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Submitted by
Paul Bayne
a Racer
from Annapolis, MD, USA
Date Reviewed: February 22, 2008 | | Favoriate Trail: | Patapsco and Michaux | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | speedgoat | | Strengths: | Durable, Seal Quality, Grease Quality, Smoothness, User serviceable | | Weaknesses: | Heavier than other high end hubs, Slower engagement than other high end hubs | | Similar Products Used: | Variety of shimano, mavic, king | | Bike Setup: | Kona Kula Deluxe, XT/XTR/SRAM mix. Marzocchi Mararthon 80mm. | | Bottom Line: | As a budget oriented racer I want parts that are durable, light, and have a good price point. I need to be able to train and race on the same gear.
XTR hubs more than satisfy. Other high end hubs can be lighter and have better freehub engagement, but for almost twice the price.
Bearing adjustment and replacement is very easy, you just need to know how to use a cone wrench and keep things clean.
I got this particular set of hubs in 2002. I never adjusted them or opened them up until 2008. I was afraid it would be a mess inside. These hubs were raced 8-10 times a year plus riding in all weather. The balls, races, and grease were all perfectly clean as if they had just come from the factory. I've never seen an adjustable item sealed this well! Plus the freehub still engages perfectly, no skips at all. I can't recommend these enough. The only reason I would go to the really high end stuff (King, AC, etc) would be for weight weenie purposes.
Buy these if you want a pretty light, user serviceable, super durable hub for cross country riding and racing. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris Klass
a Cross Country Rider
from Cape Town
Date Reviewed: February 16, 2008 | | Favoriate Trail: | Tokai, CT | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | Complete bike from distributor | | Strengths: | Bombproof - does exactly what it is designed to do | | Weaknesses: | Expensive | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano Deore (87-88)Shimano XT (90) | | Bike Setup: | Litespeed Tellico - Full XTR, titanium encrusted | | Bottom Line: | Setup properly and provide some TLC and it will run fine for years, maybe only requiring some adjustment on the gear cables to be 100% accurate shifting. Replace chain and sprockets when they wear out eventually. Still works like it came out the box eight years later! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
MOI
a Racer
from CANARY ISLANDS
Date Reviewed: September 15, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | VANCOUVER NORTHSHORE | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | BOMBPROOF STRENGTH, RIGID AS HELL, NOT THAT HEAVY, GOOD LOOK, PERFECT BEARINGS AND NO MAINTENANCE NECESSARY FOR MANY MANY YEARS | | Weaknesses: | NOT THAT LIGHTWEIGHT!!! | | Similar Products Used: | SHIMANOT, LX, DEORE, ACERA, MAVIC.... | | Bike Setup: | 9.5 KG, KONA KULA, SID, CHRIS KING, LOADS OF XTR, TI AND ALU BOLTS, SELLE ITALIA SLR... | | Bottom Line: | AFTER 3 YEARS (WITHOUT ANY REPARATION), 1 TRANSALP CHALLENGE (05)MANY XC RACES AND , FEW 24HRS, AND MORE MILES THAN A PLANE, STILL GOING SMOOTH LIKE THE FIRST DAY. I ALWAYS RECOMMEND THEM!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Paul
a Cross Country Rider
from Atlanta
Date Reviewed: June 25, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | pinhotti | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$150.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | For XTR 960 Hubs - quite, spins well, got them on the cheap, pretty easy to work on. | | Weaknesses: | SlOOOOW engagement, rear hub wont stay properly adjusted, lack of dust protection on non-drive side of rear hub looks like a bad design but I've not had any issues. | | Similar Products Used: | Older XTR, King, Rolf, Bontrager | | Bike Setup: | Saltamontes | | Bottom Line: | Ok hubs, just ok. My main problem with them is the slow engagement. Coming from King hubs, the difference is major. In fairness, I paid a TON less for these and I'm using them for training wheels only. Bearing adjustment on rear hub has required some regular attention but it is a simple thing to fix. For the price I paid, I am very happy with these hubs.
| Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
charles
a Cross Country Rider
from holland
Date Reviewed: May 30, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$250.00 | | Strengths: | light, smooth rolling, reasonably stiff. | | Weaknesses: | 2007 freewheel engagement is a disaster. Dull looks. | | Similar Products Used: | XT, Chris King | | Bottom Line: | This review is for the new 2007 xtr rear hub, fh-m970. The hub itself works fine, but the freewheel doesn't. Shimano has 'upgraded' it's freewheel with more pawls (and also smaller ones maybe?) to provide 125% faster engagement. Bad idea. Right out the box, the freewheel malfunctioned constantly, causing the cranks to slip about 1/8 of a turn with a loud 'clack'. The LBS tried to solve this problem by removing the grease from the freewheel body, this helped somewhat, in the sense that malfunctions occur only sporadic at temperatures above 18 degrees celcius(about every 10 miles). Below that, there's little improvement, if any. Hubs should not be temperature sensitive, and with a hub in this price range, this kind of malfunctions should not occur at all! In an attempt to keep up with fast-engaging hubs like Chris King, Shimano clearly has crossed 'a bridge too far'. Probably, with some tinkering, further improvement is possible, but with a new hub, this shouldn't be neccessary. In this case, Shimano deserves only one chili for effort. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
tim yao
a Cross Country Rider
from China
Date Reviewed: December 21, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$280.00 | | Purchased At: | Bicycle world | | Strengths: | ultra smooth and quiet, affordable price | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | Tune, DT | | Bike Setup: | Giant MCM, SID,Mavic 717 disc, Hayes nine | | Bottom Line: | no time needed to break in, ready to spin fast | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mitch
a Cross Country Rider
from Australia
Date Reviewed: October 8, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Strengths: | Fairly light @ 150g for front and 310g for rear (disc hubs).
Veeeeerrrry smooth, literally drag free.
Well sealed (not the greatest though).
Easy maintenance/adjustment.
Silent. | | Weaknesses: | Slow engagement.
VERY FLEXY!!!!!!!!!! The axle diameter is simply too small + its made of Titanium instead of steel. I would get rear disc rub whenever I do hard corners with these hubs, I'm sure its not my frame thats flexy cos I never had this problem with my hope xcs. | | Similar Products Used: | hope xc
xt
american classic (absolute POS never buy these!!) | | Bike Setup: | Ti hardtail with float 100rlc. | | Bottom Line: | Would probably be the best hubs I've used if it wasn't so FLEXY!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
alejo
a Cross Country Rider
from spain
Date Reviewed: January 18, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | Smooth rolling,lightweight,quality built, titanium freehub body and axle,pewter finish... | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | other shimano (xt, deore), ritchey | | Bike Setup: | Cross country HT. V-brake, ceramic rims.Classic stuff. | | Bottom Line: | Cup and cone design and diamond polished races result in super smooth spinning. These hubs roll soooo smooth !Back hub doesn´t have that massive rubber cap dragging all the time that some other shimano hubs have...nice. Check freehub body healt often as replacing will be expensive (it´s titanium).It´s one of the few that are built with the cup and cone system, and that´s good for servicing and for adjusting to the right preload at the bearings.
They look very nice !
My value rating is high becouse bought second hand. New can be expensive. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jackson
a Cross Country Rider
from Singapore
Date Reviewed: November 27, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$230.00 | | Strengths: | Very smooth rolling on the road,
crisp "tick tick" sound,
nice finishing,
center lock(for those using shimano disc brake), | | Weaknesses: | Fewer engagement points than competitor,
Center lock(for those not using shimano disc brake), | | Similar Products Used: | Deore | | Bike Setup: | Black Panther | | Bottom Line: | From the very 1st ride, i can feel the smoothness, it becomes smoother and smoother as it break in. Made cruising on the road a relax affair. I always wanted to install a center lock rotor to my shimano disc brake, after changing to this hub, i made my wish comes true. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andy
a Cross Country Rider
from Birmingham
Date Reviewed: November 17, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | Red trail loop Oak Mountain | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Colorado cyclist | | Strengths: | Nice pewter color, price, extremely quiet freehub, light. | | Weaknesses: | Dust cover on bearings is plasticesque, axle is threaded; I like the axle area around the drop out to be smooth. | | Similar Products Used: | Ringle, american classic | | Bike Setup: | Litespeed ocoee....old school xc, king headset, king front hub, Thompson stem & post. | | Bottom Line: | This is a amazingly quiet freehub . I can barely here the click, so it great for sneaking up on hikers or wildlife viewing etc.....This is a great hub for the money. one thing I have noticed is it does not always have instant engagment when ratcheting; feels like a half inch of slack has to be taken up. good bang for the buck. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Larry Mendoza
a Cross Country Rider
from Sunnyvale, CA
