illusiumd

So in my quest to graduate out of newb school - I'm revisiting areas of my Fall 14 bike purchase.

Why - if they weren't getting a discount - would one choose a rear hub that's three or four times the price of other options?

Little Darwin

I can think of 4 reasons.

1) Stronger

2) More durable

3) Lighter (potentially bought by someone not necessarily looking for #1 or #2 )

4) Bling factor.

dr_lha

Check out this post, where a wheel builder compares "bling" White Industries T11 hubs to "cheap" Novatec hubs.

https://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycli...l#post17757380

obed7

simple truth? I buy most things because I want them, occasionally I actually buy something because I need it, but that is not the norm.

TrojanHorse

Why would you buy a bike that's 3-4 times the cost of other options? Why would you buy a car that's 3-4 times the cost of other options? Why would you buy steak that's 3-4 times the cost of other options? Obviously they perceive that there is extra value, and of course, it comes with free angry hornets.

obed7

yep, love that sound... it is better than a bell for approaching joggers on MUTs....

Black wallnut 

I don't questions others motivations for how they spend their money. Although not quite the same thing I can feel a big difference between 105 hubs and Ultegra 6800 hubs. The price difference is more than worth it.

jsigone

reliability, servicing parts (every try to find a cassette body for your off brand hub?...fun), bearing and machining tolerance quality, and that sound or lack of sound if you like to be a ninja.


louder the hubs better on MTB where 99% of runners wear two ear buds. my hope hubs sounds like a rattlesnake so they jump kinda quick when i get behind them

Drew Eckhardt 

Power measurement.

dr_lha

I assume you're comparing 5700 105 vs 6800 Ultegra here? Out of interest, what do you find to be the difference? I have 5700 and 6800 hubs in my wheelsets, and I can't say I notice much difference in how the hubs roll.

Black wallnut 

Correct assumption and yes I can feel a noticeable difference. I've 2 wheelsets with 5700 hubs. The Ultegra are just night and day smoother.

MileHighMark

For off-road riding, many people prefer higher POE (points-of-engagement). On very technical terrain, having the hub engage more quickly can be a real benefit. Hubs with higher POE are generally more expensive, but are also louder, and in many cases, have more resistance.

I've put lots of miles on expensive and not-so-expensive hubs. As long as you maintain them, less-costly hubs work just fine (which can be said for many components).

LGHT

I don't know much about wheels and hubs, but I always wondered how much the hub has in regards to rolling resistance? I have a pair of fulcrum 4's on the tarmac and 7's on the Roubaix. Not sure how good these wheels are in comparison to others of if it was just the bike, but while riding in a group I always seem to coast a lot longer and further than just about everyone else in the group and often have to pull out of the line to slow my pace while others are steady peddling away. There was even a guy riding a new Pinarello and I seemed to coast just as far and fast as he was while in the group.

When I turn the bike over and spin the wheel they just seem to roll forever.

dr_lha

Interesting. This either means 1) I'm not sensitive to it 2) My 105 hubs are awesome or 3) my 6800 hubs need servicing.

cyclist2000

I like my Phils, seem to roll better and are very robust. And I plan to get a set for my touring bike

chriskmurray

On a road bike it is rare to see a freehub failure so you could get away with cheaper hubs very easily but I bought White Industries hubs mostly because I really love the brand and buying made in the US.

On my mountain bike, I have blown up enough freehubs with cheaper hubs and take it into remote enough areas that I use higher end hubs for reliability to lessen the chance of a hub failure 10+ miles from a road because I hate walking.

spdntrxi

I got a Extralite Cyber rear... because it's light. It's serviceable for me.. I looked at the level 1 maintenance before the purchase.

CliffordK

I'm not sure if I can tell a big difference between the feel of 105 and Ultegra. But Shimano has a large number of different hubs, each one just a little better. The grease seals in Ultegra may be stainless? And plain steel in 105?

By the time one gets down to the M30/M40 hubs... the exterior finish is very rough. And, the bearings feel like they are full of gravel when new. And, one can't adjust that away. I think it is just the cones. I managed to pit some similar hubs in the first 1000 miles or riding. I'm now experimenting with polishing my cones before install... we'll see how the longevity is. But, it still is a pain if one has to disassemble, polish, and rebuild brand new parts. The grease seals of the M30/M40 hubs isn't quite as nice as the higher quality ones (although the external rubber seal is at least an interesting addition.

ColaJacket

Look at all the other threads in this forum about bad wheels. Granted most of them have to do with spokes, but I've also seen a few with bad hubs.

It might be worth a little piece of mind, not to have to walk with the bike or make a call of shame.

GH

illusiumd

Thanks for the link. I got some WI T11's on wheelset that the LBS gave me at a big discount - I think they were slightly used - I was surprised to see how expensive they were. Makes me think I need a better lock

HA! Yes Thanks for the info all! Good stuff.

Sullalto

Because campy with 135mm ain't cheap.

fatpunk

While I don't own expensive hubs I have been on MTB trails with guys who's bicycles cost more than my truck and I swear there's nothing like the sound of a pack of angry hornets some higher end hubs make.

indyfabz

+1. And they prove that I am too cool to have to wave.

Null66

MMMM,
I LOVE the feel of my Phil's, and so very quiet...

Also I prefer the "on your bike or under it" approach... Only once have I had to leave my bike behind, way too hot to walk, let alone carry a bike...

I can fix or uh, finesse, most things to get back on the road. Bottom brackets, hubs, and headsets can fail in ways that are beyond me on roadside repairs.

indyfabz

Makes me think you need your head examined for either: (1) Locking up a high-end bike or (2) Putting WI T11s on an otherwise low end bike.