Anyone Ride Chris King Classic Hubs?
07-14-06, 02:19 PM
#1
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Anyone Ride Chris King Classic Hubs?
I'm in the process of deciding on some new wheels and I'm curious about Chris King hubs. They look really nice, and the ad-copy in the catalogues highlights the instantaneous engagement. However, they are expensive and I want to know if they're worth the price.
Thanks
Thanks
07-14-06, 02:40 PM
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I built up my mountain race wheels with King hubs. They are SWEET.
The instant engadgement thing is true. When you go down hills or coast at high speed the ratchet mechanism sounds like 1000 cicadas going all at once. It's neat.
They are quite bombproof too.
The instant engadgement thing is true. When you go down hills or coast at high speed the ratchet mechanism sounds like 1000 cicadas going all at once. It's neat.
They are quite bombproof too.
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07-14-06, 02:45 PM
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Someone behind you with them can sound like a swarm of bees chasing you.......pretty neat, actually....
Last edited by roadfix; 07-14-06 at 05:00 PM.
07-14-06, 03:30 PM
#4
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Originally Posted by Sprocket Man
I'm in the process of deciding on some new wheels and I'm curious about Chris King hubs. They look really nice, and the ad-copy in the catalogues highlights the instantaneous engagement. However, they are expensive and I want to know if they're worth the price.
Thanks
Thanks
Besides the customer support, the company has evironmentally friendly practices, which they take seriously.
They also have an amazing resale value, 5 years from now it will still be worth some serious $$. You can find 5 year old used kings on ebay for close to $200.
I am lucky to have them located here in Portland.
07-14-06, 04:54 PM
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Chris King rear hubs are beautiful, bomb-proof hubs, but I replaced mine on my mountain bike because the buzzing sound became too annoying. I went with XTR hubs and Mavic 717 rims just because I just wanted something that worked which wasn't too fancy.
I recently had some road wheels built with DT Swiss 240s hubs, and they work well for me. The DT Swiss 240s rear hub and the rear hub on my wife's Easton Ascent IIs also have a buzzing sound, but nothing like the Chris Kings. Those Chris Kings are great though if you're coming up on someone on the trail or road. All you have to do is coast, and the buzzing Chris King will let them know you're there.
I recently had some road wheels built with DT Swiss 240s hubs, and they work well for me. The DT Swiss 240s rear hub and the rear hub on my wife's Easton Ascent IIs also have a buzzing sound, but nothing like the Chris Kings. Those Chris Kings are great though if you're coming up on someone on the trail or road. All you have to do is coast, and the buzzing Chris King will let them know you're there.
Last edited by 7rider; 07-14-06 at 05:09 PM.
07-14-06, 05:03 PM
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i bought one of the t-shirts that say "it rolls good with angry bee sound." i had a set when i was still on my kestrel, and the sound always reminded me of one of those colonial fire alarms resonating through the frame. cool stuff. i no longer own the hubs, but the shirt is awesome.
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07-14-06, 06:43 PM
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Competitive Cyclist has the pink ones for $600. Give me a friggin' break. 
I have ridden plenty of bikes with good hubs, and there's no way they are worth that much. That said, they are good hubs, but nothing ultra-special.
I have ridden plenty of bikes with good hubs, and there's no way they are worth that much. That said, they are good hubs, but nothing ultra-special.
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07-14-06, 06:46 PM
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the pink make you go faster, duh......you know just like yellow stickers on your car give you that extra 10 hp!
07-14-06, 06:58 PM
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It's all I would ever use if they were Campy compatible. However, they are not. Great hubs though and highly recomended. The best choice for mtn. biking IMO. For road biking the instant engagement of the freehub seems a little less necessary, but they are still killer hubs.
07-24-06, 05:28 PM
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Originally Posted by slide13
It's all I would ever use if they were Campy compatible. However, they are not. Great hubs though and highly recomended. The best choice for mtn. biking IMO. For road biking the instant engagement of the freehub seems a little less necessary, but they are still killer hubs.
07-24-06, 09:43 PM
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I have always thought about getting them because they are very well made, but they are just too expensive.
Funny that someone mentions their environmental stance. They must not take it too seriously because they are definitly the largest noise polluter in cycling! Those frickin hubs are so loud (read annoying). Do us all a favor and just say no.
Funny that someone mentions their environmental stance. They must not take it too seriously because they are definitly the largest noise polluter in cycling! Those frickin hubs are so loud (read annoying). Do us all a favor and just say no.
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07-24-06, 11:43 PM
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Originally Posted by Cypress
I built up my mountain race wheels with King hubs. They are SWEET.
The instant engadgement thing is true. When you go down hills or coast at high speed the ratchet mechanism sounds like 1000 cicadas going all at once. It's neat.
They are quite bombproof too.
The instant engadgement thing is true. When you go down hills or coast at high speed the ratchet mechanism sounds like 1000 cicadas going all at once. It's neat.
They are quite bombproof too.
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07-25-06, 01:52 AM
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King hubs are the best mountain bike hubs you can get. bomb proof. which is something you don't exactly need for road riding. another thing i want to note here, is the king hubs don't exactly spin freely as other hubs do. try it sometime. i bet you $ you spin a king wheel, and a dura ace or velomax wheel, and the king will stop spinning 1st.
