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Submitted by
Dave Wright
a Cross Country Rider
from Greenville, SC, USA
Date Reviewed: January 29, 2008 | | Favoriate Trail: | Full ride @ Paris Mountain SP | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$210.00 | | Purchased At: | webcyclery | | Strengths: | Light, well machined, and beautifully polished. Cleanly engineered and reliable way to tension vertical dropout single speed bikes. Set up and field adjustment easy on my bike. Reeks of quality. | | Weaknesses: | None yet, but then it doesn't bother me that my back brake is a V instead of a disc. I do not anticipate that my brakes will need to be readjusted as the chain wears and wheel position shifts slighty, but that would be a disadvantage if it happened. If so, I will post an updated review. | | Similar Products Used: | Chain tension adjusted by Surly Singleator, which was a good way to get into single speeding but ultimately was pitched on account of noise, friction, and occasional chain skip. | | Bike Setup: | 2000 Marin Eldridge Grade hardtail modified with this wheel to be a single speed. The wheel is laced to a Mavic 717 rim and driven by a White Industried 17/19 Dos Eno Freewheel. The crank end of the drive has Salsa 34 & 36 tooth rings so that wheel position is the same for both gears. | | Bottom Line: | This review is for the White Industries Eccentric ENO Single Speed Hub that allows chain tension adjustment on vertical dropout frames. Price was for the entire wheel.
There is no alternative to this hub if you want to ride a vertical dropout frame as a single speed. It may even be a better solution than the EBB, because there is no risk of creaking and it may be easier to change between gears on the trail. Rock solid drivetrain.
After installing the wheel and adjusting the tension a couple times the process becomes second nature. Here's my process with a couple tips. It takes a lot less time to do than to write.
-- Thread the chain on and drop the wheel in place.
-- Tighten an adjustable wrench onto the flats of the eccentric piece that is opposite the freewheel.
-- Set the bolts 1/2 turn away from tight. This allows adjustment but resists slightly.
-- Rotate the eccentric so that the chain is too tight.
-- Slowly turn the cranks. There will be slack and tight spots around the rings. The tight spots will pull the eccentric hub toward the bottom bracket a bit.
-- Use the adjustable wrench to loosen the chain a bit more; you'll get a feel for it after a couple times.
-- Tighten the wheel bolts and enjoy your ride. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jekyll
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego CA
Date Reviewed: January 28, 2008 | | Favoriate Trail: | Daley Ranch | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$610.00 | | Purchased At: | prowheelbuilder.com | | Strengths: | Super slick look. Hand polished finish. Smooooooooooth. Ok weight-wise. Machine work looks great, the disk brake surface is machined into the hub body and it looks awesome. I especially like that I don't see these on every bike I pass on busy Saturdays. | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | Mavic hubs, cross ride and cross link | | Bike Setup: | GT STS 1000 DS XTR Shifters, XTR frt and rr der. Avid Code Disk brakes, XT bottom bracket and crank, Easton Handlebar and Stem. XTR Pedals, Sram chain and 990 cog (11-34) RS Recon Uturn 130mm. | | Bottom Line: | Richard at www.prowheelbuilder.com laced these hubs to a great looking pair of DT swiss rims (5.1D's). They are fast and look the part. I really wanted something different. These hubs are classic looking, the engagement is solid, and they are fast... highly recommend. both, the white industries Hubs, and prowheelbuilder.com.
