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Submitted by
AngryDentist
a Cross Country Rider
from Richardson, Tx. USA
Date Reviewed: November 1, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Rowlett creek, Tx | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Value | | Weaknesses: | cheap product | | Bike Setup: | 08 epic | | Bottom Line: | Just one recomendation, just custom build a wheelset using some of the better components out there. Stock components rarely are the better ones for your wheels. Most of what I have read from avid long time riders is that making a custom wheel set is the best way to go, sometimes even 2 wheel sets, one for just your every day riding then a lighter set for your race. These shimano are cheap, they cost very cheap so what do you think about durability? You can't complaing too much for hubs costing in the 20 dollars, that sounds like a couple of rides worth to me. These are poor quality hubs. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
MTBiker483
a Weekend Warrior
from Fort Collins, CO
Date Reviewed: October 25, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Peloton Cycles | | Strengths: | Lasted for 3 months? | | Weaknesses: | Lasted for 3 months! | | Similar Products Used: | XTR, XT, Java the Hub | | Bike Setup: | Big Lanky 29'er | | Bottom Line: | These things are horribly cheap quality. They came stock on the bike, and after few months of riding I started getting some nasty skipping and worse sounds coming from the rear end. I had been thinking the chain had stretched out and was skipping around on the cassette but the loudest snap of them all came yesterday and I found myself with a completely seized hub. And yes, of COURSE I was 7 miles out on the trail, where else would something like that happen? Somewhere convenient? I took it in to the shop and they warrantied it, so now I have another 3 months at best before round 2 of carrying my bike down a trail I've been busting my ass up in anticipation of blasting back down. Stay away from these in the first place if you can, or upgrade before you find yourself stranded! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
evanjdwyer
a Cross Country Rider
from Iowa City, IA, USA
Date Reviewed: October 5, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Came with bike. Can't ride withoug a hub. | | Weaknesses: | They broke after 30 minutes on the first ride! | | Similar Products Used: | XT, LX, Alivio, Campy, | | Bike Setup: | GT Peace 9er multi | | Bottom Line: | Maiden voyage on an easy offroad singletrak; no mud, water, sand, etc., and they started to "grind" or something when I put them under a little stess. Not sure what to think (it is a BRAND NEW BIKE afterall), got the bike home and tryed to recreate the noise and the hub completely locked up. No freewheel action at all. I have ridden Shimano products for a long time and I have never seen anything quite like it. Just like all the other reviews. Complete junk. Not even worth with a warrany replacement. Go with something else. Don't let price convince you of buying. Zero Chili's | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
James
a Cross Country Rider
from UK
Date Reviewed: July 3, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | cheap, and I found it durable | | Weaknesses: | weight | | Similar Products Used: | Deore | | Bike Setup: | Scott racing scale 50, rigid forks, slick tyres 10.65kg | | Bottom Line: | according to other reviewers these aren't any good, but I've cycled 5,565 miles with M525's on the front and back without giving them any attention whatsoever. I think they represent good value. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jay Norstein
a Cross Country Rider
from Ca, usa
Date Reviewed: March 9, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Everywhere. | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | da shop.... | | Strengths: | Easy to work on, simple design, look ok. | | Weaknesses: | The rear hub served well for about 8 months, but then totally gave out on me while i was climbing a hill. Nuts took a great hit and the rear hub makes a nice KLANK KLANK KLANK noise now because one of the pawl and pawl springs is gone. It still engages ok but its just terribly loud. Front still has decent life left in it, but i bought a set of CrossRides anyway for my giant. | | Similar Products Used: | a few things. | | Bike Setup: | hardtail, marzocchi bomber, truvative stylo, bb7's. | | Bottom Line: | Well, if you had to spend some money to ride for a while, these things are ok.
