Bicycle Mechanics - Is there a break in period for new hubs?

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Ziemas
09-16-05, 12:26 AM
I recently had a set of wheels built up with Hope XC hubs. When I first rode them I was a bit surprised as they were slugish. I was wondering what the hype was all about. After a few hundred km they are like butter! Soooo much smother than my old XT/XTR combo.

So, Is there a break in period for new hubs? Thanks.

EndlessRage
09-16-05, 12:45 AM
yes, it varies by brand on the amount of riding required but the do break in.
HillRider
09-16-05, 07:18 AM
What "broke in" were probably the bearing seals. These can be quite tight on new hubs and will wear and loosen after some riding. Properly manufactured and adjusted bearings themselves should not have a beak in period.

If the new hubs are now much smoother than your former XT/XTR hubs, the old ones were either badly worn or poorly adjusted. A properly maintained and adjusted cup and cone bearing has inherently less drag than a cartridge bearing. The difference is trivial but it's there.

matheprat
09-16-05, 07:38 AM
What "broke in" were probably the bearing seals. These can be quite tight on new hubs and will wear and loosen after some riding. Properly manufactured and adjusted bearings themselves should not have a beak in period.

The freehub mechanism on some hubs also requires a break-in period, during which the hub can skip a bit.