Saguaro

The Op link refers to cassette, not freewheel. It does make a difference in cost.

surreal

Sure. Reread my single-sentence post, and you'll realize that it already includes that distinction. And, to be fair, there aren't may options for current-production 120mm-spaced mulltispeed cassette hubs, although kludge options do exist. Oddly enough, the Compass/Gran Compe set-up is some sort of semi-factory kludge, but I digress....

I'm just saying, if you're gonna burn 350U$D on hubs for your tenspeed, would you rather have Phils, or some fake-French hubs from Taiwan with Al freehub bodies and a Frankensteined HG30 cassette? I think that several other factors make an even bigger difference in cost than any sort of FW/cassette debate in this case, and who wants a 5speed cassette hub when 5speed cassettes aren't offered now, and weren't bitd, either?

Saguaro

You are correct, you did mention cassettes in your post. My apologies. I do own (relatively new) Phil Wood Hubs so I can give some costs that I incurred:

Phil Wood Touring Front 36h: $146

Phil Wood Rear Touring Freewheel, 7 Speed, 130mm, 40 hole: $165

Total hub cost: $311

That compares to $265 for the Compass hubs. The Phil Wood hubs (pair) are $46 more than than the Compass hubs (pair).

surreal

Indeed. But once you factor in the cost of the $88 franken5cassette, versus a $15 freewheel, the Gran Compe/Compass set up becomes more expensive. If you decide to kludge a cassette yourself, the prices become something close to even, depending on what donor cassette you use.

But, in the end, I personally would rather have the Phils, which are awesome hubs by all accounts and will last a loooong time should you treat them right**, versus something with an Al FHB which will be gouged with use and for which there are not currently replacement FHBs available.

To each there own, but I don't think I'd touch the hubs from Compass if they had a half-price sale.

-rob

**treating phil hubs right= don't crossthread the freewheel and keep away from nuclear explosions.

leicanthrope

Perfect for that biohazard themed build I've been considering!

RacerNo.7

How many companies are producing 120mm rear hub with cassette? You can't even name a few, and right there is a justification of the named price. There is clearly some sort of demand and people are comfortable with paying that price for not so easy to find item. Compass is using their position on the market for a higher profit and there's nothing wrong with that.

surreal

No companies are producing 120mm multispeed cassette hubs, except the SunXCD ones that exist on the website, but not anywhere for sale (yet). As I mentioned above, it is possible to cobble other options together. But, sure, 120mm multispeed cassette hubs are hard to come by. None of this surprises me b/c there are no current-production 5 speed cassettes available. (Mtn guys have been running 5- and 6-speed cassettes made from SRAM 990 and XT cassettes on "SS" hubs for quite some time now...) I suspect that whatever demand there is for these hubs has been created by those selling the hubs; it's not like there ever were HG-compat 5speed cassettes, ever. These are hubs created for and marketed to RetroBike LARPists, which is fine by me... I simply think that, for that money, there are better options. For less money, there are better options.

pastorbobnlnh 

I'd think a better approach on Compass' part would be to sell the spacer kits in 5 or 6 speed packs with instructions for creating your own cassette out the the many different SRAM and Shimano models which just have 1-3 screw(s) holding them together and they come completely apart.

Although I have to agree with surreal, the price of the hub is too high for most vintage enthusiasts. Finding quality vintage freewheel 120mm hubs on ebay is in most cases more affordable.

mparker326

Personally, I think it is a solution in search of a problem. Of course I feel that way about 650B and other items as well.

I have no problem with what he charges.

I find Jan's marketing a bit strange, here is a 120 OLD cassette even though I am a retro grouch and have been touting the greatness of all these old bikes and have never had a problem with freewheels, here is a cassette because secretly I find the new system better and by the way good freewheels are scarce but the cassettes that fit my hubs don't even exist and I will have to build you one.

Grand Bois

A 120 OLD cassette hub would require shortening the freehub body. I'm curious to know how you do it your selfers would accomplish that.

Road Fan

Yes, and to use a modern free hub would result in another thread about excessive dish, Campy hubs, 8-speed freewheel road wheel fragility, et cetera.

