Hope's lightweight Pro II rear disc hub represents the next evolution in hub design with performance and durability capable of handling your aggressive style.
Submitted by
SimpleJon
a Weekend Warrior
from Singapore / Thailand
Date Reviewed: August 15, 2011
Strengths: Bomb proof so far (XC easy AM), Loud, Price, ease of maintenance, easily converted to different axle sizes, good coasting
Weaknesses: Could do with more points of engagement, Cassette chews up Freehub body a bit
Bottom Line:
For the price I reckon this is the best hub you can buy. I have not had an issue with it.
The local trails usually involve 25 to 30km XC type double track through paddies and plantations then 10 to 20Km of steepish jungle single track roots, rocks etc which the hubs have handled fine.
They are easy to strip down and inspect / clean. Easy to get replacement parts at a reasonable price.
I would say the engagement is not as quick as some (DT 240's, CKs) but solid when it does engage and the Al freehub body gets chewed up by the cassette, but can easily be replaced.
I wouldn't use it (or any other pawl design hub for that matter) for aggressive DH / DJ but for the price you can't go wrong
Similar Products Used: Chris Kings, DT 240's, Shimano
Bike Setup: 2010 Epic Expert - custom build
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Submitted by
Inuitbiker
a Weekend Warrior
from earth
Date Reviewed: July 17, 2011
Strengths: Smooth rolling
Easy to convert axle sizes
Loud
Weaknesses: None yet
Bottom Line:
Good buy. Spins great out of the box. No more drag issues. Great engagements from trackstand stops or sudden accelerations. Lite. Lets people in front of you that know that they should keep pedaling.
Tons better than my DT Swiss (piece of junk that keeps breaking pawls every few months and skips)
Bike Setup: the one with 2 wheels and with a bunch of parts
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Submitted by
alexkraemer
a Weekend Warrior
from SLC, UT
Date Reviewed: June 9, 2011
Strengths: Great engagement (48 pts)
Bolt-on
Mini-cassette can accomodate 8 10s cogs for 1x8 setup
Weaknesses: None really
Bottom Line:
**This review is for the SS/Trials version.** Best SS hub for the money. Steel cassette body wide enough to accomodate 8 cogs (10s), great engagement (48pts), and solid bolting mechanism. For $220 retail, there is no lighter hub with more engagement. For comparison:
CK/I9/etc - More expensive and heavier (72/108 pt not noticable over 48)
DT 240 - More expensive, less engagement, AL freehub (but lighter)
Am Classic - More expensive, lighter, but less engagement (AL freehub)
Freewheel style - Cheaper but heavier and engagement limited unless you spring for a $90 WI freewheel.
Super versatile hub, engineered the right way with steel in the right places (i.e. freehub). Highly recommend to anyone building up ANY rear wheel, 1x6/7/8 or SS.
Bike Setup: Big Mama 1x8, machined cassette (13-36) with 30T chainring
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Submitted by
Jonnyp616
a Downhiller
from Blackburn
Date Reviewed: March 21, 2011
Strengths: Strong, easy to service, loud, colours, weight, price
Weaknesses: I've had a pro II on the front and rear for over a year with no issues but i changed my wheelset when i got a new bike as i my old wheels didnt match at all. I got pro II's again because i loved my last set and after a month or so the springs and prawls went and they all had to b replaced..... NOT IMPRESSED WITH THIS.....
Bottom Line:
Good hubs over all but i do think that there is a few hubs that are messed up as some last for years and others seem to go after a short period. The noise is cool at first but starts to get on my nerves now iv had them for so long.
Get a good set an you'll love them.
Get a dodgy set and your going to have to take out a loan to keep them running.
Bike Setup: Kona stuff 2010 frame
DJ1 forks
Nukeproof stem
Nukeproof Bars
Avid juicy 7 brakes
Lock on grips
Pro II front and rear
Mavix Ex721 front and rear
FSA headset
Raceface BB
Gravity cranks
MRP chain device
Alienation seat post
Federal seat
DMR motto digger tyres
Shimano 9speed cassette
Shimano deore derailier
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Submitted by
lebikerboy
a Weekend Warrior
from North Vancouver
Date Reviewed: October 6, 2010
Strengths: Appearance, functionality, durability and serviceability.
