Topic: Have you used these hubs? Add pros, cons, or both for any of the following

[Alan]

After a lot of research I ended up with the Hopes.  They seemed like the best match for me with cost ($270 shipped for the pair), durability, weight, and ease of service.  They are a tad loud but whatever.

[SandPine]

After a lot of research I ended up with the Hopes.  They seemed like the best match for me with cost ($270 shipped for the pair), durability, weight, and ease of service.  They are a tad loud but whatever.

Did you fix the issue you were having with them?  What rim type of spoke did you use?  Also, what is the total weight of the set? also, who laced them for you?

[Alan]

It just needed some lube on the brake side seal.  No biggie. 
 
Hoops are WTB Frequency i23 laced with DT Comps and brass nipples.  Not really sure on the weight.  He used a regular desktop scale and had problems getting them to balance on the scale to weigh them correctly but it was right around 2000g for the set (ss/trials hub with bolts and steel freehub body).  Not exactly the lightest but these should be bulletproof which is what I was going for.
 
Matt at Olivers built them up for me. 

[chainslap]

I had I9's with Flows on my Epiphany for over 3 years with no hub issues and never serviced them. I had to fix a bent spoke once, thats it.  Now on the Superfly 100 I run I9's with Crest rims using the I9 spokes as I did with he previous set.  No hub issues what so ever, this set is a bit quieter.  Im past due for the post break-in retension.  With the lighter rims and bigger wheels, I will have it done this time.  Bottom line, the engagement is benchmark for the industry and with the straight pull spokes they are very stiff.  You can pick them up for under a grand new if you shop around.  Also note that Crest and Arch rims take tha same spokes, so if you gamble on Crests, you can go to Arches if need be without a huge extra expense.  CK certainly makes a great hub, but I think I9 makes a better wheel as a whole.  I had a short experience with Hope Pro II's on the SS.  For the money they were a good value but the noise was a deal breaker.  As far as the Profile hubs go check with Forest and crew, I believe they have several sets in use.

[mellowme17]

anyone actually logging miles on there hubs/wheels?
time is great and all but actual miles are the true selling point...

i know gregg loves his i9hubs and he racks up the miles each year.... not sure how often he has rebuilt though...

whats the difference between xt and xtr hubs besides some weight differences are they still loose ball and cone hubs??

I am just curious to know how important engagement is for our riding here in central Florida…..we don’t have any super long climbs…. Or impossible like cranking technical trails…  I would assume a secure solid engagement and low drag hub with super tight seals would be the best option for our environment especially if you occasionally ride in gross conditions.

Have you looked at the Hadley hubs I head good things about them but have yet to see them in person.

[BillT]

anyone actually logging miles on there hubs/wheels?
time is great and all but actual miles are the true selling point...

I've had my Kings since about mid '98 and on average I ride once a week for about 12 miles = approximately 9000'ish miles (very rough math).  My alloy cassette body wore enough that certain gear combos would cause the cassette to wobble about 2 years ago so I replaced it with a stainless steel version from King.  I also think that one of the bearings in the rear is starting to go bad.
 

i know gregg loves his i9hubs and he racks up the miles each year.... not sure how often he has rebuilt though...

Gregg has gone through 2-3 sets of bearings and is due for another set soon.  He did have catastrophic failure on Gatorback (if I remember correctly) but that was right after a service and the cause was traced to an improperly tensioned wheel and I believe all was taken care of by the bike shop/i9.
 

whats the difference between xt and xtr hubs besides some weight differences are they still loose ball and cone hubs??

XT and XTR share the same basic design but XTR uses nicer materials (ti free hub body).
 

I am just curious to know how important engagement is for our riding here in central Florida…..we don’t have any super long climbs…. Or impossible like cranking technical trails…  I would assume a secure solid engagement and low drag hub with super tight seals would be the best option for our environment especially if you occasionally ride in gross conditions.

Quick engagement is nice for slower, technical riding...more stop and go, cut and thrust, type stuff (i.e. Rattlesnake Ridge at Santos).  If you don't stop pedaling, then engagement doesn't really matter as much.  The thing I like about Kings is that they have 72 points of engagement and all are in contact to deliver power vs 3-4 points of contact on a typical rachet/pawl design hub.
 

