[gregnash]

My brother is still riding them and happy with them. I was thinking of taking a foray into build a rear wheel for the winter (something I can just throw a super knobby wet weather tire on) or use them as commuter rims. Plans are that next year (2013) I will start looking at a FS as the area immediately around my house is fine for a hardtail but venturing up into Tahoe I can see it warranting a FS. Figure I will do a frame up build again and might as well start with a new set of wheels that I built. But the problem is that most FS are starting to come with the thru-axle style rears which causes and issue here.

 

[Widget]

I've put a ton of miles on a road set, and so far so good!

 

[mattsavage]

I just ordered a set that I'll lace up to some 50mm carbon tubulars for a SSCX disc build I'm doing. Will report back in the longterm.

 

[ktm520]

I have a set of the newer "HDW2" coming. Looks like they changed flange diameters slightly and the freehub has 6 pawls vs. the older 3. Going to lace them to the light-bicycle AM carbon rims.
eBay - New & used electronics, cars, apparel, collectibles, sporting goods & more at low prices

 

[Sablotny]

Cool, maybe I'll nab a pair of those for a 29er. Just finished my taxes - the good news from that is I can order my Mach 4 now - and ride these wheels!

 

[Sheepo5669]

I have a set coming for some road race wheels. Too bad they are lost in the mail. 2 weeks they have been in the states coming from Bethpage NY

 

[TigWorld]

I have a set of the newer "HDW2" coming. Looks like they changed flange diameters slightly and the freehub has 6 pawls vs. the older 3. Going to lace them to the light-bicycle AM carbon rims.
eBay - New & used electronics, cars, apparel, collectibles, sporting goods & more at low prices

Those HDW2 hubs now look like they use the Rotaz / A2Z / Chin Haur freehub engagement mechanism (or something similar). When you get them, pull the freehub off and post up some pictures of the pawls etc.

 

[fabrice]

What are the flange diameters of the new HDW2 ?
(The front one seems unchanged)

 

[ktm520]

I got some drawings from the ebay seller but the front was for a 20mm thru and I'm not confident that the rear is correct. My hubs will be here later this week and I will measure. Tracking number said they were in Chicago on 2/2, but there hasn't been an update since.

 

[fabrice]

Hi, thanks, that would be great if you could put here your measurements, once done

 

[mattsavage]

I got some drawings from the ebay seller but the front was for a 20mm thru and I'm not confident that the rear is correct. My hubs will be here later this week and I will measure. Tracking number said they were in Chicago on 2/2, but there hasn't been an update since.

I posted the dimensions for the HDW2 in post 20 on page 1... http://forums.mtbr.com/8849110-post20.html

 

[fabrice]

these are the HDW, not the HDW2.
For the rear HDW2, the flange at the drive side is larger than disc side. For the HDW, it's the opposite.

 

[mattsavage]

these are the HDW, not the HDW2.
For the rear HDW2, the flange at the drive side is larger than disc side. For the HDW, it's the opposite.

Well, isht... I guess I better pull my freehub apart and see what's inside, because I ordered the HDW2 and it matches the drawing. I ordered from Ebike.ltd on Ebay. He sells a ton of those things and has good feedback... Maybe he made a mistake.

Now that I look at it, the current listings don't match that drawing at all... Bummer...

 

[ktm520]

Here are the drawings ebike.ltd sent me for the HDW2. The front hub appears to be the same. I was hoping I could modify the front axle for a 9mm thru, but it doesn't look like that will be possible with the small bearing id. Rear should easily convert to 10mm thru by boring out the end caps. Hubs should be here today or tomorrow. Will post pics of the freehub when I get a chance and verify flange dimensions.

 

[fabrice]

Well, isht... I guess I better pull my freehub apart and see what's inside, because I ordered the HDW2 and it matches the drawing. I ordered from Ebike.ltd on Ebay. He sells a ton of those things and has good feedback... Maybe he made a mistake.