Date Reviewed: March 5, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | Nor Cal pick 'em | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$120.00 | | Purchased At: | Cambria | | Strengths: | Fantastic bearings/real spinners, good looking, best value out there | | Weaknesses: | None yet | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano Deore, Shimano STX-RC hubs | | Bike Setup: | Recumbent RANS Tailwind, custom wheelset (Alex DA16 rims, XTR, Marwi spokes), SRAM X-7 rear, Sora front derailleurs, SRAM PC-58 chain, SRAM 7.0 halfpipe shifters | | Bottom Line: | Sure it's not a mountain bike, but for a 20" wheeled recumbent, quality hubs/bearings are even more critical due to the increased wheel speeds. Couldn't have made a better choice than these XTRs - silent, seamless bearings that spin forever, at an unbeatable price point. Huge reduction in friction & noise from the previous wheels, and they even look great. Is clearly the most impactful upgrade I've made to the bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mack
a Cross Country Rider
from Napa
Date Reviewed: July 30, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | yours | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Strengths: | Looks, reputation | | Weaknesses: | Not smooth (crunchy), front comes out of adjustment easily | | Bike Setup: | Rocky Mtn. Team Scandium | | Bottom Line: | Thought better of Shimano but I was foiled. Lucky I got a good deal on the set. If I would have paid full price I would've been pissed. The highest quality hubs should be silky, right? I've tried everything from repackin em' and cleanin', to changin the grease, to loosening the skewer on the fork. Still not like butter (like they should). Maybe I'm picky and that dam front hub won't stay tight! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
m
a Cross Country Rider
from n mi
Date Reviewed: June 22, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | shimano | | Weaknesses: | shimano | | Similar Products Used: | uke proof, mavic | | Bike Setup: | santa cruz superlight full xtr disc | | Bottom Line: | rear hub trashed after only 35 miles. aparently the non drive side locknut loosened up causing the drive side to overtighten from pedaling torque. this caused the axel to strip threads off and also crush the freehub body into the bearings. shimano is looking into it, but said that they would probably not warranty it. they said it was due to improper maintainance. this groupo was just purchased 35 miles ago...i am not happy with their lack of concern. this hub was shipped from their factory in what should be ready to use condition one would think. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tim Tucker
a Racer
from Lakeview, Ca
Date Reviewed: April 9, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | Mountain goat | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$160.00 | | Purchased At: | Price Point | | Strengths: | They work | | Weaknesses: | These are to much for what they are.No outstanding features | | Similar Products Used: | specialized, XTdisc, Ritchy | | Bike Setup: | x-country race bike | | Bottom Line: | The dust cover on the rear hube dose not stay on.These are the hardest hubs I have ever regreased. The first time I did it I could not get all the balls in. I put it back together and it made nose. I took it to the bike shop and got it fixed. They used differant grease than me so i had two types of grease in my rear hub. I tried to redo it agine and same problem. It is dumb luck when all the balls finaly fit.
I do not know why these are top of the line. They do not out spin my XTs or cheep specialized hub set. they are not super lite and they do not rebuild well. Buy XT if you want shimano hubs there is no advantage to the XTR.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nitish Nag
a Cross Country Rider
from Fremont, CA
Date Reviewed: December 19, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | Phat Tire | | Strengths: | Nice looks. XTR lightness, durable so far, consistent bearings. | | Weaknesses: | Not as smooth as King or Hugi. Not as light as other top end brands. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano Hubs, King, Phil Wood | | Bike Setup: | 2003 Santa Cruz Blur, 2003 XTR with discs, Progressive 5th Element Air Shock, Easton Carbon Cockpit, eggbeaters SS, | | Bottom Line: | This is an excellent hub if you want solid shimano reliability and good kujos. Solid, but it isn't as smooth as XTR should be, This is where i get disappointed with the performance. The sticktion is not from improper hub adjustment but rather the seals which produce the friction. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Todd
a Cross Country Rider
from Fowlerville,MI
Date Reviewed: September 9, 2003 | | Favoriate Trail: | Pontiac Trail | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | lbs | | Strengths: | Can you say everything a hub should have ? Lightweight, quiet, durable, worry free, etc. | | Weaknesses: | NONE !! I can only say that for a handful of products. | | Similar Products Used: | Bontrager, Mavic, Hugi | | Bike Setup: | XCR 1500, Manitou Black fork, XTR everything, Thomson, etc. | | Bottom Line: | I've now owned these hubs through three bikes, one of which was a hardtail and I am still completely amazed. After five years of semi-pro riding with a 170 lb rider and almost 3700 miles of trail riding (yes I keep track) the hubs are still untouched from the factory. That even includes about 200 miles without a rear dust cover...bike shop cracked it when I first bought the wheels. They still spin like new, make no noise besides the freewheel, and don't even show any signs of wearing out.
