The Big' uns are Hope Technology's answer to the demands of today's downhill maniacs. The oversized hub flange builds beautifully into a bombproof DH or dual slalom wheelset. There are very few other wheels in the world that can compare with the strength, durability and reliability of a Big' uns' . Best of all, these monsters have been on a diet this year! They still retain all their brute strength, yet are trimmed down to only 292g and 493g front and rear!! (20 mm axle too! )
Submitted by
ian bressat
a Downhiller
from west sussex Date Reviewed: October 26, 2007
Favorite Trail:
porc
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Purchased At:
bday present. From ebay
Strengths:
AMAZING! gone though godd knows how many people (was baught off ebay) and its still perfect and smooth and fast
Weaknesses:
heavy.
have to buy a specific rotar.
Similar Products Used:
dmr revolver, shimao, tesco value on a saracen
Bike Setup:
dmr exalt
Bottom Line:
amazing hub
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ellis
a Downhiller
from State College PA Date Reviewed: December 9, 2005
Favorite Trail:
spruce gap
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Purchased At:
300 online
Strengths:
very nice hub, smooth and beefy. I love the 5 bolt rotors, they are hard to find but are so much stronger than the normal 6 bolt ones. They are almost impossible to warp. The bearings on the hub are super strong and there are 4 of them. This is one of the best hubs on the market today!
Weaknesses:
the coloring on it is a little funky, but who cares, it is also hard to find rotors to fit the hub
Similar Products Used:
paul, planet x, ringle, hayes, phil wood, you name it
Bike Setup:
ones on my balfa minute man, laced to a Mavic EX721, this is an excellent setup. another is on my bighit
Bottom Line:
this is a really nice strong hub. it is excellent on a horizontal dropout bike if you have the 12mm thru axle, use a bolt thru axle and it wont move at all. The rotor is also really tight, they are so strong also. all around great setup!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Beef
a Weekend Warrior
from Uk Date Reviewed: July 17, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Innerleithen
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$550.00
Purchased At:
Carrick Cycles, Stranraer
Strengths:
Everything
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
Its been that long, i cant remember!
Bike Setup:
The dogs!
Bottom Line:
Had mine for at least 8 YEARS. You can still hear the freehub body click from 15 miles away! 8 YEARS. Its nearly impossible! What a set of hubs. Beef
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
rik Jacobs
a Racer
from Bournemouth!!! Date Reviewed: January 21, 2005
Favorite Trail:
any decent freeriding tracks
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$189.00
Purchased At:
chainreactioncycles.com
Strengths:
most fo the hub. looks strong, is strong, the large flanges make it a super stron wheel build. got them built onto atom lab aircorp rims and they are really good, another good thing about them is that the left hand flange catches all the washers when you are sorting out your brake setup, how neat is that. (no way intentional but very cool)
Weaknesses:
the freewheel isnt sounding like a hope at the mo, normally hopes sound really clicky and nice, but mine doesnt, mmmmm, bit sus
Similar Products Used:
hope bulbs, sport, and most shimano
Bike Setup:
mountain cycle rumble, pike sl forks, aircorp on bigun hubs, hope 6pot ti brakes, middleburns ect
Bottom Line:
very nice hubs, work well, and are the dogs balls. havnt tried any of the chris king hubs, but time will tell. oh and i dont know what all you tandem riders think of it, but they mainly a downhill and jump hub, not for two lazzers on a tandem putting constaint heft wait on them. silly people
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
kevin simpson
a
from oxford Date Reviewed: November 27, 2004
Favorite Trail:
antwhere steep fast and high
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$147.00
Purchased At:
ebay as full wheelset
Strengths:
it is very strong looks cool and fits 20ml or QR. cartridge bearings very smooth
over all its a very strong hub for mtb but all those tandem pussies comlain about it then switch to chris king rip offi think these hubs will last me forever
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John
a Downhiller
from melbourne, oz Date Reviewed: June 10, 2004
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
smooth as butter, strong as.....i donno, a tank!
Weaknesses:
5 bolt disc pattern
Bike Setup:
AC1 with hope hubs and 521's.
Bottom Line:
damn awesome hub, had not a single prob with it, except that i can't use em on my new bike coz of the 5 bolt pattern! i'm now in the market for some new hubs that will hopefully be as sweet as the hope's, in a 6 bolt
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Sam Court
a
from Oxford Date Reviewed: May 21, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Any
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Strengths:
These Hubs are AWESOME! They look awesome (I've got the older versions as I prefer them), build into super tough wheels, the sealed bearings are quality and put up with the UK mud and grime. The 5-bolt pattern is cool, seems better tha 6 bolt. Can swap between 20mm and QR. Hope's back up service.
