Cartridge bearing disc hubs

[Michael]

I'm looking for MTB disc-brake hubs with cartridge bearings (not loose balls). (I'm not looking to
start a religious thread on loose-but-sealed bearings vs. sealed-cartridge bearings, so I'll just
say that this is a requirement for the wet weather commuter bike I'm building. If it's relevant,
these will be 700c wheels).

For <$250, I've found Grimeca, Hope, Ritchey and WTB hubs with cartridge bearings.

I'm intrigued by the WTB LaserLite Disc hubs. They seem to be lighter than others, with "relieved"
flanges. Any problem with a 200+lb rider on these? Anybody have experience, good or bad, with them?

I'd like feedback on Hope and Ritchey hubs, and any other suggestions.

TIA

 

[Jon Bond]

"Michael" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I'm looking for MTB disc-brake hubs with cartridge bearings (not loose balls). (I'm not looking to
> start a religious thread on loose-but-sealed bearings vs. sealed-cartridge bearings, so I'll just
> say that this is a requirement for the wet weather commuter bike I'm building. If it's relevant,
> these will be 700c wheels).
>
> For <$250, I've found Grimeca, Hope, Ritchey and WTB hubs with cartridge bearings.
>
> I'm intrigued by the WTB LaserLite Disc hubs. They seem to be lighter than others, with
> "relieved" flanges. Any problem with a 200+lb rider on these? Anybody have experience, good or
> bad, with them?
>
> I'd like feedback on Hope and Ritchey hubs, and any other suggestions.
>
> TIA

Don't ride the WTBs if you're heavy, unless you want a race-day-only set. You make sacrifices when
you get the weight down that low, and they simply can't stand that kind of abuse. I run them, only
had them for about a week now, and they are nice, but even at 135 lbs I wonder how long they're
going to last me. There have been a few problems with part of the rear axle breaking, but not many.
You'd be asking for trouble as a clydesdale though.

Hope makes some good hubs. And don't forget shimano - the XT hubs are pretty bombproof. Yeah,
they're heavy, but really, will you notice the weight difference while riding? I mean, take it in
perspective: Your bike weighs about 1/9th or so of your weight. Making that 1/8.5 isn't going to
be a huge difference. Heck, if you want to drop that weight before you ride, use the restroom
before you leave. When you can honestly say you don't have an extra couple of pounds on your body,
then start looking at flyweight parts! (BTW, like I said, i'm 135 lbs.... and 5'11)

If you want to spend some more dough tho, and still go light, get chris kings. Super durable. If I
could afford them, I would have gotten those instead of the WTBs.

Jon Bond

 

[Andrew Webster]

[email protected] (Michael) wrote in message
news:<[email protected]>...
> I'm looking for MTB disc-brake hubs with cartridge bearings

> and any other suggestions.
>
Another suggestion (I cannot compare with the others you mention as I have not used those)

I have had Woodman BIL LTI for 18 months or so, covering 12000 miles or so in all weathers with
no problems (touring and commuting bike rather than off road). Seems well built, still as smooth
as when new.

see

http://www.woodmancomponents.com/products/items/2k2/hubs/b_lti_rs.html

Andrew Webster

 

[Robin Hubert]