Have you looked at the Hadley hubs I head good things about them but have yet to see them in person.

I run a set of Hadley's on my Intense and I love them.  Great quality, pretty good engagement...they are a bit on the burly side especially with the 10mm bolt on rear axle they have as option.

[SandPine]

anyone actually logging miles on there hubs/wheels?
time is great and all but actual miles are the true selling point...

I don't really count miles but hrs on the saddle.  I've been averaging about 40-50 hrs / month.  I have had my 1650 grams C29ssmax Mavics for over 3 years now.  Only one time serviced and never had to true them.  But engagement stinks and only 4 or 2 pawls and no bling factor.  I have had my AC's for almost a year now and true rear rim destroyed once and new one already out of true.  The engagement is not as good as the 9 or 3 degrees of the CK or I9.  But the pawls fall back for 0 drag.  great for coasting.  For price, i would have gotten better I think.

I am just curious to know how important engagement is for our riding here in central Florida…..we don’t have any super long climbs…. Or impossible like cranking technical trails…  I would assume a secure solid engagement and low drag hub with super tight seals would be the best option for our environment especially if you occasionally ride in gross conditions.

Profile Elites have INSTANT (or so they claim) engagement with 204 POE.  Better than 3 degrees of I9 or 6 (? not sure) degrees of the CK's.  when I am coasting down and start pedaling to make it up on the many drops we have with my AC is very noticeable that I have to pedal at least 1/8 of crank turn before it engages.  This is more noticeable on my Mavics.  Specially if I am standing to pedal up a climb.  If I catch the downstroke starting at the 12'oclock position sometimes my foot hesitates to get that downstroke started.  Specially if hub has not engaged.  One time in Georgia's Pinhoti my foot actually got stuck and I my pedal stroke went backwards instead of forward.  Was doing about 2mph up a climb and really grinding it.  Stopped pedaling a bit to rest and caught that 12 oclock positon. I was standing leaning forward over the bars on a steep climb. Anyway, just my novice views.

[chisel]

i have not tracked my miliage on the ck's over the last 11 years but i know it is a ton.

[rob_squared]

Did you decide on a hub SP? I'm interested in what you might have to say on the Profiles....

[Ejreyes6]

 I have been Running flows with profile hubs for about the last 300 miles or so.
I just pulled the hub apart ( super simple) for a cleaning and everything
Looked great inside. Their was a small bit of grime inside but that was about it.
The sealing on the mechanism could be better. That  being said all I have to do is a
Pull the wheel, lift cassette and your done. The plus is the 200 plus Points of engagement.

Ck, i9 and profile are all great hubs. You won't go wrong picking any of them.

E

[SandPine]

Did you decide on a hub SP? I'm interested in what you might have to say on the Profiles....

Yes I did.  I walked into AJ's with my order for a full I9 red hubs/spokes on white flows.  Walked out with white flows, red profile elites, black and white spokes, and red nips.  Same if not slightly less cost.  A tad bit over 1900 grams.  They are slightly heavier than what I have now.  The white powder coat on rim and flows weight a bit more than Arches.  But I hope not having to rebuild my wheels often (as I've done with my all mountain AC rims).  I've only done one ride on them.  The tire seems to quiet down the hub noise a bit but they are still very loud.  BIG difference on engagement feel compared to my AC and Mavic C29Max.  I like how the AC's coast but the profile elites blow them away on engagement.  It's instant.  As soon as you start to move the foot forward you are moving the wheel.  Often when standing up on FL small climbs, I can feel the slight delay on engagement on my other wheels.  Also coasting down a drop and pedaling at apex to climb back up.  No waiting now.
 
Thanks all for the input.  I still like the clean shinny look of the I9 but we'll see how the profile stand up.

[Pariah]

good deal.  Long as they work for you...you made the right call.

[jbrazinski]

Another Flows/Elites person here.  Followed Casey's advice at AJS and so far very happy.  I was a little concerned with the dirt/grime I found in them after 6 months so I'll probably pull them apart every few months now to clean and oil.  No wear noted from the dirt though.  I'm only one year into mountain biking so very little experience to back up my opinion.