Thanks richard!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Adam
a Downhiller
from Henderson, Nevada
Date Reviewed: April 26, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | Dark Hollow, Brianhead, Utah | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$410.00 | | Purchased At: | White Industries | | Strengths: | Truly beautiful hubs, classic, timeless, unique. Incredible performance, high tolerances, design innovation, strength. My friends have to pedal hard to keep up with me coasting downhill, its hilarious. | | Weaknesses: | None really, but if we want to be nit picky...the spacers on the front hub "chub", which is a 20mm thru axel, need to be very slightly wider. This does not affect anything; I just have to put a slight amount of inward pressure on the fork arms while tightening the axel down. As I said, nit picky, other than that these are the best hubs I have ever ridden. | | Similar Products Used: | Lots...for the past several years, primarily XTR. None that can even be compared, fairly. | | Bike Setup: | 2004 Ellsworth Joker DH 1.5 HT w/Romic rear and Manitou Breakout fork, SSR Ti seat, Salsa skewers, XTR M960 rear, XT front/pods/cassette, HFX Mag 203mm hyd. disk brakes, Race Face Turbine LP/Signature FR BB, Whipperman Full Stainless Chain, FSA bars/stem/headset, Michelin Hot S tires, Yeti bolt on grips, Thomson seat post, TruVative Holzfeller and Crank Bros Mallet M pedals, Brooklyn machined bar end caps, Sun Single Track rims, Hutchinson green tubes and of course, white industry hubs (20mm front "chub" and rear "DJ titanium") My dream bike, no expense spared...I have the CC bills to prove it, lol. | | Bottom Line: | If you have the money and desire to own some of the best hubs available, try a set of White Industry hubs; I am sure you will be pleased with them. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Timothy
a Cross Country Rider
from redondo beach, ca
Date Reviewed: March 5, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | Probably in Tahoe | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Strong, reliable, never let me down. Lightweight | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Hugi, Shimano, others | | Bike Setup: | Wheelset has changed from several bikes, currenty on my commuter with slicks | | Bottom Line: | These hubs have been built up with ti spokes and specialized rims for almost a decade. The wheels have been trued a few times, a broken spoke or two, but that's it. The hubs have never been serviced, have been riden hard and long, and have never let me down. I recently purchased a speedreamwheelset with White LTA hubs and they are just as good and I actually prefer the black anodization. They are ridiculously light and I have not had any problems yet. I weigh about 190. I am looking to build a freeride set next. Kings are great too, but I can't see much difference | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Denton
a Racer
from San Diego, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: December 19, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | Noble, San Juan, Porcupine | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | WI | | Strengths: | Beautiful, easy set up, easy to mantain. | | Weaknesses: | None so far | | Similar Products Used: | Nothing Eccentric | | Bike Setup: | WI Eno Hub disc with front WI disc hub, Giant Iguana frame, CK head set, mavic 717 hoops, Truvative cranks, WI SS free hub, Avid V-brakes, easton and Thomson goodies. | | Bottom Line: | I have been racing and training on this Eno hub for just about a year now. I ride my SS bike almost all of the time if I am off road. I have had no problems with the hubs or the free hub. The ENO makes it easy to change the tension on my chain and the vertical drop outs on my bike make changing a tire effortless. I beat the hell out of my SS bike and the wheels are bomber. I took the hubs apart to give them some love and there was no dirt inside to clean. The bearings are easy to replace if needed as they are standard size sealed cartridge bearings. I have been thinking of going to an eccentric BB set up so I can run disc brakes effortlessly but I am still wondering if I will be as happy with it as I am with this ENO hub. Maybe one of each... Great product in my opinion. I weigh 155 and train and race a lot. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Fred Sled
a Weekend Warrior
from Spawn Ranch, CA
Date Reviewed: July 14, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | Your Mom | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Strengths: | Strong, light, smooth, simply elegant. | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano, Hope, Hugi | | Bike Setup: | DBR X10, Foes Weasel, Jamis Dakar | | Bottom Line: | I have two sets of wheels with White Industries hubs, one set with disk brakes, and one with rim brakes. The disk set is several years old and laced to their 3rd set of rims.
The rim brake set are the ones for this review, the Tracker and Aft Tracker Ti. The rear hub I purchased NOS off Ebay, the front hub was used for several years on a daily commuter bike in Washington State. I took the hub apart, polished it up to a chrome like finish and reassembled it, then laced both of them into a set of Mavic X517 wheels. I've been trail riding the wheelset for over three years now, and I weigh 200lbs. I've had to true both wheels twice since they where built and one time it was because a spoke nipple broke. I would recommend White Industries hubs to anyone building a set of custom wheels. The new hubs are even more amazing than the originals.
