Suzue re-released their carbon track hubs recently, this time with sealed bearings. I haven't seen them in person yet so I took a look at pictures online and couldn't help but notice that they don't use the same axle hardware from their Promax SB (sealed bearing hubs) despite the Promax Carbons being sealed bearing. The hardware actually looks similar to novatec, cheap, value taiwanese hubs with the exception of Suzues SB seals
I'm puzzled as to why a company like Suzue (with sansin/suntour machinery etc) would bring back an awesome product from the dead, make it sealed bearing but not use their own sealed axle hardware???? The only reason for this that I can see is that they are manufactured by novatec or another similar cheaper brand.
Lots of pictures attached. Check out how the hollowed out axle for the new carbon hubs has a 5mm hex almost like Mavic while Suzues usual axles are solid as per NJS. Novatecs also share this hollowed 5mm hex axle
The pictures get confusing so I labelled them. (only the first one is the old promax cf)
It is also worth saying that I could not find neither exploded diagrams nor tech docx for the new hubs, and also suzue could be borrowing novatec axles and hardware (maybe even the people novatec get their axles from)
I could be completely wrong
Promax CF (Old, cup and cone bearings and discontinued)
Below; Promax SB (sealed bearing suzue axle hardware)
Below; "suzue promax carbon" --> the current carbon hubs from suzue, sealed bearing but with different axle hardware to suzue. Only similarity to their SB line I see is the seals
below; two pictures of Novatec hubs
see how the axle is the same to the above picture, there are the knurled locknuts etc. seals are different for sure.
the rear novatec may be spaced out to 130mm as they do offer that I believe. That could explain the larger locknut for the rear only?
Any thoughts? Has anyone had a new carbon sealed bearing one in the hand? Any insight into whether I am totally wrong or not? Hard to tell just from pictures.
Point being I wouldn't want to shell out for a hub that it just a novatec wrapped in a layer of plastic. wasn't sure whether to post in track, fgss or here but figured the people who might know the answer will likely be here.