[madsedan]

I had my LBS build me the flows on a budget due to destroying both of the stock rims, I had very little money to spend so we used new X7 hubs for the build. That was 4-5 months ago and I am likely going to build up a niner EMD for my next bike and may have the rims rebuilt with a better hub.

I'd like something with following
-more POE than the X7 hub
-sealed cartridge bearings
-a little lighter would be good
-with a bolt through front hub
-and possible around $100-125 per wheel.

Am I wasting my time and should I stick with what I have or is this a feasable request?

 

[mtnbiker72]

By through axle do you mean 9mm, 15mm, or 20mm?

Transition hubs have 22 point engagement, cartridge bearings, a rear through axle, and a front hub adaptable to 9mm qr, 15mm, or 20mm. They're not real light, though you can get a aluminum FH body for them for not much more (requires high end cassette).

DMR hubs also might fit into your request depending on your front hub requirements.

 

[madsedan]

Thanks!

 

[miniwisejosh]

I've been running Hopes on my Flows for the past couple years. I like those hubs a lot, but I've been craving something with better engagement lately. I'm most likely going to get Hadley hubs. They seem to have the best balance of price and performance among the high engament hubs. I'm also thinking about I9s if I can be convinced that they won't disintegrate the first time a rock gets up in the spokes...

 

[Jdub]

I've been running Hopes on my Flows for the past couple years. I like those hubs a lot, but I've been craving something with better engagement lately. I'm most likely going to get Hadley hubs. They seem to have the best balance of price and performance among the high engament hubs. I'm also thinking about I9s if I can be convinced that they won't disintegrate the first time a rock gets up in the spokes...

I've got two wheelsets built around Hope Pro2 hubs and another with Hadleys. The Pro2s are cheaper, lighter and very easily converted between all the axle formats. They are also easily serviced.

The Hadleys are tough and the engagement on them gives them an all around nicer feel. The Hadleys also are a little better sealed, keep the grime and grit out. Not a huge deal for me in CO as we have a lot more dust than we do mud, but if you ride in muddy conditions something to consider. They are also pretty flexible as well, I recently converted my rear to a 10mm thru-axle.

I've got thousands of trouble free miles on both Pro2s and Hadleys. The only issue I've ever had with either set of hubs is that I detonated a bearing on the Hadleys along way from the car one day, not really a fault of the hubs just a bearing that was passed due to be replaced. I was able to nurse it back to the car and then get the bearing replaced.

 

[miniwisejosh]

Good info. Thanks. How do you find the Hadley hubs for maintenance?

 

[Jdub]

Good info. Thanks. How do you find the Hadley hubs for maintenance?

Not quite as simple as the Hope Pro2s, but certainly are very home serviceable. If you do some googling, there are several PDF files sitting around that show you step by step on how to take them apart and put back together. The only special tool you need is a 21mm spanner wrench, but you can just buy a 20mm and then grind it with a Dremel or some like tool to be a 21.

You can also buy a 21mm tool from Hadley as well.

 

[PutAwayWet]

+ 1 on the Hadley hubs. As a bonus, the front hubs are convertible between 9 mm QR - 15 mm - 20 mm. Gives you freedom to change fork setups without having to change your wheel.

 

[roadie scum]

The Hope 2 front hub is convertible is it not ?

 

[Jdub]

The Hope 2 front hub is convertible is it not ?

Yes, it does 9mm QR, 15 and 20mm too.

 

[AMCAT]

Not quite as simple as the Hope Pro2s, but certainly are very home serviceable. If you do some googling, there are several PDF files sitting around that show you step by step on how to take them apart and put back together. The only special tool you need is a 21mm spanner wrench, but you can just buy a 20mm and then grind it with a Dremel or some like tool to be a 21.

You can also buy a 21mm tool from Hadley as well.

J...There was a issues a few years back with the hope pawl springs,did hope address this ?? or was it just issolated to a bad batch of hubs...
I guess you've had a good run on your hope hubs...:thumbsup:

 

[miniwisejosh]

The pawls in my Hopes are fine after almost 2 years. Some of my friends have also been on Hopes for the same time or longer with no issues. I think that was just a QC thing that got fixed.

 

[Jdub]

J...There was a issues a few years back with the hope pawl springs,did hope address this ?? or was it just issolated to a bad batch of hubs...
I guess you've had a good run on your hope hubs...:thumbsup:

I don't specifically remember that issue, but both my sets have been rock solid. Hadley has some tolerance issues back when they were making a 108pt engagement hub too, but they rectified those problems since then.

It happens, the bigger issue to me is how the company handles the inevitable problems. My limited dealings with Hadley have been great, and fortunately I haven't had to have any dealings with Hope yet.