"Jon Bond" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "Michael" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > I'm looking for MTB disc-brake hubs with cartridge bearings (not loose balls). (I'm not looking
> > to start a religious thread on loose-but-sealed bearings vs. sealed-cartridge bearings, so I'll
> > just say that this is a requirement for the wet weather commuter bike I'm building. If it's
> > relevant, these will be 700c wheels).
> >
> > For <$250, I've found Grimeca, Hope, Ritchey and WTB hubs with cartridge bearings.
> >
> > I'm intrigued by the WTB LaserLite Disc hubs. They seem to be lighter than others, with
> > "relieved" flanges. Any problem with a 200+lb rider on these? Anybody have experience, good or
> > bad, with them?
> >
> > I'd like feedback on Hope and Ritchey hubs, and any other suggestions.
> >
> > TIA
>
> Don't ride the WTBs if you're heavy, unless you want a race-day-only set. You make sacrifices when
> you get the weight down that low, and they simply can't stand that kind of abuse. I run them, only
> had them for about a
week
> now, and they are nice, but even at 135 lbs I wonder how long they're
going
> to last me. There have been a few problems with part of the rear axle breaking, but not many.
> You'd be asking for trouble as a clydesdale
though.
>
> Hope makes some good hubs. And don't forget shimano - the XT hubs are pretty bombproof. Yeah,
> they're heavy, but really, will you notice the weight difference while riding? I mean, take it
> in perspective: Your
bike
> weighs about 1/9th or so of your weight. Making that 1/8.5 isn't going to be a huge difference.
> Heck, if you want to drop that weight before you ride, use the restroom before you leave. When you
> can honestly say you don't have an extra couple of pounds on your body, then start looking at
> flyweight parts! (BTW, like I said, i'm 135 lbs.... and 5'11)

Holy Batshit! You're a freaking rail! I have never, ever in my adult life dropped below 155 and I'm
5.7 (point something down from 5'8"). Also, I have low body fat. Ecto-mesomorph if you will.

>
> If you want to spend some more dough tho, and still go light, get chris kings. Super durable. If I
> could afford them, I would have gotten those instead of the WTBs.
>
> Jon Bond

--
Robin Hubert <[email protected]

 

[Chalo]

[email protected] (Michael) wrote:

> I'd like feedback on Hope and Ritchey hubs, and any other suggestions.

You can pay as much as you like, but I'm not sure that any of your candidates are an improvement
over SunRace JuJu hubs. SunRace and Formula make most of the sealed bearing hubs for the other guys,
so you might wind up with one even if you paid a premium for a "nicer" brand.
http://www.gaerlan.com/bikeparts/parts/disk/disk.html

The lightest weight hubs I have inspected are often some of the most poorly sealed; you should take
this into consideration for your rain bike. You want some sealing or shielding in addition to the
seal on the bearing, which doesn't do an adequate job when conditions are really nasty.

American Classic make some ridiculously lightweight disc hubs, but I'm not sure I trust their
longevity or the shielding they offer their bearings. They cost more than simple hubs made in Taiwan
should IMO. http://amclassic.com/MTB_Disc_Hubs.html

Phil Wood hubs have a reputation for excellent durability and smoothness, but they are heavy and
ludicrously expensive. http://www.philwood.com/webcatolog/page1.htm

White Industries make very nice disc hubs. They're probably the best value in a USA-made cartridge
bearing disc hub. http://whiteind.com/rx-hubset.htm

Chalo Colina

 

[Jon Bond]

"Robin Hubert" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "Jon Bond" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > "Michael" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...

> > Hope makes some good hubs. And don't forget shimano - the XT hubs are pretty bombproof. Yeah,
> > they're heavy, but really, will you notice the weight difference while riding? I mean, take it
> > in perspective: Your
> bike
> > weighs about 1/9th or so of your weight. Making that 1/8.5 isn't going
to
> > be a huge difference. Heck, if you want to drop that weight before you ride, use the restroom
> > before you leave. When you can honestly say you don't have an extra couple of pounds on your
> > body, then start looking at flyweight parts! (BTW, like I said, i'm 135 lbs.... and 5'11)
>
> Holy Batshit! You're a freaking rail! I have never, ever in my adult
life
> dropped below 155 and I'm 5.7 (point something down from 5'8"). Also, I have low body fat.
> Ecto-mesomorph if you will.

Yup, I am quite the twig. I was a coxswain in high school (just over a year ago), racing weight was
down around 120. I was a bit shorter though, I started out at about 5'4" and 90 lbs, and by senior
year was just about 5'10" and 124. I'm still a twig, although I've been packing on a bit more muscle
now that I'm doing more than sitting in a boat and shouting.