Weaknesses:
Errrrrr weight if your gay!
Similar Products Used:
Shimano/White Industries
Bike Setup:
Kona Stinky, Z1's, E4's, Prodigy DH cranks, Diabolus stem, Pyramid bar, X-Pedals, XT running gear etc.
Bottom Line:
These hubs rock - they don't weigh that much, so stop whining about it - 'too heavy for jumping' what the hell you talking about?
They will take anything that you can through at it - tandem riders should get a life and get two bikes! The seals are awesome, the strength they bring to the wheels are fantastic - my wheels are still going strong, although they're getting a vbit knbackers they've had about 4 years of abuse and the hubs ensure that they still stay strong. Go buy - oh, they're also British! Yay!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
jason
a Cross Country Rider
from usa Date Reviewed: October 27, 2003
Favorite Trail:
moab, telluride, duango
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At:
Hope
Strengths:
durability, reliability, cool looks. builds a better wheel than anything on the market!!!!
Weaknesses:
weight, but this is also why I purchased the things.
Similar Products Used:
king, dt hugi, xtr, xt, woodman, hadley, (I build a lot of custom wheels)
Bike Setup:
Maverick, xtr, hope c2's, sun singlewides,klein death grip 2.35 king head set, thompson, fox talus, easton monkey lite,
Bottom Line:
I have no idea what these people are doing to be so destructive. I have really used the crap out of these hubs and they have only improved with use. The quality of wheel build achieved with the wide flanges has made me a better rider, period. I have put over 3000 miles of hard riding on these wheels and actually enjoy the fact that I can do anything on my bike without being in danger of component failure. Try the hubs and you will be a better cyclist due to accurate steering and confident riding.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Cristobal Marnilupi
a Cross Country Rider
from North Highlands, CA, USA Date Reviewed: March 3, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Hole-in-the-Ground
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
Ventana Mountain Bikes
Strengths:
Solid ride feel. Has been very strong (externally only). Attractive black color.
Weaknesses:
Rachet mechanism which pawls contact, along with the freewheel body are thrashed after normal wear & tear. Hub internals did not pull apart for disassembly as Hope suggested they would. I used a gear-puller (not a bike tool) to remove freewheel body for regreasing.
Similar Products Used:
XTR rear hub (worked great)
Bike Setup:
Full-Suspension Tandem, 2002: Ventana El Conquistador frame, Marzocchi DJI fork, Hope M4 disc brakes, RaceFace ISIS & XTR drivetrain, Rhynolite 36-spoke rims, crappy 2002 Big'Un hubs, SRAM PC69 chains, too much more to list
Bottom Line:
2002 Big'Un rear hub is rubbish. After about 20-30 MTB rides, our combined 300-lb. weight toasted the pawls and rachet mechanism to where it seized into a fixed-gear.
Hope has told me that the 2003 hub is improved. I'm warrantying my 2002 hub right now through Hope USA and will see if the 2003 is indeed better. I sure Hope so!
If this hub doesn't work, I will switch to a Chris King tandem specific model, upon recommendation of other tandem friends.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Gary
a Downhiller
from Miami Date Reviewed: January 5, 2003
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$180.00
Strengths:
LOOK BIG
Weaknesses:
WEAK
Similar Products Used:
Shimano XT
Bike Setup:
24/7 dark angel V3, deemax rims built on big'un back, bulb front
Bottom Line:
The big'un hub is rubbish. It is so weak that now i prefer to land on my front wheel just in case. When i do downhill the inside of the hub creaks and this feature is complained about by every single owner of the big'un. Why can't it be more like it's better brother the bulb. The big'un has also torn my d521 apart on the back, so any lookin to get a d521 with a big'un on the bck, DON'T!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bill Freeman
a Weekend Warrior
from Alpharetta, GA, USA Date Reviewed: November 1, 2002
Favorite Trail:
too many to say
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
mtbtandems.com
Strengths:
look nice, huge hub flange for strength
Weaknesses:
weak hub teeth
Similar Products Used:
none others on the tandem
Bike Setup:
Ventana El Conquistador with Marzocchi Jr T, Hope/Mammoth wheels, Hope H4 brakes, Race Face cranks, XTR
Bottom Line:
My wife and I rode the Big Un hub on our tandem for only 6 weeks before we tore teeth off of the hub body. Luckily, the service at mtbtandems.com is great and Alex is replacing it with a King hub. Not a good sign when 2 reviews on this site report the same problem.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
JP
a Cross Country Rider
from Salt Lake City Date Reviewed: October 20, 2002
Favorite Trail:
amasa back
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
look beefy
Weaknesses:
These hubs are wimps on the inside. Hub was used on a mountain tandem and lasted less than one year. Previously used shimano tandem hubs and these lasted about as long.
