Full radial is supposedly not a good idea. Although there is a guy here claiming to have used it w/o any issues. Never tried it myself.



Half-radial WRT power transfer to the spokes is a non-issue for almost all hubs.

If it's a DS radial, the hub spindle is usually more than strong enough to transfer the torque to the NDS flange and the (semi-) tangential spokes there.

If it's a NDS radial, well, then you have the power pick-up at the correct flange already.



Power transfer to the rim might merit some discussion.

In theory, a half-radial wheel would see more wind-up during each power stroke, as there's only half the number of spokes "perfectly" placed to carry the torque compared to a both sides (semi-) tangential wheel.

IRL and IME, I don't notice any difference.

On the wheels I have, and the spoke tensiometer I have, I see precious little increase in spoke tension as a result of standing on a pedal.

True.
But maybe not necessarily important for a NDS half-radial.
This is something I've been meaning to throw some math on for years:
- unless perfectly tangential, the force experienced by the spoke hole in the flange can be divided into two vectors, one radial, one tangential.
- nobody would think you much of a Daredevil for running a 2X rear.
- a 2X rear (depending on spoke count and flange diameter) would have a decently sized radial vector on the DS.
- NDS typically sees something like 60% of the DS tension
- so if the radial vector in a 2X DS isn't too far away from the 60% mark, then a radial NDS doesn't have to be a surefire ticket to impending self-destruction.


(Disclaimer 1: English is my 2nd language. If I haven't got the words just right, try to see the idea and not the letters.
Disclaimer 2: This is the idea in short. I don't claim to have worked it all out. Constructive additions welcome.)