But i am selling my giant yukon, and i am currently building a freeride bike with a build kit from wheelworld (dot) com and a sette flite frame from pricepoint. The bad thing is, the build kit comes with the same rear hub, and thats the one that gave out on me. So i am familiar with it and know what to expect. Later down the trail, im gonna get some bombshell crushers (its the way to go really).
so, over all, i wouldnt recommend this hub set if you're expecting something that will last longer then 2 years, if you're lucky. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Awesomeness
a Weekend Warrior
from Cranbrook
Date Reviewed: October 8, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Bike Setup: | Better than yours | | Bottom Line: | You know what? I dont care what anyone says, these hubs are excellent. Other than King hubs, these would be my first choice, I've ran these for downhill, DJ, and trials and they've held up great. Thumbs up Shimano, this is your only product I like | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jack
a Downhiller
from HR, CO, USA
Date Reviewed: July 31, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | Bikeparts.com | | Strengths: | Cheap | | Weaknesses: | everything else | | Bike Setup: | Hotrock FSR w Reba and 24" wheels | | Bottom Line: | Front hub lock nuts keeps backing off. This front hub is falling apart after 3 months of use by a 50lb 8 year old racing downhill. Cheapo no-name 4 year old orignal rear hub doing just fine. Tight and spins great! Don't waste your money on these if your buying an aftermarket hub | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
lucyfek
a Cross Country Rider
from waukegan, il
Date Reviewed: July 24, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | nashbar | | Strengths: | well, these are/were cheap and disc brake compatible and better then the stock stuff on 2004 giant yukon (the rear rusted internally after a ride or wash). hubs will last if taken care but taking care is pain and can time consuming. | | Weaknesses: | weight - definitely, rubber axle seals - will rub, sooner or later and can be damage easily while servicing, bearings difficult to adjust - but it's doable | | Similar Products Used: | the ones that these replaced (no name), now replaced with mavic crossride wheels - no more messy overhauls | | Bike Setup: | who cares? | | Bottom Line: | better then no name crap. gave me the chance to learn wheel building (i reused old rims). was it worth the hustle - ??? (when i added spokes, hubs and time required i'm not sure - the price tag was ~ same as cheap but better wheelset). after some 5000km of cross country (any season/weather) it was time for an upgrade (the rubber seals plus bearing adjustment issues were the biggest pain). hubs/wheels are still spinning on my sister's bike (for this walmart (?) junk this is a huge improvement, so not all is lost;) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
dan barwell
a Downhiller
from uk
Date Reviewed: April 21, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$17.00 | | Purchased At: | came on bike second one borght from chain reaction | | Strengths: | cheep ish | | Weaknesses: | axels are chees berings are plastic | | Similar Products Used: | magura hubs | | Bike Setup: | azonic evo2 magura phoa 125 hope mono m4 203 front and back titech helbent dh bar fire eye stem mavic ex721 unfortunatly deor hubs shimano saint crank dmr chain device | | Bottom Line: | the 2005 one was pants but the one i just got is totaly diforent it hase a beta axcel and the seals carnt come of also the bearings are of higher qolity. i decided not to change the hub body becaus there is no point witch is also qite usful to change parts if u brake them. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
GammaDriver
a Weekend Warrior
from South, FL, USA
Date Reviewed: April 15, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Cheap, I guess - came with the bike. This M475 disc brake rear hub lasted longer than a lot of people's, below, and has taken a pounding on the trails. (Most don't specify which model they had blow up on them, so it's hard to figure out just what they're talking about.) | | Weaknesses: | It isn't meant to last much longer than a year, even if ridden on the street.
Mine wasn't ridden on the street, so the lack of axle protection had let in a lot of fine grit into the bearing grease. | | Similar Products Used: | Non-disc King, Other Shimano hubs, WTB hubs | | Bike Setup: | Jamis Dakar | | Bottom Line: | Do -NOT- buy these hubs to build a wheelset around, and do not buy a replacement wheelset that includes these hubs for the OEM cheapie you've trashed.