PS: I ride my bikes through mud on purpose. After every ride I wash them with the hose and I've never had any trouble with the bearings. Not everything is perfect everytime, but this company makes an outstanding product in my experience. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Henry
a
from Aliso Viejo, CA
Date Reviewed: April 19, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Looks, weight, quality bearings, longevity, stiffness, engagement speed, standard sized bearings available at most bearing supply houses, American Made! | | Weaknesses: | You have to be sure to retighten the set screws after a few rides of break in. Nothing serious. | | Similar Products Used: | Nuke Proof, Real, Shimano (XTR, XT, DX, LX, Deore), Marzocchi, Hugi, Chris King, TNT, Hershey, Ringle, Formula, Bullseye, Syncros, Hope, Mavic Crossland | | Bike Setup: | MC Fury, Z1, XTR/XT mix, White Disc Jockey hubs (32h), Ritchey Disc OCR, 14/15 DT.
Azonic Saber, Stratos LR-1, Chub and DJ rear (32h), Sun Singletrack 26"F 24"R, 14/15 DT
| | Bottom Line: | Ok, it's been years since I last reviewed anything, but I have to give some long overdue credit to White Industries.
I've been running their products since 1997. In order of purchase, Front Tracker hub 1997, C Series crankset 1998 & 1999, Ti square taper BB 1998, Chub hub 2004, Disc Jockey rear hub 2004 & 2005, Disc Jockey front hub 2005. None of these products have ever failed me. In fact, the only reason that some of the older parts have been retired is that the frames they're hung on are a bit outdated.
So focusing on the hubs, the front tracker has been stellar for nearly 8 years and has been submerged multiple times and built into two wheels.
I've got a rear Disc Jockey hub paired with a Chub 20mm hub on my freeride style bike and that has held up very well to repeated drops and reckless riding. I expect the same out of my second set for the Fury.
Looking at and playing with the hubs is pleasing for a parts junkie. Their products are CNC'd and hand polished to a shine. The bearings are super smooth, greased-packed, Enduro style bearings which is pretty much the best off-the-shelf radial bearings you can buy. When built into a wheel, they'll spin forever. The Tracker (now called RacerX) has really spread out flanges for a very stiff wheel. Standard qr front hubs use 17mm diameter, thin walled, chromoly axles and have a 22mm contact face with the fork. Assuming you use a decent qr, this is as close to thru axle stiffness you are going to get with a quick release.
The 20mm hub has no special bells and whistles, but it looks and rides totally solid and builds up nicely. I don't understand the issues the guy below me is reporting about looseness to the axle.
I've stayed away from most aftermarket rear hubs for several years now having been bit badly by the CNC craze of the mid 90's. The White DJ is the first non-shimano rear hub I've tried in a while. It uses a stiff, 15mm, chromo axle and rides on Enduro bearings too. The rachet mechanism has 24 teeth with 3 pawls. (For those of you who care, Hugi ratchets 18 per rev, and Shimano ratchets 16 per rev.) The ratchet speed is noticeably faster than stock without making an obnoxious sound while coasting. Though they are independent, the pawls engage simultaneously with a clean sound unlike some crush prone systems I've seen and used. To the guy below me: check all the other hubs that use a pawl and ratchet ring assembly, they all go together that way and usually exhibit a little slip on only the first pedal stroke the first time it's used. It's not a problem.
Finally, you get the satisfaction of buying an American made product from a company that's been around for a long time and is staffed with nice people to talk with when you have a question. Buy their stuff because it's as good, nearly as light, and cheaper than the only other American alternative. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Douglas
a
from Valencia
Date Reviewed: March 29, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Bottom Line: | I bought a Front 20mm Hub and rear hub based on reviews from this website and the wheelbuilder's recommendation.
Front Hub: To make a long story short, there was too much play between the WI hub and Marzocchi 20mm axle. Also, the dust cap and axle cap are two pieces. One of the dust caps was too loose and falls out due to an incorrect dimension on hub. I went to Marzocchi in Valencia and had them look at this. In the end I bought a Marzocchi Hub because the design was superior with a "Full Floating" bearing system which distributes the load along the full length of a pressed-in sleeve, and the end caps were one piece, so they are located in place when installed in the fork and can not come out based on the design.
