KING HUBS -- LOUDEST ON THE MARKET?????

I just got my first pair of king hubs, and the rear is probably the loudest I have EVER heard. King
tech said "this is normal -- it's the 72 engagement teeth) --

anyone figured out how to quiet them down? Or is it just impossible to sneak up on anyone now?

 

On Mon, 10 Mar 2003 16:26:41 -0500, timothy wrote:

> I just got my first pair of king hubs, and the rear is probably the loudest I have EVER heard.
> King tech said "this is normal -- it's the 72 engagement teeth) --

They do make a racket...
>
> anyone figured out how to quiet them down? Or is it just impossible to sneak up on anyone now?

Not impossible. Just don't coast. I would also advise against coasting when passing a horse or other
large, easily spooked animal.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | If all economists were laid end to end, they would not reach a _`\(,_ | conclusion. --
George Bernard Shaw (_)/ (_) |

 

[email protected] wrote:
: anyone figured out how to quiet them down? Or is it just impossible to sneak up on anyone now?

pedal?
--
david reuteler [email protected]

 

<[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> I just got my first pair of king hubs, and the rear is probably the loudest I have EVER heard.
> King tech said "this is normal -- it's the 72 engagement teeth) --
>
> anyone figured out how to quiet them down? Or is it just impossible to sneak up on anyone now?

How the heck are you supposed to "sneak up" on someone by coasting?? Hammer! That's the way to
"sneak up" on someone! By the time they realize you're there, you're gone! None of this wussy
coasting crap is gonna win races!

Just like Eddy used to say: go ride 8 hours: the last one as hard as you can go. THAT's how you win
races. Modify for your fitness level...

Mike

 

<[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> I just got my first pair of king hubs, and the rear is probably the loudest I have EVER heard.
> King tech said "this is normal -- it's the 72 engagement teeth) --
>
> anyone figured out how to quiet them down? Or is it just impossible to sneak up on anyone now?
>

They are definitely loud, and don't get quieter with use. People are always asking me what that
noise is coming from my bike.

 

[email protected]
> I just got my first pair of king hubs, and the rear is probably the loudest I have EVER heard.
> King tech said "this is normal -- it's the 72 engagement teeth) --

> anyone figured out how to quiet them down? Or is it just impossible to sneak up on anyone now?

I suspect the loud noise is intentional on King's part. They want you to show off how much you just
spent on your rear hub.

--
Alexander Kahn

 

[email protected] wrote:

> I just got my first pair of king hubs, and the rear is probably the loudest I have EVER heard.
> King tech said "this is normal -- it's the 72 engagement teeth) --
>
> anyone figured out how to quiet them down? Or is it just impossible to sneak up on anyone now?

Just pack the mechanism with a good, heavy grease. It end up being just as quiet as removing
the pawls.

--
Ted Bennett Portland OR

 

Get some of King's Ring Drive lubricant and squirt it into the hub (following the service
instructions, of course). That will lessen the buzz considerably.

 

Personally, I love that noise -- every ride sounds like a fishing trip. A bit of quiet when
you pedal....and then rrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeee! Caught one! OTOH, by brother refeuses to ride with
me if I coast.

--j

<[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> I just got my first pair of king hubs, and the rear is probably the loudest I have EVER heard.
> King tech said "this is normal -- it's the 72 engagement teeth) --
>
> anyone figured out how to quiet them down? Or is it just impossible to sneak up on anyone now?

 

Oh my gosh! An aftermarket product that doesn't live up to the hype from magazines!

-Dion

<[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> I just got my first pair of king hubs, and the rear is probably the loudest I have EVER heard.
> King tech said "this is normal -- it's the 72 engagement teeth) --
>
> anyone figured out how to quiet them down? Or is it just impossible to sneak up on anyone now?

 

How to silence Kings?

Get some American Classic hubs (140g front and 250g rear for disc!!) - they are awesome: Lighter,
cheaper, and very, very well made. And quiet as a mouse...

Jan

<[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> I just got my first pair of king hubs, and the rear is probably the loudest I have EVER heard.
> King tech said "this is normal -- it's the 72 engagement teeth) --
>
> anyone figured out how to quiet them down? Or is it just impossible to sneak up on anyone now?