Weaknesses: Some would say it's too loud. I wouldn't...
Bottom Line:
Great hub and if it lasts as long as Hope hubs I've had in the past I'll be satisfied. Too bad I can't get a titanium hub that I had on a former Hope hub I owned...
Similar Products Used: DT Hugi, Shimano, Chris King, and Sun Ringle
which is what is being replaced as I can't
source the parts easily/inexpensively.
Bike Setup: Santa Cruz Tazmon.
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Submitted by
BeerBikeBerm
a Cross Country Rider
from Fort Collins, CO
Date Reviewed: July 27, 2010
Strengths: Strong, no bearing play, a pretty component, simple to service (I can re-grease the pawls and get it all back together in about 15 minutes or less). Good strength to weight ratio, although at the long-term compromise of an aluminum free-hub.
Weaknesses: NOT an efficient coaster. There is a sensation of every pawl pushing back while coasting.
There is def. some sort of looseness in the freehub that developed after years of use, but that aluminum freehub should be replaced anyways. It gouges easily, and is scary light. I've heard there is a steel version of it...that would be a smart upgrade.
Pawl springs broke after a year of use (back in 2007), BUT customer service out of Texas sent me new springs and pawls. Nothing else happened following 2 years of hard use.
Bottom Line:
Noise. I go between liking it and hating it. It alerts trail users of my approach, reminds me to keep pedaling, and feels bad-ass like those Harley riding fruits downtown. BUT I often feel a dolt for disturbing nature and the pristine silence of the backcountry. Conclusion? If the hub ever actually bites the dust, it will be my last Pro II only because of the noise (hey, I am maturing after all!)
Value? 4! Forget about the "paltry" 24 engagement points. Aside from one spring-breaking hiccup, it is reliable, easily serviced, well-supported by Hope, and hundreds less than some other quality hubs. Still quite a bit more than hubs which start with "S" and end with "himano".
Overall? 3. It always works, but it is inefficient, loud, and feels worn in like a 1990's Ford after 3 years.
Similar Products Used: Chris king, shimano, formula, etc
Bike Setup: Used these hubs on a FS XC and fully rigid 29er.
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Submitted by
cobym2
a Cross Country Rider
from San Juan, RP
Date Reviewed: January 22, 2010
Strengths: Bombproof so far, cheaper than king, very light and come in blingy colors, LOUD
Weaknesses: LOUD,
Bottom Line:
I just bought my third set of Hope hubs. They are now on all of my bikes.
They are bombproof. The one I had on my RFX has been rocking along for more than three years without complaint. Just the occasional pawl greasing and cleaning. They were used for everything from XC, River crossings, marathon 24 hour races, occasional light DH, weekly AM sessions, some jumping and even long road rides. No problem.
I also love the fact that they are very easy to service and very easy to convert to other axle types.
I tried the i9s and the Kings and did not really feel the need for high engagement points. The hopes had enough for me.
At roughly 60% the price of Kings or I9's they are the best hubs out there, all things (including price) considered.
Strengths: Great product for XC riding. Light, simple design, easy to maintain by owner, well built and should last a long time.
Weaknesses: Free hub is much louder than most hubs.
Bottom Line:
Awesome hub. Had them for several years now, several thousand miles of use and zero issues, never let me down or even worry about them, no field repairs, ever. Easy to maintain and very reliable. Put them through the paces on XC rides in rugged terrain, certainly worth the money. King makes great products, these are very similar but a little cheaper. The loud free hub can be annoying, but that is useful in racing as it tends to intimidate others when you sneak up behind them and they hear it along with alerting other folks (hikers, horses, etc.) when you come up from behind. Would not be something that would be all that great for frequent downhilling, but it does not bother me.