Rear Hub: I spun the hub a few times to look at it and check it out before installing, and the freewheel locked up! According to White Industries, by freewheeling the wheel before it was ridden I was actually unthreading the ratchet ring which was causing the hub to bind. According to WI, the ratchet ring is hand threaded into the hub shell and designed to lock in place when the wheel is ridden. Anyway, they said I can grasp the freehub body and rotate clockwise to thread the ratchet ring in place and then ride it to lock it in place. What's wrong with this picture!!
Therefore, the customer is the final step in the assembly process! Maybe I should be on their payroll. At a minimum, they should have a warning not to freewheel their rear hub.
So I am stuck with this hub since it was built up into a wheel. I will report later to see how it holds up after getting some miles on it.
| Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Aaron
a Cross Country Rider
from Stillwater, MN, USA
Date Reviewed: July 30, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | County Cycles, Roseville MN | | Strengths: | I bought a set of hubs and singlespeed freewheel from white. The front hub is their high flange disc hub and the rear is their eccentric ENO hub. Very cool design. If you haven't seen it, it's a single speed hub that fits a standard dropout (vertical 135mm). With the eccentric design, there is no need for a chain tensioner or anything extra on a non SS specific frame. You get correct tension with any gear ratio. It's awesome. As for the front, the high flange and high polish add a retro charm to the look. So far, both hubs are butter smooth. | | Weaknesses: | The disc rotor mounts are drilled very deep. I am a little concerned with the lateral stiffness of a severely asymetric front hub, which is only 100mm wid in the first place. The high flanges may help that. No problems thus far. | | Similar Products Used: | Nothing Eccentric - Hugi 240's that turned out to be crap. | | Bike Setup: | Trek 9.8 carbon frame w/SID SL fork, american classic headset, Race Face LP crank with Spot chainring and guard, mavic 717 rims, XT break levers, Look 4X4 pedals. Deceptively "heavy" at 20.5 lbs... you might guess less from specs. | | Bottom Line: | Awesome. These hubs gave new life to an old bike of mine. It's become one of my favorites. No Regrets. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tex
a
from Oregon
Date Reviewed: June 19, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | From a friend | | Strengths: | I have a White FX rear disc hub. The thing has endured more abuse than anything ever should. I got it in 1999 fom a buddy who was a Pro DH racer, who knows what he did to it before I got it. I've put maybe 6000 miles on it, mostly off road and I've never had the slightest problem. It is so easy to pull apart and clean I actually enjoy it. | | Weaknesses: | If there are any, perhaps they will become apparent in another 6000 miles. | | Similar Products Used: | XT, XTR, Hugi, Edco (not good!), Ringle | | Bike Setup: | Originally on a Bullit, now resides on an Azonic Propulsion | | Bottom Line: | White really did well on this hub. I highly recommend them. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
john su
a Cross Country Rider
from berkeley, ca
Date Reviewed: March 17, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$150.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | silky smooth, lightweight, quality build, great looks | | Similar Products Used: | lx, xt | | Bike Setup: | bridgestone mb3, mix of lx/xt/xtr, white industry hubs on mavic 217 sup rims | | Bottom Line: | bought these on ebay to replace mail order lx/rhinolite rims. what a huge difference! i had the lx/rhynolite wheelset 5 years, so how much of it was worn low-end hubs and heavy rims, vs. well maintained white industry hubs.... but i noticed the lighter weight and smoother hubs instantly. trails i've ridden over and over gain i had to brake much more often because of the increased speed! i ended up in the bushes because a corner i've taken many times i just flew off the cliff! love these hubs! the noise is definitely annoying compared to the old lx... wonder what the quietest high end hubs are because i've read the chris king hubs are loud too. anyways, a great upgrade! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gary Gromet
a
from Miami
Date Reviewed: January 29, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | factory | | Strengths: | This is a followup to an earlier review of Lew Sydney Wheels with White hubs. Since keeping the hubs out of the heavy some Florida rainstorms, the hubs have performed excellently. | | Weaknesses: | When the wheels go out of true, you have to take off the tire. Weight limit of 185 pounds on the | | Similar Products Used: | 2002 Zipp 404 | | Bottom Line: | Lew went out of business, but White did not. The hubs should make the owner aware that the seals may not be strong enough for heavy downpours. Perhaps the hubs were put together better on the rebuild. This was true of the rear wheel that delaminated soon after I started using it, but not since. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a Weekend Warrior
from Alpena, MI
Date Reviewed: October 20, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | North Country-Manistee | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$180.00 | | Purchased At: | don't remember | | Strengths: | Aft Tracker- very durable, easy to clean, and rolls smooth. I've never had a single problem since I bought it. Just oil the inside every few years and thats it. | | Weaknesses: | a little pricey but for as long as they last its worth it.