I'm one of those people who can eat anything and not put on a pound. Massively fast metabolism. I
also have never been able to put on much musculature, I just get stronger. Back about 4 years ago
while I was still doing karate (and a black belt) I could easily do 40 or so pushups in a minute
- good ones, too. I think the most I ever did in one sitting was about 110. I could also do about
70 complete situps in a minute. I probably can't do that anymore, but I certainly bike a lot
faster now. I've been trying to put on more weight, and its still not coming. I figure I'll
probably lose my metabolism by the time I'm 40, and be kinda fat, but sometime in my 20s or 30s
I'll be dead on perfect.

Jon Bond

 

[Jon Bond]

"Chalo" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> [email protected] (Michael) wrote:
>
> > I'd like feedback on Hope and Ritchey hubs, and any other suggestions.
>
> You can pay as much as you like, but I'm not sure that any of your candidates are an improvement
> over SunRace JuJu hubs. SunRace and Formula make most of the sealed bearing hubs for the other
> guys, so you might wind up with one even if you paid a premium for a "nicer" brand.
> http://www.gaerlan.com/bikeparts/parts/disk/disk.html
>
> The lightest weight hubs I have inspected are often some of the most poorly sealed; you should
> take this into consideration for your rain bike. You want some sealing or shielding in addition to
> the seal on the bearing, which doesn't do an adequate job when conditions are really nasty.
>
> American Classic make some ridiculously lightweight disc hubs, but I'm not sure I trust their
> longevity or the shielding they offer their bearings. They cost more than simple hubs made in
> Taiwan should IMO. http://amclassic.com/MTB_Disc_Hubs.html snip<

Just an FYI: WTB licensed the AC design, which is why they are almost identical. The pawl system is
exactly the same, and the hub body is almost identical. They do have a nicer finish, though, and
cost a lot less, thanks to WTB's larger production lines and so on. They may not be 100% as nice,
but I'd say (having held both in my hands side by side, ridden on one set once, and the other set
for about a week now) they're almost identical, with the slight edge towards the American Classic,
probably. However, that very slight edge is definitely not worth the extra cash!

Jon Bond

 

[Nicholas & Domi]

"Jon Bond" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

"Robin Hubert" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "Jon Bond" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > "Michael" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...

> > Hope makes some good hubs. And don't forget shimano - the XT hubs are pretty bombproof. Yeah,
> > they're heavy, but really, will you notice the weight difference while riding? I mean, take it
> > in perspective: Your
> bike
> > weighs about 1/9th or so of your weight. Making that 1/8.5 isn't going
to
> > be a huge difference. Heck, if you want to drop that weight before you ride, use the restroom
> > before you leave. When you can honestly say you don't have an extra couple of pounds on your
> > body, then start looking at flyweight parts! (BTW, like I said, i'm 135 lbs.... and 5'11)
>
> Holy Batshit! You're a freaking rail! I have never, ever in my adult
life
> dropped below 155 and I'm 5.7 (point something down from 5'8"). Also, I have low body fat.
> Ecto-mesomorph if you will.

Yup, I am quite the twig. I was a coxswain in high school (just over a year ago), racing weight was
down around 120. I was a bit shorter though, I started out at about 5'4" and 90 lbs, and by senior
year was just about 5'10" and 124. I'm still a twig, although I've been packing on a bit more muscle
now that I'm doing more than sitting in a boat and shouting.

I'm one of those people who can eat anything and not put on a pound. Massively fast metabolism. I
also have never been able to put on much musculature, I just get stronger. Back about 4 years ago
while I was still doing karate (and a black belt) I could easily do 40 or so pushups in a minute
- good ones, too. I think the most I ever did in one sitting was about 110. I could also do about
70 complete situps in a minute. I probably can't do that anymore, but I certainly bike a lot
faster now. I've been trying to put on more weight, and its still not coming. I figure I'll
probably lose my metabolism by the time I'm 40, and be kinda fat, but sometime in my 20s or 30s
I'll be dead on perfect.

Jon Bond

I was like that till I turned 30 Jon, now I'm filling out. I never weighed enough when I was playing
ice-hockey and now I have 5kg to lose in the next couple of months.....