Weaknesses: well...where do I start?...I had the hub for a year and it became very loose. Turned out the freehub had to be replaced. Local distributer and Hope UK helped me out and got me the steel freehub instead. 10 rides with the new freehub and the entire hub body cracked into half from the drive side.
I am waiting now to hear back from Hope...
Bottom Line:
Not reliable by any standard. So far the guys at Hope have been helpful. I will update once this saga ends.
Bike Setup: Ibis Mojo, Fox DHX air 5, Talas 36 RC2, XTR, Marta SL, Stan Flow w Kenda tires, Gravity Dropper turbo 4", Pilo bash guard. saint medium rear.
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Submitted by
Montytian
a Cross Country Rider
from Newcastle, England, UK
Date Reviewed: September 11, 2009
Strengths: oversize bearing produce a very smooth result, top grade machine quality, nice colour options. VERY LOUD!! only thing can compare is my Halo freedom disc wheel.
Weaknesses: cost too much, a singel hub is more expensive than my Halo wheels
Bottom Line:
there are Industrial Nine and Chris King out there, but Hope is still too expensive for a hub that doesn't come with too much design highlight. it's reliable but ordinary.
Submitted by
forrest25
a Cross Country Rider
from roseville, ca
Date Reviewed: July 30, 2009
Strengths: durable, looks great, love the free wheel
Weaknesses: none
Bottom Line:
Some say the freewheel is too loud and it gets annoying. I say bull, it is not to loud. If you wear a MP3 or riding hard you don't hear it. Buy hope you won't go wrong.
Submitted by
El Gringo Guapo
a Weekend Warrior
from Austin, TX USA
Date Reviewed: March 30, 2009
Strengths: Smooth, decent engagement (when new).
Weaknesses: Unreliable. Freehub is done after 10 months.
Bottom Line:
After suffering a couple freehub failures (I'm <180 lbs) on the Locos and Bombshells, I decided that hub reliability was key for me. After all, if it fails you're walking out. So I decided to shell out as much for a rear hub, as I normally pay for an entire rear wheel.
Guess what? I walked my bike out today.
Even if customer service is great (which judging by this forum, it won't be), I paid the premium to avoid having a failure that kills a ride. Only got 10 months worth of riding - about the same as the Loco rear wheel from Performance Bikes. Only difference - when THAT failed, I wen into the store and got a new wheel on the spot.
Submitted by
Psycho Mike
a Cross Country Rider
from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Date Reviewed: January 24, 2009
Strengths: Typical Hope quality, solid 4 pawl engagement, easy to service and convert between axle formats, price, colors, loudness
Weaknesses: limited number of points of engagement, loudness, aluminum freehub body, loudness
Bottom Line:
Let's get this out of the way first: these hubs are loud and they click, not buzz like Kings. This may be a benefit if you've got a lot of hikers and dog walkers out on your trails, but if you hate loud hubs it'll drive you nuts. Personally, I found that after a couple rides I hardly noticed the sound anymore.
Ok, now that we've gotten past the sound: These are really solid and dependable hubs. I've put a lot of miles under my wheels since I built them up and I have had no issues with the Hope hubs at all. I'm not a small rider and these hubs engage *very* securely. I've looked at the possibility of servicing the hubs, and it seems like a straight forward thing...it also looks easy to convert these hubs for when I go to my next frame (with will be a through-axle rear).
The main gripes, which are fairly common, are the lack of engagement points (Kings and Hadleys are in the 72 poe range, these are down at 24)and the aluminum freehub body. If you're not running a full carrier cassette (Shimano XT or higher, SRAM 980 or higher) the cassette can mark it up. Personally, I haven't gone to a high engagement hub yet, so I'm not missing that feature (yet) and I run an XT cassette, so I'm not worried about the freehub body.
Who should buy....well, if you don't want to drop the big bucks for Hadley or King hubs and can live with the fewer points of engagement, these are solid hubs that are likely the best value out there for a "premium" class hub.