The clicking of the pawls is a little annoying. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano xt/lx | | Bike Setup: | Super V 1000 FR Rear wheel is 32 spoke Aft Tracker with Mavic 231 | | Bottom Line: | I've had this hub for about 7 or 8 years. The only thing I've had to do is clean and oil it. I'm still on the original bearings and it still spins like new. I originally had this wheel on another bike but I liked it so much I switched the rear wheels before I sold my old bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Devin
a Cross Country Rider
from Asheville, NC
Date Reviewed: October 15, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | Tsali rec area | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Enduring cartridge bearings and seals; bomb proof | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | King; Nuke Proof | | Bike Setup: | Independant Fab Deluxe; mix of xt and xtr. | | Bottom Line: | I am not the type to write reviews (I'd rather not get involved-seems to turn into a pissing contest) but I simply couldnt resist after what I witnessed today. I've had the same White Ind. hubs since around '95. I've gone through a couple of different rims and never bothered with the hubs until today.
I just ordered some 517's which I'm going to lace to the White Ind hubs. I figured why not just overhaul the hubs since I've got em free from the spokes and they havent been dealt with since I bought them years ago.
The owner of the bike shop I work at couldnt understand why I would bother, he said the cartridge bearings were silky smooth. When I told him how old they were he was surprised. This guy is total old school and anti after market, yet he confessed he was impressed.
I used a razor blade to take the seals off so I could expose the bearings...completely clean. I wouldnt say that it was a process to get to the cartridge bearings to replace them, but it took some time. The bearings are more than adequately protected within the hubs as they should be at this price point. Nothings getting in there.
I cant remember what I paid for these hubs, somewhere in the neighborhood of 350.00, but I can definitely say they are worth every freakin penny. They are light and manufactured to last.
Now that I work at a bike shop (a great laid back job by the way if you are working your way through grad school) I can get the goods at cost but I figure why bother? These hubs havent let me down yet and I dont foresee them failing any time in future. Great stuff! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Floydo
a
from Seattle, Wa
Date Reviewed: October 11, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | too many to list | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | This is for the front hub which has worked wonderfully until it went under a car :(. Rode for the last year on a radial laced wheel without signs of fatigue, roughness or stress. | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | XT, XTR, deore | | Bike Setup: | XT, XTR Santa Cruz | | Bottom Line: | Whites customer service and product quality is second to none. They repair, supply parts for very minimal cost quickly and personally. Great to deal with and great product. Compared to the customer service at Rockxxxx (they laugh) and Shimxxx (yawn) I was blown away. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
shanedawg
a Cross Country Rider
from san jose, ca
Date Reviewed: August 16, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | Mr Toads Wild Ride | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | last forever, low drag on drivetrain | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | shimano XT, XTR, Chris King, Rolf | | Bottom Line: | This is a followup to my earlier review that I did back in 6/2000. These hubs are still going strong after 8 years. I am just getting ready to replace the rims and spokes for the second time as they have worn out again and the hubs are in great shape. A note I found out recently: I put King hubs on one of my newer bikes and found that the o-ring seals create a lot of drag and the wheels don't spin as long when you spin them in the workstand. A side effect of this is that when you bcakpedal on the trail your chain can get jammed up because of the hubs resistance to spinning. I don't have any of this problem on the White hubs.
-Shane | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
PM
a Cross Country Rider
from Park City, UT USA
Date Reviewed: July 25, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | any | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$99.00 | | Purchased At: | mail order.. | | Strengths: | White rear cassette hubs RULE. Durable, polished, fat,
and strong. As long as you don't throw your bike into
a pond or mud pit like some of the other unfair reviewers seen to have done below,this hub should last forever.