After such a long service I'm about to replace them with another XTR hub wheelset that will probably outlast me...current set going to a good cause...my stationary trainer.
Buy these hubs and you'll never be sorry. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
bikerx40
a Cross Country Rider
from Boise, ID
Date Reviewed: July 31, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | These hubs have it all: Lightweight, Durable, Great bearings, Excellent seals, Titanium Freehub Body, Adjustable loose-ball bearings, Inexpensive for the quality that you get.
Just build up the wheels and forget about them! | | Weaknesses: | Slightly heavier than "boutique" brand hubs. I've gone there though, and it just isn't worth it. | | Similar Products Used: | Ringle 439/Bubba, Shimano XT, White Industries Titanium. | | Bike Setup: | Litespeed Hiwassee Full-Suspension, Full XT/XTR, Race Face Stem, Bars, Cranks, BB. | | Bottom Line: | I can't argue with a part that you install and then never have the think about ever again! XTR hubs are one of those parts. After trying all of the big "boutique" brands out there (tempted by the dark-side of lightweight) I got frustrated with worn-out/non-adjustable bearings, soft aluminum freehub bodies, and inabilty to be rebuilt. I've rarely gone wrong with Shimano hubs. My old XT hubs saw more muddy conditions than I care to remember, but after several seasons I opened them up to repack the bearings (felt sorry for neglecting them) and much to my surprise, the grease was still that Shimano semi-transparent green color!!! Amazing. I've had the same luck with the XTR's. After more than 3 seasons of dusty riding conditions, I finally rebuilt them last week and the grease was still white! I'm not sure how they do it, but damn good engineering if you ask me. I love the fact that they are loose-ball bearings too. I'll take adjustable and rebuildable products any day.
These hubs come highly recommended for anyone who doesn't like to repack their bearings all the time, or anyone that likes parts that you never have to think about. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Hank Hill
a Cross Country Rider
from Hyattsville, MD, USA
Date Reviewed: June 18, 2003 | | Favoriate Trail: | The quarry | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | BikeWorks | | Strengths: | Looks great, light weight, smooth action, wonderful integration | | Weaknesses: | NONE | | Similar Products Used: | Chris King Classics | | Bike Setup: | Seven Sola Ti, Full 2003 XTR Disc, Sid Team, | | Bottom Line: | The 2003 XTR Disc hubs are fantastic. Mine are laced to Mavic X317 Disc rims. Andre is the man. These wheels are stiff and light. The hubs are silent. They spin smoothly and engage instantly. I love the buzz and performance of the King hubs, but these are just as good. The new Disc interface makes a great performing wheel. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
glenn gould
a Cross Country Rider
from tokyo
Date Reviewed: January 1, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$130.00 | | Purchased At: | mailorder | | Strengths: | every aspect hub shoud require | | Weaknesses: | need a lock from steal | | Similar Products Used: | specialized super fly stout
Chris King | | Bike Setup: | TREK STP w/Full XTR,ITM bar,stem,CK headset
| | Bottom Line: | No other can get that seal,smoothness,and looks for front and rear $130 brand new, and can't be happier with XTR disc hubs for only a $5-6 more.