 

The magazine hype is based on functionality, not noise level. They are rock solid, easy to maintain,
fast, etc. Just not for someone who likes quiet hubs. Then again, the sound is awesome as you blast
past someone at 50MPH+ on a descent

- rick -

"Dion Dock" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> Oh my gosh! An aftermarket product that doesn't live up to the hype from magazines!
>
> -Dion
>
> <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> > I just got my first pair of king hubs, and the rear is probably the loudest I have EVER heard.
> > King tech said "this is normal -- it's the 72 engagement teeth) --
> >
> > anyone figured out how to quiet them down? Or is it just impossible to sneak up on anyone now?

 

Rick Warner writes:

> The magazine hype is based on functionality, not noise level. They are rock solid, easy to
> maintain, fast, etc. Just not for someone who likes quiet hubs. Then again, the sound is awesome
> as you blast past someone at 50MPH+ on a descent

The function of a freewheel is to give one way free rotation, it has nothing to do with making
noises. Noise is a gratuitous error in design, the silent, cheap, and durable ratchet having been
invented long ago. I guess Hugi was the first to come back with a noisy escapement for no advantage,
its mechanism being no stronger than a good ratchet while making loud noise and being heavier, not
to mention its high costs.

Sounding awesome seems to me more how mechanically silent one can descend, I can put playing cards
on clothes pins on my bicycle, as we used to do as children to make motorcycle noises. I don't want
to pay money for such trivia.

Jobst Brandt [email protected] Palo Alto CA

 

i've got a loud king as well...i LOVE the sound.

no...the louder the better.

and don't add more Ring Drive grease....it'll deaden the sound but it also may interfere with a
positive engagement....botch that you'll be buying parts for new hubs. and if you think the hubs
were expensive, wait til you get tht bill for the parts.

run them as they were intended to be run...

enjoy the loud.

c

[email protected] wrote:
> I just got my first pair of king hubs, and the rear is probably the loudest I have EVER heard.
> King tech said "this is normal -- it's the 72 engagement teeth) --
>
> anyone figured out how to quiet them down? Or is it just impossible to sneak up on anyone now?

 

"carlos" <blacksheepQstic.net> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> i've got a loud king as well...i LOVE the sound.
>
> no...the louder the better.
>
> and don't add more Ring Drive grease....it'll deaden the sound but it also
may
> interfere with a positive engagement....botch that you'll be buying parts
for
> new hubs. and if you think the hubs were expensive, wait til you get tht
bill
> for the parts.
>
> run them as they were intended to be run...
>
> enjoy the loud.
>
> c

Is that anything like the "loud pipes save lives" argument that the Harley riders use to justify
their ear splitting pipes??

Mike

>
> [email protected] wrote:
> > I just got my first pair of king hubs, and the rear is probably the loudest I have EVER heard.
> > King tech said "this is normal -- it's the 72 engagement teeth) --
> >
> > anyone figured out how to quiet them down? Or is it just impossible to sneak up on anyone now?

 

bas-<< Get some American Classic hubs (140g front and 250g rear for disc!!) - they are awesome:
Lighter, cheaper, and very, very well made.

Or Campagnolo

or shimano DuraAce-

Peter Chisholm Vecchio's Bicicletteria 1833 Pearl St. Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535 http://www.vecchios.com "Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"

 

> anyone figured out how to quiet them down?

Using the right lube may help a little

> Or is it just impossible to sneak up on anyone now?

No, just keep pedaling. I am on my second set. Don´t mind the free wheeling sound, though to be
honest it is only on really technical trails that it makes any significant difference, ratcheting
through rock gardens etc. For anything else XTR hubs works as well.

Per http://user.tninet.se/~ipg289h/fu99/MTB.html

 

I've found that the cassette can make a significant difference in noise. My old Shimano XT cassette
with its "hollowed-out" spider cage for the larger cogs was alot noisier than my current sram 9.0
cassette. I actually miss the loud racheting (from a ringle hub in this case), I figure it was good
for alerting wildlife on the trail.

> anyone figured out how to quiet them down?
>
> Or is it just impossible to sneak up on anyone now?

 

>Or Campagnolo

I thought Campy hubs were loud also? B

 

[email protected] (Qui si parla Campagnolo) wrote in message
news:<[email protected]>...
> bas-<< Get some American Classic hubs (140g front and 250g rear for disc!!) - they are awesome:
> Lighter, cheaper, and very, very well made.
>
> Or Campagnolo

I don't know, Peter. My Campy rear hub is mighty loud. Of course, when someone comments on it, I
just look down my nose at them and snif, "What, you haven't heard a quality hub freewheel before."
Then, after I pull their pump from my spokes....

Dick Durbin