You are hereForums / By Discipline / Mountain (off road) / MTB Gear / Hopeful hubful
Hopeful hubful
Hey Wise Riders,
I'm currently running tubeless XT hubs and rims. I'm wanting to maybe check out some other perhaps hardy, easier to service rear hubs. I believe the Hope pro 2's are light, strong and easy to service? Anyone have any input as to the hubs...what I should consider regarding cassette to match and what rims would be good for the 32 spoke baby? Is there some other hub to consider?
Thanks
- Login to post comments
- Bookmark & share
Tags
whats the problem with servicing the XT's?
My hope xc hubs are over 7 years and are still perfect. I have replaced the bearings only once in that time but not myself as you need the correct tools. I service the free wheel often though and thats easy
I don't have the pro 2s but I can only imagine they are the same very high standard, it's a very common wheel build with mavic 819 rims.
I have hope everything on my bike now, The stuff is great (I am a pom mind)
Hope Pro2's are the bomb!
I love em!
I run them on both bikes, freeride and XC. One set is laced to DT Swiss 5.1D's and the other to Mavic XC717's. The 5.1D's are a great rim and light (mine weigh 1900g front and rear with rim strips) for thier strength. I use them for light freeride style stuff. they handle 6ft to flat drops without blinking. Just keep them tuned and they'll return the favour. I got them brand new, but second hand at a ridiculously good price. But if I were to build a set for the same purpous, I'd probably look into the XM719's. 40g lighter than the 5.1D's and are just as good. Price would probably more dictate the decision there. But for rough XC and enduro stuff, the 717's are great. Light (mine weigh 1700 with rim strips), strong and will take pretty much anything an XC bike can throw at them.
The hubs are very light @282g for the rear if I remember correctly (don't quote me... lol). They have a four pawl engagment which feels perfectly positive and a really simple and robust design. I do however wish they had more engagements. I think it's only 24??? So, when you're going over really techy, stuff, that requires the odd stall, pedal, stall, pedal. You have to be a bit more considerate. But it wont be any different to the XT's.
Servicing is a pissa, with a heap of info available if you want to do it yourself without special tools. Also the flexibility of axle combinations available make them really versatile if you change frames. With the same hub, you can run anything from QR, 10mm bolt, 10mm through, 12mm through. And the front, QR, 15mm and 20mm. Not to mention parts availability locally, that your LBS can get for you.
If you're thinking a dedicated XC race style hub, take a look at the Pro3 series. They are lighter again. But I wouldn't use any other hub other than a Pro2, whether it be DH, FR or XC.
Here's a link to hub info and wheel weight info for hope hubs.
http://www.hopetech.com/database/HOPE%20HOOPS%20...
As far as cassettes go on Pro2 hubs, I wouldn't use anything bu an XT or the SRAM one with the same alloy center. The freewheel body on the Pro2's is soft being alloy. So if you use say an SLX or lower cassette the individual sprockets will dig into the alloy and make it difficult to get off. However, having say the XT cassette, will help eliminate this with it's alloy hub spreading the load over a much larger surface area, eliminating the digging in.
Hope that helps.
With the type of environment that we often ride in...mud...sand...N beaches...my hubs lifespan doesn't seem to very long....
i have to replace the whole hub in two months time based on my most recent service, they've only been on the bike for a year and a bit....that's why I was thinking of going for a more durable....but easier to service hub...not necessarily having to toss the whole hub away every now and then...?
Thanks
Dude, that's useful info. I'm doing mostly XC stuff. I'll check the link out...and might order a built set...Thanks
@murvo
6ft to flat drops without blinking? I reckon my eyes would be shut tight!! Is that a dh bike?
Nah, just a n '08 Norco 6 with 170mm forks. It loves it! But, I get a pucker on... lol
I beat up on this bike hard, riding it about three times a week and do between 30-50kms a week average, of rough techy and FR style riding. The bike, and wheels take it no probs. I've gotten a few dents from running too low pressures and single ply tyres in the rear, but since running a bit more pressure I haven't gotten one since.
If it's XC, a set of 717's would be awesome! Or even if you're after something indestructable, you could go a set of 719's. I'm pretty sure Chris @ Northern Beaches has a set of 719's and there's was a guy on Farkin selling a brand new set of blue Hope hubs for pretty cheap. I'm always on the scout for Hope stuff, it's a fetish of mine... lol
Just keep an eye out for second hand sets. As you can get a pretty sweet bargain, if you're patient. Also, speak to your LBS, they might have something in stock, or be able to build you something.
If you buy a complete wheel set. Get some kms on it, then get your LBS to give them a going over to get the tension back into the spokes. I didn't do this, and a couple of harder landings, I got a wobble on. But after a tune up, they've been sweet. Now I get know what to look for, I keep a check on them and the spoke tension. They haven't needed to be adjusted since.
Thanks this is useful info....I'll look into some of these options for sure!
Yep. I have hope front and rear. Rear is a ss model. Takes a flogging, strong as a (insert your favorite strong thing here)
what is a SS model...is this not the usual Hope pro's.... SS=SuperSmooth?
Single speed would be my guess.