Barrettscv 

I have a new rear wheel for my commuting & light touring bike. It's a Shimano Dura Ace 36 spoke hub laced to Mavic Open Pro rims. I purchased this from a reputable wheel builder on close-out for $125.

I'm going to have my LBS build a matching 32 or 36 spoke wheel. I can find 105 hubs for as little as $16 while Ultegra cost 3 X as much and Dura Ace are even more.

I've been using 105 hubs on my cyclocross bike without a problem.

Is Ultegra or Dura Ace worth the extra money? The finished wheel will cost $100 to $125, so I don't want to invest in a low end hub on what should be a long term investment.

Michael

late

Durace felt microscopically faster, but it could have been my imagination.
I suspect the biggest difference is weight. Obviously, they roll a bit smoother
as they get pricier, but the difference is so small that unless you're racing,
the extra second over the course of a day isn't much.

I used to ride Durace. Now I use Ultegra. I'd consider 105,
but I picked up some NOS 9spd Ultegras in a bike shop this summer while I was touring; for spares
(you never know..)

Anyway, I think 105 would be a good match for that rim.

LeeG

it's only worth the extra money if the money doesn't matter to you and you want the most expensive model. There's nothing like riding with a more fit person riding entry level gear and seeing them blow past you to realize the inherent efficiency of a bicycle.

davidad

The differences if any are small.

HillRider

Very true except for cost. A 105 hub will give fine service and the demands on a front hub are lower than on a rear as it carries less weight and no driving forces. Unless having the hubs match in appearance is a consideration, get the 105.

Barrettscv 

I pulled the trigger on the 105 hub.

Thank's everyone.

mechBgon

This is an exploded view of a Dura-Ace front hub:



The differences are anything but small here 600, 105 and Tiagra are similar to each other, however.

Al1943

Nice thing about bike components is that you usually get what you pay for.
You're the one most qualified to know what your needs are.

Al

JohnDThompson 

The question becomes: are these differences significant enough to justify the price for a amateur, mid-level rider?

Barrettscv 

I thought caged bearings were a bad idea for hubs?

mechBgon

Normally, Tiagra is the maximum bang for the buck, but the OP scored a 105 for even less, so that's a win

Mr Zippy

I'm interested in that. Looking at the exploded view diagram of a he current (2009?) HB5600 105 front hub, the barings are cup-and-cone too -

https://techdocs.shimano.com/media/te...9830647952.pdf

I'm also interested in the pros and cons of sealed verses cup-and-cone barings. I personally like cup-and-cone barings because I like to be able to fully clean and service them and very finely adjust them. I'm sure sealed barings are good, but I'm not aware of a way that you can change their positioning to adjust the play in or with them.

mechBgon

You could loose-pack the current Dura-Ace hubs if the retainer bothered you.

HillRider

The mechanical differences are significant but the performance differences are minor.

I have a set of the Dura Ace hubs you illustrate and also have 105 and Ultegra hubs on other bikes and even a pair of Campy Chorus hubs on another. Properly lubed and adjusted, I defy you to tell the difference among any of them by spinning the wheels by hand or riding the bikes.

I've also found that if maintained with any reasonable degree of care, 105 and Ultegra hubs are very long lasting and durable so the higher line hubs don't have much of a benefit in longevity either.

Like many things, at BEST you get what you pay for. Higher cost bike components, once you get above the entry level, are lighter, better finished cosmetically and do impress your riding buddies. The performance differences are usually very small.

Al1943

Let me re-phrase that. "You usually get your money's worth." Maybe that sounds better.
I think we get a lot for our money, at any level, which is what I'm trying to say.
I think they're all good, some better than others.
A bicycle is the most efficient machine ever built.

Banzai

Marginal differences.

The most significant being the Dura-Ace rear, which has a titanium freehub body. Otherwise, the weight differences and parts are incredibly close.

I have one set of wheels built with 105 hubs, one with Ultegra. If they were both the same color, without the label they would be indistinguishable.

mechBgon

Agreed. They're all good hubs and would all be satisfactory. My main point was that Dura-Ace front hubs are quite different from the rest of the line.

Personally, I use the Dura-Ace 7850 rear hub on my race bike (light, but without the wacky "digital" cone adjustment), but I'd use Tiagra in front if they offered it in a 28-hole. They don't, so I run Ultegra up front, with an SRP Ti axle

Panthers007

I purchased a set of Ultegra hubs for the wheels I was building. They were on sale for less than 105's. They are often to be found on sale. Especially the last year's ones. Look around. If no sale - go ahead with the 105's.