I can truly say that since I break EVERYTHING I ride on.
Can't break the White! The high flanges build a tougher, stronger wheel, period. The pawl system, if cleaned and lightly oiled once every two years or so, will last
forever. I am 215lbs, ride 2-3K per year on rough singletrack, and these hubs have never let me down.
The sweetness of these hubs is proven by 10 years of
building my own wheels up, and no other hub builds a
wheel up as nice as the White. No way, no how. | | Weaknesses: | Uh.........no lo creo... | | Similar Products Used: | Everything.....By the way, Bullseye front hubs RULE!!!! | | Bottom Line: | These hubs have lasted me forever. As long as you don't
pack water and mud in em, and give them a cursory once-
over every two years or so, they will last a long, long
time. Fat casing with tall flanges builds stronger wheels.
Everyone knows this, so why buy short-flanged hubs which
are all over the place? Can't give enough kudos to WHITE
INDUSTRIES and the high quality product this is....
There are only two or three products I even consider
hanging on my bike, after 12 years of thrashing different products. The Whites' are one of em. Titec 150gram
ti bars, and a bullseye front hub is the other. Time
will uncover the truth for all the others... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jon Severson
a Racer
from Colorado Springs
Date Reviewed: July 13, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | The Farm, MPLS, MN (truelly crazy stuff.) | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | Lew Usa | | Strengths: | Super easy to maintain. HIGH tolerances. Excellent customer service. Solid. Build well at high tension. Lightweight. But most important STRONG!!!! | | Weaknesses: | unknown in the world of overhyped expensive crap. (though King I'll say is on par) | | Similar Products Used: | King, American Classic, Mavic, Shimano XTR, Zipp, Machinetech, Hugi, Tune, Etc... | | Bike Setup: | Salsa Ala Carte, White Brothers Fork, XT, Time, Salsa goodies, Rockshox post, Stainless Salsa cages, Panaracer FIRE XC Pro tires. SURLY Steamroller FIXED gear. Bianchi EV2 with LEW wheels and Campy Record. Cervelo on order. | | Bottom Line: | This is the scoop folks. I was the head of customer service at Lew Composites (now defunct) and I saw lots of wheels and talked with many riders...people who put 10,000 plus miles on a year. Pros...European Pros. The works. I built more wheels than I can count at EXTREMELY high tensions for Lew. My wheel builder built a ton of wheels with these hubs. They are the best. Mint.
I personally dealt with a certain someone's wheels. The hubs had problems because he used a pressure washer to clean his bike. Only ONE outer bearing was bad. The bearings are not designed for that....but they are specifically designed for bikes. Also you are not suppose to grease the pawls only use a light sewing machine type oil.
White Industries makes my favorite hub right now hands down. Light, but not so much it sacrifices stength and buildability. Tune is an example of poor design. Hugi's are vastly overated. Grab a set of Whites. You'll be suprised.
I saw alot of crazy things working at Lew. All crash replacements. Only twice did I have a hub issue. Both times it was consumer related....not White.