Similar Products Used:
shimano tandem. Phil Wood.
Bike Setup:
Ventana El Testigo Experto. Hope brakes, Hope hubs, Chris king aheadset, Race face cranks, stratos 5T fork.
Bottom Line:
Failure of these hubs ruined a potentially great weekend in Fruita...we're going to Chris Kings. The Hopes are particularly smooth and mileage from the cassette is about on par with shimano (and I think the shimano tandem hub sucks).
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Big Red S
a
from London UK Date Reviewed: August 16, 2002
Favorite Trail:
One that goes downwards.....
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Second Hand from a friend... (£60)
Strengths:
Strong Big British Easy to lace 5 - bolt pattern
Weaknesses:
er..... Shorter spokes are ever-so-slightly harder to get hold of
Similar Products Used:
Shimano Deore + XT
Bike Setup:
Azonic DS2 built strong and heavy
Bottom Line:
A truly amazing hub. Stiffens up the front end a treat, and looks good in the process. I wouldn't reccomend using this hub if you plan to get up hills by pedalling, because it weighs a ton.
Only one downside is that the 5-bolt pattern is rare for rotors, but if you have hope discs, they are easy to get hold of.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Trig
a Downhiller
from Old Blighty Date Reviewed: May 21, 2002
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$80.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Big
Weaknesses:
Pathetic anodization
Bike Setup:
bullit
Bottom Line:
Don't get me wrong, I do love these babies and agree entirely with all the reviews below. BUT, I have had a few problems: mine are (suposed to be) black, but the anodization looks very shallow and makes them look like they've been coloured in with a marker pen. They're kind of blotchy dark blue. The other problem is that the front one's bearings went crappy in about two maonths of admitidly muddy riding, but as everyone in the UK should know: Hope have the best customer care of any mtb company in existance - but then they need to have. Still get a good thumbs up, but lose some points because of the probs I've had
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
DR. DRE
a Weekend Warrior
from BOOGIE-DOWN PROD. Date Reviewed: August 10, 2001
Favorite Trail:
VANCORTLANDT PARK
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$320.00
Purchased At:
SID'S BIKE SHOP
Strengths:
THEZE HUBZ R MADD BEEEFY. AND THEY LOOK GOOD TOO. U CAN ALSO CHANGE THEM FROM QR TO THRU AXLE. NICE SOUND FROM REAR HUB.
Weaknesses:
NONE
Similar Products Used:
XT, CHRIS KING, HUGI, RINGLE, OTHER CRAP
Bike Setup:
FREERIDE BABY, DH.
Bottom Line:
WANT BEEFY HUBS THAT R SEALED WELL AND CAN STAND UP TO ALL THE PUNISHEMENT U THROW AT IT AND MORE. BIG UN'S KID!!!!!!!!!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brady
a Downhiller
from Tuscalosa, AL Date Reviewed: May 21, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Sokol Park
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$320.00
Purchased At:
Cambria
Strengths:
Big, Strong, tought, good looks, did I say Big?
Weaknesses:
There are weaknesses with Hope hubs??
Similar Products Used:
Hope, $himano
Bike Setup:
C'dale SuperV with lots of heavy duty last a long time stuff
Bottom Line:
Big strong hubs that you will never break. Not to mention they look good. 5 bolt flange really provides an extremely stiff break setup, lot stronger than the 6 bolt stuff, not to mention less likely to warp disks.
Bought them as a wheelset built up from Cambria cheaper than I could buy the hubs by themselves.
Upgraded from a set of Hope Bulb hubs, another fine hub set.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ben Montoya
a Downhiller
from Mariposa Ca USA Date Reviewed: February 26, 2001
Favorite Trail:
anything dirt
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$136.00
Purchased At:
universal?
Strengths:
Bombproof. Literally.
Weaknesses:
None.
Similar Products Used:
Other hope 20mm hubs, but nothing really compares.
