taste is bad. Mea Culpa - people who like stuff I don't have bad taste. And, I've been guilty of getting "upgrades" just because I wanted what I thought was better or the best of something, just because it's the best. Like Sram Red, Campy Record, Shimano Dura Ace. "I've alway wanted to have a top of the line bike, so now I'll get one" sort of deal. No rational functional reason. Except maybe during my weight weenie phase when I was trying to build a 15lb bike and would spend inordinate amounts of time hunting down parts to save 30 grams here and there to get that last pound (I think I ended up with 15.3 or so). Although I worked hard to do it at bargain prices, it was still a waste of money by any objective criteria. But by my own subjective criteria ("best", "cool looking", brand name cachet, etc.) it was totally worth it. I still think so; I enjoyed the project, no regrets, no embarrassment. But BTDT

Camilo

You accurately stated "it makes no sense to me..." (emphasis added). that's all that matters to you, but it matters nothing to anyone else. But I know that you know that.

Koyote

Some may use that phrase as a pejorative, but not me. It's an old line -- the original Latin is 'De gustibus non est disputandum.' It's pretty much gospel in my profession.

MikeWMass

I have nearly 30K miles on the original bearings in my Shimano RS80's.
I have had no problems with them.
I routinely pass my riding buddies when coasting downhill (neither I nor my bike are heavier than they).

I have a 10 speed (2x5) from 1976 with the original bearings in Shimano 600 hubs. Again, no problems.
No accurate idea how many miles, didn't have an odometer, but I commuted on it for 6 years in addition to weekend rides. It was my only ride until I bought my "new" bike in 2006.

If you feel that better hubs or bearings make a difference, I have no problem with you buying whatever you like.
I have friends who are 20 pounds (or more) overweight and will spend thousands to get a bike 3-5 pounds lighter; THAT strikes me as silly,.