wvridgerider

I weigh umm 280 right now, been riding for years and ride single track and road. I have destroyed Shimano free hubs regularly in the woods. I just picked up a DT Swiss hub laced to a Stans rim and will see how long it lasts. The Shimano hubs are fine on the road. I will post and let you know how well it holds up. I had a Mavic hub and the cassette wore into the freehub because it was aluminum and the freehub would stick at times. If you are big and ride singletrack I would recomend a good rear hub. Now off to the woods.

wvridgerider

Oh yea, I only gave $200 for the wheel, purchased sightly used.

RR3

I have 30+ year old Phil hubs, 20+ year old Dura-Ace hubs, 20+ year old White Ti Cassette hub, and 40+ year old Campy hubs that have never had a broken axle, broken flange, and dare I admit....some are on original bearings. (ball and cup...clean and regrease is pretty easy)

I have "cheap" 105 hubs that feel like sand is in them and that were never smooth from day one. The even cheaper hubs did not last me and so, I do not waste time with cheap hubs now that I can afford not to deal with lousy wheels. Unlike a $300 saddle, your basic 32H high quality wheels do not get the bling factor. Sometimes only (bad) experience learns us.

Jarrett2

Count me as another that felt a difference in 105 and Ultegra hubs. DT Swiss 350's are another fave.

I just got a set of Stan's Grails with their Stan’s 3.30RD hubs and I am digging them as well. Love the way they sound when coasting.

Leebo

Large sized mt biker here. I tend to break stuff, a lot. My hadley hubs on handbuilt wheels have held up for 10 + years. They last, work well and are easily serviced. Plus they are blue. Wicked sparkly. And many points of engagement, great for some 1/4 pedal strokes in a rock garden.

Null66

MMMM, White Industries... from what I hear, doesn't really matter if they're all that used.

My wheel set costs about 2x my frame (thought hey, my first and last, good wheelset, yeah, right)... About 1/2 the total build cost. But it's my only bike, so...

He says after drooling over the Diverge... Too bad it uses proprietary spacings... Or rather good thing....

I lock it when not directly in sight (hefty cable with padlock) unless in secured facility. Stops casual thieves, and in any high bike theft area, well one of us watches the bikes..

MRT2

I love my Velo Orange back hub. Looks and sounds really nice. Time will tell if it was worth spending more when a Deore or 105 hub might have been perfectly serviceable.

indyfabz

I have a set of red Chris Kings. Paid about what the rear hub alone retails for, albeit the rear is 10 speed. I am having it converted to 11 speed for my custom ti frame that is STILL at the painter's. (Don't get me started on that.) A wheel set costing twice my frame (not including fork and ceramic coating) would run about $6,500.

dr_lha

This thread is making me paranoid about my 105 hubs. At least they're only on my beater bike!

BradH

I wouldn't be worried about 105 hubs. With cup and cone hubs (105, Ultegra, Tiagra, etc.) proper adjustment and ensuring adequate grease is present on a brand new hub has a greater impact on smoothness and service life than what the label says.