Bike Setup:
Hawaii 5-0 big wheel with Hanebrink G-7 ti, big 'un, mavic d321, gazzaloddi 3.0, Hope DH-4, etc
Bottom Line:
Well, I initially ordered a 32 hole, but I received a 36 hole from the wonderful e-retailer... This sucked ass because: a) I had already bought a 32 hole sun Double wide. b) The company I ordered it from can be pretty rude in customer service. I TOTALLY got the run-around.
So I sold the double wide for 50 bucks and bought a 36 hole d321. Laced it up, been riding it for about three months, and I just can't believe how bomber it is. VERY strong wheel. I destroy wheels. I don't think this will happen to my big un wheel. That's all. Bomber gear from a kick-ass company. I'm giving it 5 chilis for value because 120 bucks ain't that much for the most bomber hub I've ever seen, and it gets 5 chilis in overall because chicks dig it. Plus it's red.-thanks Hope! Ben
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Adam
a Downhiller
from South Wales Date Reviewed: February 15, 2001
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$120.00
Purchased At:
Bikedock.com
Strengths:
Bombproof, low maintenance
Weaknesses:
None
Similar Products Used:
XT, LX, Hope Sport
Bike Setup:
CHeeta DH
Bottom Line:
The size alone is enough to re-assure anyone that this hub is gonna withstand anything you throw at it. I've landed nose first off a couple of 5 to 6 foot drops and this hub takes it all without wincing. Maybe a bit too heavy for anything but d/hill. But who cares about weight!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Inbred
a
from Bethesda Date Reviewed: January 3, 2001
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
of my mate
Strengths:
Unbreakable!
Weaknesses:
Massive weight so downhill only kids! Unless you have super human stamina!
Similar Products Used:
hope bulb (much better alternative for slalom),Diatech,
Bike Setup:
Giant ATX1, Full XT, Hope 4-Pot disks
Bottom Line:
Perfect for downhill, Stick to bulb hubs for slalom though the big 'uns are a bit heavy for jumping!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
StuntsKid
a Downhiller
from Sheffield, UK Date Reviewed: November 2, 2000
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
Strong (doh!) Easy to service
Weaknesses:
Weight Cost
Similar Products Used:
HOPE Sport, Bulb, Shimano XT, Machine Tech Silent
Bike Setup:
Raleigh DHO, Boxxers, HOPE 4 pots
Bottom Line:
Hope build excellent kit and have superb service in the UK. This hub was ran for 2 years of downhilling (NAMBS - wet?!) in the Yorkshire mud without touching it. However, when it packed up before my race Trevor from HOPE stripped it, replaced the bearings and Ti freehub, patted me on the head and sent me on my way. No charge! Still running sweet 18 months later with 2 trips to Morzine and numerous stacks and slams to it's name.
Hardcore, strong and smooth. Takes the power and the hits. Wide flanges build a very strong wheel.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Scott
a Please Select
from Syracuse, NY, USA Date Reviewed: January 26, 2000
I have nothing but good things to say about these hubs, they look excellent, are massively stiff and have had excellent durability. I've crushed Shimano freehubs in about 20 miles of use...the Big Un's have lasted for some 900 miles of singletrack and DH over the last two years. Oh, I'm not 6'6", I'm 6'4" but i weigh in at 275lbs. How's that for durability??!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Nikolas Ojala
a Weekend Warrior
from Tampere, Finland Date Reviewed: October 25, 1999
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
+Stiff +Looks cool +Disc Brake Hub +Reliable
Weaknesses:
-Price
Similar Products Used:
Shimano
Bike Setup:
Nokian Ultra Tour tyres, Mavic X317 rims, DT Champion spokes, Hope Big'un front hub, Hope Pro front disc brake, Marzocchi Bomber Z-2 Bam, Dynamics aluminium frame, Ritchey handlebar and stem
Bottom Line:
I just think that this is the way all hubs should be made, especially disc brake hubs. Thank you, Hope! Five chilis!
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Rick
a Weekend Warrior
from California Date Reviewed: September 20, 1999
Duration Product Used:
less than 1 month
Strengths:
looks strong great service
Weaknesses:
broke freewheel after one month
Bike Setup:
freeride 700
Bottom Line:
It worked grate untill it failed my problem is that I am 6 ft 6 inchs tall and weigh 260 lb so I am hard on parts. The service from Hope is great and the people are nice.
Overall Rating:
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