So on regular group rides, I notice a lot of really nice wheels. It seems like the nicer the wheel, the louder the hub. I know of a couple friends, one has a set of fulcrum race 7's, and another with a set of bontrager wheels, not sure which model. It just seems like a quiter hub would be more of a luxury than the annoying crank sound that these hubs make. I really would love to get a nicer set of wheels, but I'm scared of a set of more expensive wheels that annoy me. The specialized hubs that came on the stock wheels on my Allez Elite are smooth, and super quiet.

Is there a reason for this? Safety of some sort to make you aware when someone stops pedaling in front of you?

Hit'im one time, Sheldon:

It's just the way the ratchets are designed inside of the hub.

Aluminum Freehub body = loud clicker. Steel = not very loud or hardly noticeable.

Don't coast... problem solved.

Rolf!

My Mavic Helium wheels are pretty loud, but I think the bearings in the back wheel are shot.

Also, most new freehubs have external pawls, where the older steel ones usually have internal.
The bumps on the one on the right aren't the pawls --they 'grip' onto the hub shell when it's screwed on -- the pawls are under the seal.
External pawls click right onthe hub shell, so it probably reverberates through the shell and even the spokes

Somebody let that stupid dog in.

You should hear my CK hubs when they start to BUZZZZZZZ

my Hed.3 has that loud pawl...does not bother me.

I've noticed Mavics are loud. My Ksyriums certainly are. My Eastons are a bit quieter. If memory serves, I can't hear the freewheel over the disc noise on my HED disc.

I used to have a pair of Shimano 550's that were almost silent. Kinda liked that. I always associated a quiet bike with everything being in order and properly adjusted.

I think part of that is that it reverberates through the carbon fiber. I had one when it was made by Specialized, and it used a freewheel that was not very loud on my traditional wheel, but plenty noisy on the trispoke... and the Zipp disk I used before that.

Loud pawls save lives.

My fulcrum's are dang loud. My shimano's were silent. I kinda like it though.

I think the reason why a lot of wheels are loud is because there isn't enough grease where the pawls are located. I took apart my hub and found out that it was lubricated well but the grease was very light and thin. I added some more synthetic grease and the difference is night and day now.

Have you ever heard Chris King hubs?

higher end wheels, in general, have more pawls and stronger springs which make more noise.

spin a new high-end wheel at the bike store and hear the thunder. it is not lack of grease.

This is the answer I received at my LBS when I asked this same question. The bike tech told me the nicer/higher end rims (Dura Ace, etc) will click louder when free spinning b/c of the gearing mechanisms in the hubs. He also said if you keep pedaling you don't here it LOL.

yea..fulcrums are "loud". i like it. but dont have it.

My training buddy's Rolfs are hella loud. Is kinda nice when we're trying to pass folks. Same reason chopper folks like their loud bikes...

I hate my hub being loud, because sometimes I want to just relax and enjoy the sounds of nature. But I've also always wished I could find a bell that makes that same "fishing reel" sound that the noisiest hub I've ridden made for when I'm passing people on the bike path...

Definitely not true as a rule. My fulcrum racing 5s came with a really loud steel freehub body and the new aluminum one is a lot quieter.

my powertap hub is pretty loud, but nothing like a chris king "angry bee" hub!

I kind of like loud wheels. It's a more subtle way of letting slower riders know you are there than the ubiquitous "on your left" that half the time causes the Freds of the world to react erratically.