The only time to ever own a hub of this level is if it came with an otherwise well-spec'd new bicycle. You can the investment in the bike first, then save up for a better wheelset (or wheel... chances are the front hub will last two years...). In the end, though, it's always cheaper to just buy the right parts with the bicycle package... and the FH-M775 would not be considered a 'right' part. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jason
a Cross Country Rider
from Littleton, CO
Date Reviewed: March 13, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | CT | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | lbs | | Strengths: | None that I can think of | | Weaknesses: | Complete pos..rode for 1 day and they were wasted
$20 for this hub is about right. Failed after 1 day of Fruita area trails
| | Similar Products Used: | XT..Hadley | | Bike Setup: | Yeti 575, 36h Hadley, laced to a 5.1 DT Swiss | | Bottom Line: | Like other reviews have said this hub (pos) WILL strand you. I was in Fruita for a weekend trip..and the deore lasted me 1 day..It really sucked having to leave 18Rd at noon..sun shining..beautiful day. Don't buy these..and if they come on your new bike..upgrade immediately. These things have NO value So I guess I have to give it at least 1 chili | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jonathan
a Downhiller
from Clay, AL, USA
Date Reviewed: February 22, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | on bike | | Strengths: | Hub shell not bent | | Weaknesses: | everything else. the bearings broke, I never gone more than a 6 foot drop to flat on these hubs, snapped 2 axels and broke bearings | | Bike Setup: | 2004 bighit spec | | Bottom Line: | if you get them cheap, and want a disk hub to get you started, these should be okay. anything beyond that, save your money and frustration. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
thom
a Cross Country Rider
from Kirkland WA USA
Date Reviewed: January 31, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | sawyer | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | came with bike | | Strengths: | They keep the spokes from rattling around in the bike box, the bike they came with ships in? | | Weaknesses: | Worse than bad. Guaranteed to leave you stranded somewhere. Fastest I have seen ANY bike product totally self-destruct | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano XT....I Hope to save up for Hope XC's someday | | Bike Setup: | Ellsworth Epiphany | | Bottom Line: | I wasn't expecting much from these hubs, but they came as part of a "budget" package deal. I was NOT expecting them to last only a couple of troublesome rides before TOTAL failure. I used to be a bike mechanic. I know how to keep mediocre parts alive...usually.
First ride,on my NEW bike, the rear wheel goes wonky. I tore apart the hub, found loose locknuts on the freehub side. I locked that side together, repacked reassembled and readjusted.
Next ride the free hub started clunking. I bought a "freehub buddy", tore it all down, shot in the special "soup" and rebuilt it all AGAIN.
Next couple of rides the freehub starts grinding, locking and other nasty stuff. After a particularly scarey ride, I did a local "make it or break it" ride with the bike alternating smooth and fixed gear effect. Then I heard a different sound. Stopped IMMEDIATELY and found ALL the rotor bolts had stripped out and fallen out and a chunk of hub had fallen off, and the rotor was dangling loose.
I never did air and never had a chance for it to get any serious miles or mud, and in only a half dozen or so rides, the rear hub literally broke apart.
Shimano should be ashamed to even be selling these. This model of hub WILL strand you at some point. Thats worse than bad.
They are heavy and ugly too....but thats pretty minor in comparison. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kreso
a Cross Country Rider
from Zagreb, Croatia
Date Reviewed: November 29, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Zumberak | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | Ales; maraton | | Strengths: | - | | Weaknesses: | Since i bought it (front hub), the axis has a drift so my tire is touching arch on my fork two times per revolution... It's happening even when I pedal little bit harder...
Everything ok with my rear hub (which is the same).. | | Similar Products Used: | - | | Bike Setup: | Orange SubZero; RS Recon 351 U-Turn; WTB WW 2.5 (front) & 2.3 (rear); Mavic XM 321 DISC | | Bottom Line: | Would not recommend them to anyone. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan
a
from Hopewell
Date Reviewed: November 12, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Clayton Park | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Came on bike | | Strengths: | They're better than having no hubs at all? | | Weaknesses: | Front hub spins like it's too tight even when it's loose, Had to replace the Freehub body after about 5 months, rear hub keeps coming loose | | Bike Setup: | 06 Rocky Mountain Slayer 30, pretty much stock, but not for much longer | | Bottom Line: | These hubs should not be put on real mountain bikes. Shimano doesn't even reccomend them for actual off road use!