Jan has done us all a favor!

LeicaLad 

I busted the ancient wheel on my '71 TdF and didn't/don't feel like cold-setting. SO. I need to build a new wheel.

This is what I've chosen:



It's a Shimano 600EX 5-speed cassette hub. It cost me $6.50 delivered. It's new.

I've disassembled, cleaned and re-lub'd and greased. Not as pretty, but smooth as can be.

Actually, this is my very first cassette-based hub. Normally, I'll go Phil.

ymmv
:-)

jeirvine 

Yeah - a solution in search of a problem. I thought the whole reason for the development of freehubs was to deal with longer axles required by more gears/wider OLDs.

rhm

Grand Bois

Freehubs are a better design because the drive side bearing is much closer to the end of the axle. That still applies to these.

thirdgenbird

You can get an 11spd ultegra 6800 cassette for $75


im not saying they can't charge what every they want, but 11spd is cheaper.

Grand Bois

He's offering a cassette hub that fits an unmolested 120 OLD vintage frame. It's a specialty item and those normally cost more due to low production numbers. I don't see any point in comparing the price to that of an 11 speed hub.

surreal

Looks cool, but the bad news is: that's a uniglide body. Regular cassettes will not fit. You may be able to piece something together, provided you at least can find a uniglide threaded small cog, which will also act as the lockring.

Finding 5speed uniglide cassettes may be possible, but it shan't be easy, in this day and age.

surreal

High-end freewheel hubs address this weakness; get yerself an Arvon or a Phil, and you shall not be plagued by typical freewheel-hub axle troubles.

I'm not going to compare the price of the hubs to 11speed hubs, but I am going to compare the price of the hub to other viable options. I'm not going to compare the price of the so-called Grand-Bois 5 speed cassette to 11speed cassettes, but I am going to compare it to the price of the 8speed HG30 cassettes, from which they are made. This is a bad deal, speaking in economic terms. Yes, Compass is allowed to charge whatever they'd like, but I'm allowed to recognize it for what it is:
-an overpriced Taiwanese part with faux-French overtones that was built to accept cassettes that do not exist, with a provably weak FHB and what is likely to be a weak axle, which is ironic b/c the whole concept of the 5speed cassette hub was supposed to save the buyer from the weak axle of freewheel hubs. The matching cassette is a kludge which would seem admirable if a member of BF made it in his garage, but is kind of shameful for a high-end retailer to sell, especially at $88.

thirdgenbird

Agreed. Just responding to the question.

jeirvine 

I for one think this would be a swell project. Puzzle together a five speed frankencassette. I may have to try it myself one day, and I'll check the coop for uniglide lock-cogs next time I'm there.

pastorbobnlnh 

I can build you a 5 speed UniGlide cassette for your hub. What tooth count cogs are you hoping to use? I'll see what I can come up with, although the color of the cogs might not match.

LeicaLad 

Hey PastorBob!

Many thanks for the offer. I'll take a raincheck, as I suspect I might need your help one day.

But, for this build, I got lucky on a NOS 600EX 5-speed cassette that was made just for this hub, and it's a nice spread of 13-28.

The rims I ordered are late. I thought I'd be up and running by this weekend. Sigh. Perhaps by next.

Thanks, again.

Back to the OP subject: I agree that the GB hubs are speciality items that appear to be very well made. I'm real glad that Jan and team continue to push the envelope on these things. Kinda like Curtis Odom's hubs. Stunningly beautiful works of art. Out of my budget, but I sure am tickled to see them.

:-)

SlowRoller

I guess I don't get the "outrage" either. Isn't the Grand Bois 5-speed cassette hub and cassette something that I of I's Bicycle, which produces Grand Bois components, designed and had made for the Japanese market? That Jan Heine decided to distribute it to the U.S. market is one thing. To blame Compass Cycles for a bad product idea or profiteering is another. Maybe Compass is charging too much for these? Given the exchange rate, I doubt it.

Chris Chicago

the phil's comparison is useful. seems like a good substitute. maybe if you only have freehub tools and no experience with freewheel that would be a reason to go with compass. seems like that would be rare bird though in their target market.