Experience with Suzue basic hubs
 

I'm looking to build up an economical set of wheels and the Suzue basic track hubs look pretty good. They are only $69.95 per set from Harris. I wouldn't use these on the track, just a fixie.

Does anyone have any experience with these? Are they crap? Would I be wasting my money?

If these suck, does anyone have any recommendations on economical hubs?

Thanks.

You might want to use the "search the forums" at the top before asking this... It's been debated ad nauseum.

Check out the IRO hubs and the Van Dessel hubs too!

Suzue Basics are ok but need some looking after. You generally need to repack them and adjust them when they first arrive (and then after every six months). They are by far the most common hubs people strip the threads on as cogs/lockrings seem to bite a little when first installed, leading to a little play and threads then fail under the pressure of skidding.

They're not really built for the abuse of constant skidding or hard riding but for commuting with brakes they're ok.

But I would look at the IRO sealed hubs and others really cause while they're ok, the quality and history of problems mean that you're gambling with these hubs. Some people have no problems with them and for others they are just pieces of junk in a few weeks.

But thats my IMHO.

Suzue do make good hubs such as the ProMax etc.

I'm such a mormon, I mean maroon, I mean moron. Should have searched! Thanks for the quick replies anyway.

Looks like I want to avoid the Suzue Basic hubs. I've been looking at the IROs and they look nice. Sealed. I like that.

I did search the forums for IRO hubs but found very little. Am I looking for the wrong thing? Does anybody have any experience with IRO hubs? Thanks.

surly hubs are the best way to go for economic wheelsets, IMO. they use sealed cartridge bearings, yet aren't as "sticky" as phils (not as bombproof either), they look pretty nifty, and the threads are super, super clean.

the suzue promax sealed bearing hubs are another way to go...they're about 2/3 the cost of the promax loose ball bearing hubs...

____ the search. Bring up the topic and all the new people will add in points not yet discussed in the past. For those that are tired of the topic, don't read.

I hated my Suzue basic. Stripped quickly after first use, never worked well after that.

Sorry, I like to read... I read pretty much everything.

But I felt this particular hub (which I hate as well) should disappear. It was 1am where I am (an hour later where he is) when he was asking, I didn't think he'd get many responses right then. Wanted him to see what we've all said about them before, since it would be the next day before he recieved responses from most of the members here...

Because they are crap.

Search can work sometimes, you know?

No problems with my suzue except the bearings aren't the smoothest. It has held up well to strong backpedaling but I do not skid at all. As has been said, it depends on what you are using it for.

There is also the upgrade bug. If you buy something that cheap (like me) then you will probably want to upgrade as soon as you start to notice its limitations (like me)

I say spend the extra money and get the Pro Max or Surly hubs

Gawd, would someone who has used them PLEEZ write a review of the IRO hubs. I just wanna know where they fall on the Suzue-Phil continuum...

What color spokes make Suzue basic hubs work better?

I always found I rode faster if I lit my spokes on fire, but maybe that just the lubricating action of the lighter fluid.

What lighter fluid is NJS-approved? I want it to match my NJS-approved picture of Steven Segal I have taped to my bottom bracket. Thanks!

That's incredible. I know this was sarcastic, but I am ebaying for a signed picture of Steven Segal (can't be more than $2) right now for my spokes.

Invisible ones. They are realllllly hard to see. Thus, not seen, providing less stress. Less stress on the hub means longer life.

Better than invisibile is imaginary.

Better still, none.

I was offered the chance to ride a bike with invisible spokes once. The wheelbuilder must have been new as when I applied downward pressure to the handlebar, I crushed my junk. Live and learn

viola

My Suzue Basic lasted two months. Maybe it was the purple spokes.

Now you're talking. Anodized purple only worked ion the 80s/90s Schiek. Just like tie-dye bladed only works on ex-hippy triathlete bikes. Think context people...

I'm guessing the hub I have is a Suzue Basic, since it says Suzue on it but nowhere does it say 'Basic' I really don't know. It was $90 laced to a Mavic rim and is a flip flop. Anyway So far so good and I've been riding it for 3 months or so now. I don't skid unless I have too but based on this thread and past ones concerning this hub I am paranoid about unthreading the lock ring. One poster in a previous thread said that the Suzue basic is good provided it has a good lock ring such as a Dura-ace which mine has. I don't know do I need a front break? Anyone know how to ID a Suzue Basic?

Backpedal really hard. If the lockring and cog spin off the hub, it's the basic.

I found every ringle part available on e-bay. Put 'em all together and built up a hella purple fixie. I call her Nicky. Got a problem with that?

1. If the wheel (hub/spokes/rim) was $90 brand new- you have the basic.

2. Regarding Schiek's new bike: J. Phelan would be proud. She always had cool stuff on hers

i've had my suzue basic for 5 years now. never had a problem with it. i skid all the time. of course, all this talk is making me a little nervous...

pics & info here: http://www.businesscycles.com/thub-suz.htm