After about a month the freehub body started to make a grinding noise. Then after about 3 more months it made the grinding noise 4 times in one revolution of the wheel. Then about a month later it completely seized. I also can't keep the rear hub from loosening up, and the front has an insane amount of resistance. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ryan
a Cross Country Rider
from Niagara Falls
Date Reviewed: July 20, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Hardwood | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Not terrible, economical, roll fairly well. | | Weaknesses: | Axles break! Freehub develops play. Weigh a ton. | | Similar Products Used: | Joytech, Bontrager. | | Bike Setup: | Giant NRS. Deore hubs, zac 19 rims, Avid BB7 brakes. | | Bottom Line: | I am not that happy with these hubs. They keep costing me money. First, we shall do the front. I snapped an axle in two places, and therefore needed to buy a new one. Repacked it with fresh greese in the process. Well, it decided to snap again. Inspecting it closely, i see that the cones are pitted a little bit. Therefore, i will need to replace the cones, bearings, and axle. Remember, i ride an NRS. A cross country race bike. Why am i breaking axles? I don't get more than 2 feet of air. I am not a hardcore freerider. Onto the rear. It loosened up on me without noticing it, and in the process, destroyed the cones and bearings. You could say that was partly my fault. I should have noticed it sooner. It did teach me to keep a closer eye on it. Got it overhauled by the LBS. That was expensive. It did loosen up on me twice after that too. And the freehub has tons of play in it. I guess that is just wear though. I have used these hubs over 4300km. All in all, they have been a little dissapointing, but not total crap. I don't expect them to be maintenance free, but i would rather not find my axle broken each time they are due for an overhaul. A cone wrench is definitely essential for me, as these require occasional adjustment, and LBS overhauls cost way too much for my taste. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Daniel Cassidy
a Cross Country Rider
from Middlesbrough, UK
Date Reviewed: March 14, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | North Yorks Moors | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | Bought with wheel, disc upgrade | | Strengths: | Worked OK at first. | | Weaknesses: | The freewheel gradually failed after approx. 6 months. Started geting horrific jumps with full weight on pedal. I blamed chain/cassette/chainrings for ages. | | Similar Products Used: | Various hubs. | | Bike Setup: | Hardtail aluminium frame MTB. | | Bottom Line: | Failed much too quick. I do a high mileage but other hubs have never failed. Don't choose this if you want reliability. A skipping freehub can confuse you for months. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Marvin
a Weekend Warrior
from Corrales
Date Reviewed: February 3, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Ebudito | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Abq Bike Center | | Strengths: | still looking | | Weaknesses: | squealed the first time I rode the bike - drags - continues to be noisy and I have disassembled/assembled and rebuilt | | Bike Setup: | 2005 Specialized Stumpjumper FSR Comp Disc - everything standard until I dump these hubs | | Bottom Line: | the hubs have been a problem since I bought the bike - the shop has not been able to resolve - I am dumping these hubs and going to a Hope XC hub (can't justify the $ to go to a Hadley or a King) because it has a 4.81 MTBR rating :-) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
johnny speck
a Weekend Warrior
from san fransico, ca
Date Reviewed: December 29, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | mt tam | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | cheap and thats about it | | Weaknesses: | these hubs suck they are terrable they rust if you get them wet and make noise if u get them muddy do not buy these hubs they were a waste of time and money you sould not buy thses unless your under a money crisi and need them for a emergeny these hubs suck!!!! | | Bike Setup: | 04' specialized P.3. with manitou sherman firefly fork,truvativ oversized handlebars 31, maxxis hookworm 2.5", rest is stock | | Bottom Line: | these hubs are terrable and would not recemond them to anyone!!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ME MYSELF
a Weekend Warrior
from MN
Date Reviewed: December 3, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Lutsen mtb park | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | They are cheap. Disk compatible. | | Weaknesses: | They are kind of Heavy and they sometimes make noise usually on steep slopes or if they get wet. | | Similar Products Used: | Many | | Bike Setup: | 03 Jamis Dakar with xt derailer, marzochi mx comp eta, avid bb7 mech disks. 05 Specialized Stump Jumper FSR with Avid juicy 5 hydros. | | Bottom Line: | I have used them for a few years on my jamis and I have not ever really had any problems with them. If I ride them through any mud or if it is rainning or snowing out they do seem to start to make a high pitched sound. I haven't really gone off anything more than a few feet with them and I probably wont after reading some of the other reviews. They do look rather flimsy. They are good for anyone who is not a series mountainbiker. If they came on your bike ride them till they brake then get something with better seals.
Ride on you'all! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kirk Lott
a Racer
from Boulder, CO
Date Reviewed: November 12, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | anything near Boulder, CO | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | multiple warranty replacements | | Strengths: | free warranty replacements | | Weaknesses: | the worst mountain biking product ever made | | Similar Products Used: | I will try every other hub in the future; I will never ride Shimano again. I'm looking at DT, Chris King, whatever | | Bike Setup: | '99 Schwinn Homegrown hardtail, standard components | | Bottom Line: | This is the worst bike component ever made.
