Affordable hubs??
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 316
Likes: 13
Affordable hubs??
I am looking at building a lightish wheelset next month. decided on going with the 20 front, 24 rear spoke count.
what do you reccomend hub wise that is not overly expensive ?? at most i may get the white industries t11's... but i would like to find cheaper hubs...
what do you reccomend hub wise that is not overly expensive ?? at most i may get the white industries t11's... but i would like to find cheaper hubs...
#2
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 6,682
Likes: 4
From: Above ground, Walnut Creek, Ca
Bikes: 8 ss bikes, 1 5-speed touring bike
just built up an 1100 gm set of tubulars with, get this, "Circus Monkey" hubs. (where do they come up with these names?).
these.
i bought the 24h, but they are available in 20h too, and some other hole counts. anyway, i had the rear one apart and found the design to be very nice. four pawls, not three as advertised. quiet too, once i put some more light grease in the freehub. lighter than dura-ace 7900's if that's of any importance. so far, so good. we'll see.
i've got some WI hubs too, a couple of ENO eccentrics and a front road hub. they are fine, but the finish is getting a little dull. not really holding a shine as much as i would expect them to.
these.
i bought the 24h, but they are available in 20h too, and some other hole counts. anyway, i had the rear one apart and found the design to be very nice. four pawls, not three as advertised. quiet too, once i put some more light grease in the freehub. lighter than dura-ace 7900's if that's of any importance. so far, so good. we'll see.
i've got some WI hubs too, a couple of ENO eccentrics and a front road hub. they are fine, but the finish is getting a little dull. not really holding a shine as much as i would expect them to.
Last edited by hueyhoolihan; 08-05-14 at 07:53 PM.
#3
Should Be More Popular




Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 46,342
Likes: 11,839
From: Malvern, PA (20 miles West of Philly)
Bikes: 1986 Alpine (steel road bike), 2009 Ti Habenero, 2013 Specialized Roubaix
#4
There are a number of decent quality, sealed bearing hubs out there (some of them are re-badged). I have Novatec hubs that I'm happy with and I'd also consider some from BHS (mostly because these two vendors, bdopcycling and bikehubstore, have a pretty good record when it comes to communication and prompt shipping). One word of caution - not all of the lighter weight front hubs are engineered to be laced radially, so if you want to do that, just be sure that the flanges are up to the task.
#5
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 6,411
Likes: 13
From: Haunchyville
There are a number of decent quality, sealed bearing hubs out there (some of them are re-badged). I have Novatec hubs that I'm happy with and I'd also consider some from BHS (mostly because these two vendors, bdopcycling and bikehubstore, have a pretty good record when it comes to communication and prompt shipping). One word of caution - not all of the lighter weight front hubs are engineered to be laced radially, so if you want to do that, just be sure that the flanges are up to the task.
#6
Agree. I've used Bitex (BikeHubStore) hubs on a couple of wheelsets with a few thousand miles on them now. They've been great so far; smooth, free spinning, no looseness. I suggest the SLF85W front for $50 and the SL210 rear for $75 as a good compromise in weight and robustness. Their actual weights were 81 and 216 gm respectively. Call BHS and they'll be happy to talk to you about it. I'd happily spend more on hubs if I thought there was any significant performance benefit to doing so.
Last edited by Looigi; 08-07-14 at 09:48 AM.
#7
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 316
Likes: 13
Agree. I've used Bitex (BikeHubStore) hubs on a couple of wheelsets with a few thousand miles on them now. They've been great so far; smooth, free spinning, no looseness. I suggest the SLF85W front for $50 and the SL210 rear for $75 as a good compromise in weight and robustness. They're actual weights were 81 and 216 gm respectively. Call BHS and they'll be happy to talk to you about it. I'd happily spend more on hubs if I thought there was any significant performance benefit to doing so.
#8
Senior Member

Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 28,682
Likes: 63
From: Houston, TX
Bikes: 1990 Romic Reynolds 531 custom build, Merlin Works CR Ti custom build, super light Workswell 066 custom build
I find that hubs are one part of the wheel where it is not necessary to overspend. The Bitex as sold by BHS are quite good. Likewise the Novatec from BDOP. Both highly recommended.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
big_rider
General Cycling Discussion
15
01-06-12 07:13 PM