Now that I look at it, the current listings don't match that drawing at all... Bummer...

I've bought 4 pairs of HDW's so far, and they all came form that seller. I also bought some other items from him. I just can confirm he deserves his good feedbacks
Drop him a line, maybe with a picture... I'm sure he can do something.

Here are the drawings ebike.ltd sent me for the HDW2. The front hub appears to be the same. I was hoping I could modify the front axle for a 9mm thru, but it doesn't look like that will be possible with the small bearing id. Rear should easily convert to 10mm thru by boring out the end caps. Hubs should be here today or tomorrow. Will post pics of the freehub when I get a chance and verify flange dimensions.

Thanks for the drawings
According to the one of the rear hub, both flanges have equal diameters ?
On the photos, I had the impression the drive side was larger. You'll see when you'll measure...

 

[ktm520]

I'm really happy with these hubs. Only 3 of 6 paws are engaged simultaneously and the ratchet has 27t, equals 54 points of engagement. Bearings are cheap but they can be replaced for pennies. Dust seals on hub aren't going to stop much. Definitely going to keep an eye on the plastic ratchet gear.

*EDIT* The ratchet gear is actually steel not plastic *EDIT*

Rear can be converted to 10mm thru by boring out the end caps. The front bearing id is only 10mm, so I'm not sure yet if it can modified without turning up some new end caps. I would really like to get a 9mm axle through it.

The front hub drawing is accurate. The rear is not.
left dia 56.5
right dia 60.0
left offset 35.5
right offset 21.0

Front hub 117g
Rear hub 241g

 

[fabrice]

Thanks for that info !
Indeed your measurements confirm that left dia is smaller that right dia.
I guess the weight of the rear hub is 241g, otherwise it would be a winner over the Tune Dezibel

I never had an A2Z/Rotaz/... in my hands, but it looks similar for the freewheel mecanism, does it ?
No worries about the plastic teeth ? Hopefuly that ring is at the freewheel body side... Is it replaceable alone ? There is maybe a steel alternative...

 

[TigWorld]

Looks like its made by Chin Haur / Rotaz. A2Z is slightly different but all with this design suffer from the problem of the pawls flogging out the hub shell which you can't replace. They do wear the freehub teeth which you can replace, but there's no fixing the play that develops where the pawls sit in the hub shell. I have the A2Z version and it showed signs of flogging out after about 5000km, but has held in there for another 2500km, but it has 5 pawls that engage simultaneously so the load is distributed a bit more.

I also found the rear axle to be a bit flexy on bigger drops allowing the freehub teeth to score the hub shell near the pawls.



If you're a pedal masher/strong guy/ride often etc. I'd go for the other Monkey Hub design which seems stronger (although heavier).

Are you sure the rear weighs 141g? Perhaps 241g?

 

[fabrice]

So, the HDW2 may be OK for a girls, not pushing very hard and riding maybe 1500km/year... ??
(that's one of the future builds I'll have to do, and I had those Circus Monkey hubs in mind for this)

The "2-step" pawls of the HDW2 are a more clever design (theoretically !) than the A2Z : when coasting, that's only the first tooth (rounded) of the pawl that touches the plastic teethring, without beeing too agressive. And when pedaling, it's the second tooth (more sharp) that transmits the torque.
I've already seen this kind of design somewhere...

I also found the rear axle to be a bit flexy on bigger drops allowing the freehub teeth to score the hub shell near the pawls.

That's something I've also seen with a "standard" Circus Monkey (HDW) rear hub, with a "big" guy (85kg), although on a full suspension bike.
Not as severe as on your picture, but still visible.

 

[ktm520]

Tig, thanks for the info. In theory, the two tooth pawls should help keep it from walking on the ring gear. I like the design of the A2Z front hub a lot better than the CM. Bigger bearings and plenty of room for bigger axles. Do you know if the front Rotaz is the same design?

The seals on the bearings actually say "Chin Haur" on them along with the p/n.