I am a strong, rather agressive technical rider. I have broken other parts, but this is ridiculous. Between this and my other rig, I have sent back at least TWO DOZEN on warranty, sometimes at a rate of one every 2 weeks. Sure, free warranty replacement is nifty. But what's the cost of sitting in the car, while your friends ride, because your bike won't even pedal? What's the cost of being on a dream road trip, in the middle of nowhere, and having to spend a day on the phone finding a replacment, then driving a couple hours to get it? Shimano sucks. And I know other advanced riders who have had this experience.
And don't be fooled by thinking it's easy to replace. Once you build up a wheel, if I understand correctly, you're committed to that hub. So changing hubs costs $500 or more, not $25.
If you have any strength in your legs, or if you plan to do any riding other than at the local municipal park, avoid Shimano hubs. You have been warned. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Vik Dengrel
a Weekend Warrior
from Copenhagen, Demark
Date Reviewed: August 24, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Direct Hit | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Came on bike | | Strengths: | good bearing when the seal is still intact. | | Weaknesses: | if you ride through alot of mud or water i wouldnt recommend this hub, the seals are useless, once they burst the hub is no longer worth useing because it seizes up and rusts. they squiel very loud when the seals are gone too. also not a very thick strong hub. | | Similar Products Used: | other crappy shimano stuff. | | Bike Setup: | 2005 norco bigfoot | | Bottom Line: | don't buy this hub if you ride hard or though lots of mud or water, the seals just don't hold up in those conditions. get a marzocchi qr-20 for this kind of stuff. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
matthew Richards
a Weekend Warrior
from melbourne australia
Date Reviewed: June 20, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | any thing with mud | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Just to up date my last post just over 1.5 years now | | Bike Setup: | 04 NORCO Storm | | Bottom Line: | found some good grease PRO-MAR MBL grease now they last longer set and forget havent look at them for 6 months,Also just put some Deore Hydro Dics on so will c if they will hadel them..but dont think i will get these again better off gettin some hub with a better seal and machined cones... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
matt burden
a
from bristol
Date Reviewed: June 5, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | any in wales | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | came with bike | | Strengths: | none | | Weaknesses: | the free hub broke within a few hundred miles of light use | | Similar Products Used: | other hubs! | | Bike Setup: | specialized stumpjumper comp. shorter stem (FSA) and easton riser otherwise stock | | Bottom Line: | If these come as stock on your bike, ride them until they break. Judging by the review here that will not be very long.
I can only speak for the rear, which I have found to be very short lived.
I am about 180lb, so am a bit porky, but I dont think I give my components a hard time as I am only learning the ropes. I guess this product did not wear out due to the short time used, It just snapped under moderate stress
Do not bother to buy these hubs, the bottom line:
They are Poo! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John Barron
a Cross Country Rider
from Victoria, BC, Canada
Date Reviewed: March 20, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Mt. Tzouhalem trails | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | Came with bike | | Strengths: | This review is for Shimano M525 Disc hubs, front and rear.
They would look good attached to a length of chain at the bottom of the ocean.
Cheap. In every sense of the word. | | Weaknesses: | These hubs don't really have any strengths other than they seem to be shipped on so many bikes from the factory (parts are fairly cheap). It would be soooo nice if the bike builders (hello Kona, are you listening?) would spend more than $8 or $10 on a hub when you're paying $2600 for a bike.
These things are JUNK. The "seals" in them are not made for anything like west coast weather. If it looks cloudy outside, or even if there is some moisture on the trail.. don't take these hubs outdoor, better to wait for a nice hot sunny day and dry trails.
They are a poor excuse for a mountain bike hub, if not hubs in general.
The bearings are poorly designed, small, made of crappy steel and are not very durable. A monkey could make better hubs in its sleep with its cerebral cortex removed. | | Similar Products Used: | WTB, Bontrager, other Shimano stuff...
I dream of King hubs... but I don't earn that much $$ | | Bike Setup: | Kona kula deluxe with full XT, XT hollowtech II cranks, 223 rims, hayes brakes... Ritchey stuff all over the place... | | Bottom Line: | These things are really not suited for use on anything but cheapo bikes found at Canadian Tire, Wal-Mart, Sears or some other such place. They do not belong on anything that will get near water or even a high humidity location. The whole assembly (front and rear) is badly engineered, hard to adjust so it's just right, badly sealed (oh, wait, I may have said that before).
I have serviced these hubs often...and each time I am appalled at the bad engineering of them.
Save your money if you're planning on buying these aftermarket: it is SO not wo |
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$ 22.00