To boot. They are nice people. They fixed Gary's bearing problem for FREE...even though it was his fault. Cool of them eh? And he posts a negative review...... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ride'M25
a Weekend Warrior
from FrankfurtD, CamberleyGB, KalonaUSA
Date Reviewed: March 2, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | SugarBottomIA,SockumRidgeIA | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Tracker (front) with oversized axle/Speed Racer (rear) Ti&4130cro-mo cassette bodies - triple cross/Sapim Laser(36h) & Race(32h) Spokes/Ambrosio CC24 double-eyelet rims: Provide the reliability, speed, endurance, longevity, and weight necessary for all-around cross country/free ride/expedition applications. It starts with the hubs. Six sets built-up over past two years and not a problem with any. Best all-around hubset on the market. A perfect set-up. A perfect design. Now the RacerX line takes over with similar flange diameter and possibly stronger hub shell design. Not a problem to service. Fully accessible customer/tech support from manufacturer. | | Weaknesses: | Product - None. Market Share - Manufacturer would have much larger market share with enhanced marketing dept. devoted to the bicycle market since White Industries does machine parts for various high tech industries. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano XT. Road - Campy, Ofmega, Stronglight (sealed), Normandy. Approaching middle age with road/aero background. MTB experience for past two years. Prior prototype tester to many manufacturers. | | Bike Setup: | All Totally Customized: Corratec Grizzly (Al. Bow frame); '95 FSR (dbl-butt Presige cro-mo dual susp. & factory customized Stratos rear shock); '98 GT Aggressor (4130 cro-mo). All bikes run two sets of these wheels with 32h on the Grizzly. Rond-Magura Quake Comp susp. fork on all three. All top-of-the-line componentry outfitted from scratch to fit each frame characteristics. Example: Brakes - Grizzly got super light weight Avid magnesium brakes/levers with RB boosters, FSR got HS-33 hydrolics with Magura boosters, Aggressor got Avid Arch Rival brakes/speed dial 7 levers with Salsa boosters. All run XT IG 8 speed cassettes 11-28/30T, IG-90 chains, 8 sp. XTR/XT derailleurs, Hurricane/S-Works/Tamer Pivot-Plus seatposts, Corratec/Syntace VRO/AnswerDH stems, Magura Titanium/Syntace VRO&Vector/AzonicFlatDoubleWall handlebars. Salsa cro-mo skewers. Etc....with enough back-up componentry to last til I die. | | Bottom Line: | MANY TRASH-TALK REVIEWS DO NOT REVIEW THE HIGH-END TRACKER/SPEED RACER/AND NEW RACER X. These hubs would have a much higher rating if MTBR did not batch older version hubs and OEM lower-end hubs all together with the superb high-end hubs from White Industries. As with any hub, if taken care of and minimal maintenance aptitude, the high-end White Ind. hubs rival all the rest. Are they as good as Phil Wood? They are lighter and with maintenance can last a long, long time. Are they as good as Chris King? Every bit. Are they as good as Hugi 240? No contest. White Industries does precision manufacturing beyond just the bicycle industry. Their emphasis to other high tech industries is not dissimilar to Control Tech. They won't live or die from a down turn in the bike market. Bottom line: High end Quality stuff worthy to go on my bikes and perform up to my expectations. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
gary gromet
a Racer
from Homestead FL
Date Reviewed: December 3, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Purchased At: | Lew-USA | | Strengths: | Light, 20 hole rear, smooth. The hub was used on the high performance Lew Sydneys because Lew-USA.com could not get a Hugi or Mavic 20 spoke rear hub. | | Weaknesses: | The rear hub fails readily, especially in wet weather. Clicking noise when coasting gets tiresome. I would change the hub to Hugi or Mavic if I could, so would Lew which may have to build its own rear hub. | | Similar Products Used: | Mavic Kyserium. | | Bike Setup: | Road racer | | Bottom Line: | The first time I got these hubs wet they started to squeak and howl like a bird, then they just about seized. I had less than 1000 miles on the rear hub of the set of Lew Sydney wheels. I have ridden tens of thousands of miles on Mavic hubs and never had such a sudden unset of bearing failure. Only a mechanic who likes to work on overhauling his rear wheel hub should buy the White Industries rear hub and even then, change wheels if its starts to rain. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Larry Manhart
a Weekend Warrior
from Pocatello, Idaho, USA
Date Reviewed: November 29, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | City Creek | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1900.00 | | Purchased At: | Part of bike purchased. | | Strengths: | Light and looks great. | | Weaknesses: | became loose and makes a clicking noise if not frequently tightened. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano Alivio, LX, & XT. | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz superlight, Super X kit. Sid XC fork, Fox vanilla R rear shock. | | Bottom Line: | I've had problems with it coming loose and making noise. For the small amount of wieght savings I'd stick with a less expensive Shimano XT hub. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joey Baggadonuts
a Cross Country Rider
from Boston
Date Reviewed: September 25, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Easy to maintain, smooth like butta to ride! | | Weaknesses: | Don't know | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano XT, LX | | Bottom Line: | I really dig my Tracker hub, and I have dug it for 3 or 4 years now, and I will probably keep digging it for many more years to come. You see, it is very easy to maintain, and is always smoooooth as silk to ride. Dig?