P.Pezzo won her gold@with XTR wheels when she can use Bontrager race lite w/Chris Kings. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
johan w
a Racer
from belgium
Date Reviewed: August 31, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | malmedy belgium | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | freddy's shop | | Strengths: | durability | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | xt, ritchey | | Bike Setup: | giant full xtr, rond air fork, itm | | Bottom Line: | after one year of racing, if you know Belgian weather conditions, i took them apart and the grease was still looking white! I think guys with problems wash their bikes with high pressure washers or so, I recomend you never to do this and you will have no problems with it! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
BOB
a Cross Country Rider
from Marysville CA
Date Reviewed: August 10, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | South Yuba | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | Cambria as wheelset | | Strengths: | Smooth and quiet. Stay tight and have been reliable. | | Weaknesses: | I have not found any. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano LX XT and White industries | | Bike Setup: | S/C superlight Race face cranks,XT drive train,Avid V brakes,Thomson post & stem 517 rims w/ XTR hubs | | Bottom Line: | I shelled numerous XT and LX freehubs and I then bought a White industries hub and it did not shell but it would not stay tight for very long. Up to this point it was the best hub I had used. Not a huge deal to retighten just a allen wrench. When I needed a new rear rim I really did not want to use the White industies. I bought a new wheelset on XTR hubs with 517 rims.I bought ceramic rims and the whole wheelset was less then 400$. I am very happy with the XTR hubs they stay tight and I have not shelled a freehub yet.I just repacked the hubs with grease a couple of weeks ago and I really like the front hub axle. It is very different then tne XT shimano and was easy to retighten the hub. I looked at alot of reviews and almost went with chris king or hugi. I took a chance on XTR and for me and they met my needs completely and surpassed my expectations.I am a moderately agresive trail rider who pounds alot of pavement during the week and the XTR hubs are perfect for me. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ryan
a Cross Country Rider
from Corvallis OR
Date Reviewed: February 23, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | Time Warp | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Low maintenance, good looks, easily rebuild-able, good parts availability. | | Weaknesses: | Nothing worth crying about. | | Similar Products Used: | Hugi, King, Syncros(junk), All the high end Shimano stuff. | | Bike Setup: | Custom titanium hardtail, Hugi 240/Bontrager valiant wheels (the XTR's were snagged by my Wife) Full XTR drivetrain, Avid SD Mag brakes, Judy Race fork (don't like the SID) Tompson Stem/seatpost. | | Bottom Line: | I honestly don't know what some of these people are whining about. The XTR hubs hold up fine if you take care of them. We’re not talking mad maintenance here, just basic care.
I raced the 99’ season on the hubs, which included about 90 miles of training rides per week, along with the races on the weekends. I went on to use the hubs all winter, riding in snow and mud and never a problem. My wife stole my wheels for her bike and has been riding them for the last 2 years and no problem.
I have owned several “boutique” brands like King, Hugi, Syncros, etc, and with the exception of the syncros hubs, which I couldn’t get to stay tight (king hubs do that to but not nearly as bad), have liked them all.
If you ride in nasty conditions, you have to maintain your gear better. I rebuild my XTR hubs every 6 months or so. In winter, I use a good marine grade bearing grease and in the summer I use Bullshot. It works for me.
If you race, and are a fairly competent mechanic, then XTR are a good deal. If you want good value and aren’t as concerned with weight, then get XT. If you want the pinnacle of coolness, get King (make sure to check them to make sure they are tight every couple of rides) If you want hubs that hold up under any conditions, get Hugi. If someone offers to give you some Syncros hubs, run away!
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
A.O. Braseth
a Racer
from Norway
Date Reviewed: October 19, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | blaastier | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$150.00 | | Purchased At: | A friend of mine | | Strengths: | Reliable, smooth rolling, easy to get spare parts, light, good lookin hubs. | | Weaknesses: | A bit messy to service. I use more than one hour to service one hub and get the correct preload | | Similar Products Used: | Old xt, from 91, exceptional build quality, still running. Crappy Bontragers, ruined after 6 months use. | | Bike Setup: | Klein Attitude Race frame with all the stuff. | | Bottom Line: | I dont't know why some of you people complain, these hubs are as good as it gets. But if you are a 200+ lbs (I'm 155 lbs) clydesdale rider, using these hubs in rainy and muddy conditions without servicing the hubs, they will break, as all other hubs.
However, they need to be looked after, especially the rear hub, and be carefully not to preload the hub to much, the ball bearing should run fluent and very light, almost loose without the skewers tightened. The preload is to high when new (thanks Joergen), correrct preload is the key to long life.
Value rating only four chilis (the hubs are a bit to expensive) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Paul
a Cross Country Rider
from Austin
Date Reviewed: October 12, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | Emma Long | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Smooth, fast, and light | | Weaknesses: | don't know yet | | Similar Products Used: | POS shimanos that came on my Moab 3. | | Bike Setup: | mavic 517 rims, Mars fork, and the rest is stock | | Bottom Line: | The hubs are great, they make me go real fast, yada, yada, yada.
DON'T buy from Pricepoint! I ordered these hubs as part of a wheelset. When I got them, late, one of the hubs had a big plastic chunk missing. The guy on the phone said to return them for a refund, and place another order, would be the only way to get a new set in the mail right away. I'm impatient, so I did it. When the second set came, it was totally the wrong wheelset, despite the invoice being correct (crackheads). So back to UPS I went. A gluton for punishment, and unable to pass up the cheap ass price, I placed a third order. Before it arrived, I called to check on the status of my refund. The receptionist said they had recieved one return, but it was the second one. They couldn't find the first one. She went and investigated to find out that it had been repaired and returned to me (crackheads). When the third wheelset arrived, there was a nice little dent in the rear rim. This is about 3 weeks later. I was pissed off, but I also knew that I had another set on the way. When the repaired first set arrived, it was good. There's two lessons here. Don't buy a wheelset mailorder and dirt cheap, and don't buy anything from pricepoint unless you can accept a 25% chance of getting your order right.