5 CHILIS!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt Goebel
a Cross Country Rider
from Fairfax, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: February 5, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | tamarancho | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | very strong, sturdy
OK weight | | Weaknesses: | loud annoying clicking
Price | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Klein Mantra Comp, ul xtr | | Bottom Line: | it would probably be great for a downhill/cross country rider | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
tim
a Weekend Warrior
from cincinnati, ohio
Date Reviewed: December 8, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | high flanges build a strong wheel
look cool
flanges are thick and sturdy
reasonable weight
stiff chromoly axle
| | Weaknesses: | pricey
bearings held in by itty-bitty allen bolts
i wish the flanges were farther apart | | Similar Products Used: | old paul ddt | | Bike Setup: | litespeed obed | | Bottom Line: | this review is for the 32h high-flange front hub, not the tracker.
i built my wheel with a rhyno lite rim, wheelsmith db spokes, and brass nipples. i ride trials with this setup, i have had one bad wreck on the wheel, i botched a jump and landed face-first in the grass, the wheel was badly outta true, but was easily straightened. the bearings are still quite smooth, i've had to perform zero maintenance thus far. i'm satisfied with the performance so far.
3 chilies for the high retail price i didn't have to pay, 5 chilies for the performance. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Louie Figone
a Racer
from Half Moon Bay, CA
Date Reviewed: October 22, 2000 | | Favoriate Trail: | all cross country | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | Bike Works, Half Moon Bay and other places | | Strengths: | Stiff, easy to work on, strong, looks | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | Hugi, Shimano | | Bike Setup: | Moots YBB, XTR, White Ind Hubs and Cranks, Superfly fork, Mavic 517 rims | | Bottom Line: | Since my last review in may of 99 I have built five sets of wheels with White Hubs (Speed Racer and Tracker) with DT Revo spokes and 517 rims. Have had no problems with any of them. I have replaced drive side bearings, but after two years of service. Have found if you clean and lube the bearings when used in wet conditions the bearings will last. I also replace with european bearings when replacement is needed. Have had a pawl spring break and still used the wheel for two months without problems. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jeff
a Cross Country Rider
from charlotte,n.c.,usa
Date Reviewed: October 9, 2000 | | Favoriate Trail: | the one i'm on | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$450.00 | | Purchased At: | its been so long??? | | Strengths: | there size big and fat
the polished look helps also
that noise it makes the rider in front of you worry in races
i love it | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | specalized stout
shim xt,lx
hugi disc,for hayes brakes | | Bike Setup: | lp dh bars,sid xl,race face crnaks,lp seatpost,mavic 517,
avid levers,brakes,on a fsr xc with 4 inches of rear tr.
no shim. parts | | Bottom Line: | going on 6 years with these hubs and no regrets. opened them up once and relubed that was about 2 years ago. these hubs atract attention from other riders
this is my 3rd bike with these wheels
i ride xc i also beat my bike when i ride downtown no holding back when it comes to stairs or drops.
i weigh about 140 and im 5,7 i consider myself to be pretty hard on my bikes considering that i broke my last frame
these hubs are the best thing since sliced bread
i'd buy them again i'd recomend them to everyone | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
NOJ
a Cross Country Rider
from Lakewood, CO
Date Reviewed: September 26, 2000 | | Favoriate Trail: | Pinnacle Peak, AZ | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Looks, strength, weight, easy rebuild,CUSTOMER SERVICE! | | Weaknesses: | None so far | | Similar Products Used: | XT, Mavic | | Bike Setup: | Aeon Isis, Race Face/GripShift/Avid | | Bottom Line: | I first bought a custom wheelset almost six years ago w White Tracker & Aft Tracker hubs, Mavic 517s and DT revolution spokes. After killing three rear rims and a few thousand miles of AZ, WA, OR, CA and CO, the bearings in the rear hub finally gave out. The front is still going strong on the ORIGINAL bearings and rim!
e-mailed White about bearing replacements, and they made me a nice offer on a Speed Racer to replace the old Aft Tracker, which I jumped on. The new wheel is being laced up this week; rarely do you see a company that stands behind their producs as strongly, and I count White Industries among Answer, Syncros and Mavic for really kicking ass! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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$ 320.00