The hubs are light too. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Winno
a Cross Country Rider
from NZ
Date Reviewed: July 29, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | swap for SPOX | | Strengths: | Does it's job. | | Weaknesses: | None that I can think of. | | Similar Products Used: | White front hub (very nice...fat, looker, smooooth), XT, Spinergy (XT guts?) | | Bike Setup: | Marin Quake 9.0 FRS with all XTR, Plasma, Magura. | | Bottom Line: | I had some nice White/XT hubs on the bike when I got it and then went for some Spinergy Rev X's and then Spox.
Long story about the Spinergy's but lets just say that after going back to a "traditional" design, I have not had to worry about hubs and problems since.
The XTR hubs I have in my current wheels are smooth, quiet and have been very reliable with no hassles what so ever.
Spokes are DT Revolutions with 217cd rims.
The wheels have been built by a guy who does the wheels for a team here in NZ and I have not even had to put the spoke wrench to them at all.
I have not had them apart(will do very soon though) but I still cannot hear them spin and feel any grit in them at all.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
T.R.
a Cross Country Rider
from Germany
Date Reviewed: June 30, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | The XTR hubset is a very reliable, durable hubset. It does not need much mantainance, it offers smooth bearings and good seals and a bombproof Ti cassette body, which prevents dents caused from the cassette. No problems with this hubs, for me it is one of the best hubset on the market. Not as expensive as the competitors. | | Weaknesses: | It's not the lightest hubset, but it is durable. | | Similar Products Used: | I owned Ringle, WTB, Tune and Chris King, but XTR is still my favourite hubset. Chris King is a good hubset, too, but it needs to much service, because of it's average sealing na it's ring drive. More over the chris King has a an aluminium Cassette body, which is light but not as durable as an Ti cassette body. Tune offers bad bearings with bad sealings, moreover the axles are flexible and do not stiffen the bike's front and rear, the aluminzuim of the cassette boy is very weak. It's not a hub for serious riding. | | Bike Setup: | Ti Hardtail with SID Race and XTR | | Bottom Line: | I can recomend the XTR hubset for everone, who is searching for the ultimate XC-Hubset. It's durable and lightweight. Nothig else even comes close, perhaps Chris King, but it needs more service.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tim
a Cross Country Rider
from Henley, UK
Date Reviewed: June 15, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Has 'XTR' branding on it.
Quite nicely laser cut quick release lever - again with 'XTR'
| | Weaknesses: | Not that light.
Not in the same league of quality as many of the small companies.
Short bearing life in normal use.
Freehub that cannot be economically replaced.
| | Similar Products Used: | Hope Ti Glide, Campag Daytona, | | Bike Setup: | Pace F5, Pace forks, XTR | | Bottom Line: | When the freehub goes tits up, you will (re)discover the cynical way that Shimano makes money.
A new freehub is quoted as $100 at Shimano UK.
But a new hub is only $120!
This is crap. I will not pay this much so I've decided to scrap the hub. Crazy eh....
PS Other freehubs won't fit on apparently.
When my Hope hub needed new freehub inards (after 4 years) it cost me $25! And the parts arrived next day! Say no more.... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mephesto
a Weekend Warrior
from Singapore
Date Reviewed: June 1, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | It is reasonably light and maybe the colour that's about it. | | Weaknesses: | It rides like any other Shimano hub. Engagement is so-so, doesn't roll any better than any Shimano hubs with conventional bearings. Price is too high for what you get. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano STX-RC, LX and XT and the coveted CHRIS KINGs | | Bike Setup: | Specialized S-works M4 with Gripshifts, XT, XTR, Thompson and Chris King bits all over. | | Bottom Line: | If you love the Shimano feel(I doubt anyone loves it after they've tried Chris King) and you absolutely need to feel the prestige of "XTR-grey" bits on your bike, go for it!
If not, pay 1/2 the price and get XT hubs, just as good, just a tad heavier, or save up abit more and get Chris King's. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
dk dk
a Weekend Warrior
from ontariosudbury
Date Reviewed: May 24, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | rock | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: |
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$ 65.00
