MTB Wheel Rebuild advice/cost

[SoliD]

Hello,

The rear hub on my Boardman HT Pro bit the bullet the other day, I've just been into my LBS and they have advised I need a new rear hub, now I have two options, buy a new wheel or get it rebuilt with a new hub.

I got the rebuild quote as £32 for spokes (£1 each) £30 labour + the hub, now I'm thinking of getting a hope pro evo 2 so this puts it at almost £200 for the full thing.

Obviously not a cheap option, but I understand that my Ritchey WCS rims are pretty good and quite light and strong so don't want to get rid of them.

Obviously other option is to buy a new wheel.

After a bit of advice on which option would be best and if the cost I have been quoted is reasonable?

Thanks in advance.

SoliD

[village idiot]

buy a new wheel...

go to Merlin cycles website and look at their sale wheels.... there you will find your answer!

[BadgerBenji]

If you are going hope, is the hope hoops range worth a look?

[shalmaneser]

BadgerBenji said:

If you are going hope, is the hope hoops range worth a look?

Yep.

[Jimbo.]

SoliD said:

Hello,

The rear hub on my Boardman HT Pro bit the bullet the other day, I've just been into my LBS and they have advised I need a new rear hub, now I have two options, buy a new wheel or get it rebuilt with a new hub.

I got the rebuild quote as £32 for spokes (£1 each) £30 labour + the hub, now I'm thinking of getting a hope pro evo 2 so this puts it at almost £200 for the full thing.

Obviously not a cheap option, but I understand that my Ritchey WCS rims are pretty good and quite light and strong so don't want to get rid of them.

Obviously other option is to buy a new wheel.

After a bit of advice on which option would be best and if the cost I have been quoted is reasonable?

Thanks in advance.

SoliD

Can't say I've heard much said about the Ritchey rims: can't help but think they're OE-issue stuff, as I've never seen them anywhere else, and certainly never mentioned by the known wheelbuilders. Make of that what you will.

Hope hubs are good, but overrated, normally by those who can't service their bike/cup 'n' cone hubs. Yes, the bearings are easy to change, but the noise gets on my tits after a while and the drag within them is comical.

IMO, if you do want/can justify new wheels, then opt for Shimano XT hubs + Mavic XC717s or XM719s + DT Swiss Comp spokes. Bulletproof.

[SoliD]

Thanks for the advice, seems like i'll get myself a new wheel/set of wheels.

Jimbo looking for that spec brings up the following

http://www.merlincycles.com/bike-shop/wheels/mount... that I can spec up for £120 that the one you're on about I presume?

Also I presume I don't have to worry about fitment they should just go straight on after swapping over the cassette?

[anonymous-user]

Merlin built my wheels and I haven't had an issue, hope pro 2s on mavic en521 rims. I'd definitely go with mavic rims regardless of the hubs, the mavic website is very informative and has a good comparison feature. Something like the xc717 would be ideal for most riding types

[SoliD]

Just looking around at prices, found these @ bike discount only £35 extra and can get a matching front wheel too. Opinions?

http://www.bike-discount.de/shop/k735/a8917/xt-mav...

Thanks

[Samcat]

I got these wheels from my local bike shop for £300 (with a little discount)




Hope Pro2 Evo Hubs
Stans No Tubes Flow EX Rims

Buying 'factory built' wheels is most always cheaper than getting a set built

[aka_kerrly]

Have to agree with another poster that Hope hubs whilst available in shiny anodised finishes aren't really better than Shimano kit if you service your bike regularly.

I guess it comes down to , are you that bothered about stripping/regreasing individual bearings in hubs or would you rather have to swap an entire bearing race in one go with less frequency oh and do you like the noise of hopes - I personally don't and like a quiet bike.

[Richair]

All the answers you need are here: www.superstarcomponents.com

As an owner of several Hope hubs I've gone off their rear hubs big time. The freehub main seal amounts to a crappy ring of poorly fitted plastic (consider it less of a seal, more of an extra few grams of pointless rotating mass...), the points of engagement are lacking compared to the competition, the pawl springs regularly snap oh and I've had the axles snap on the bolt through hubs. I have freinds who have exerienced the same issues too.

I now have two Superstar Switch Evo rear hubs and they've proven to be great, especially considering the price! I accept that the bearings may need replacing sooner as their bound to be cheap, but I've not had any problems so far. Their axle system is great and the freehub pawls are very easy to service.

I don't see myself using anything but these in the future.

[SoliD]

Richair said:

All the answers you need are here: www.superstarcomponents.com

As an owner of several Hope hubs I've gone off their rear hubs big time. The freehub main seal amounts to a crappy ring of poorly fitted plastic (consider it less of a seal, more of an extra few grams of pointless rotating mass...), the points of engagement are lacking compared to the competition, the pawl springs regularly snap oh and I've had the axles snap on the bolt through hubs. I have freinds who have exerienced the same issues too.

I now have two Superstar Switch Evo rear hubs and they've proven to be great, especially considering the price! I accept that the bearings may need replacing sooner as their bound to be cheap, but I've not had any problems so far. Their axle system is great and the freehub pawls are very easy to service.

I don't see myself using anything but these in the future.

Have read a fair few stories about poor quality wheels from superstar, so will be avoiding them I think. Waiting on an email reply but think I'm going to go with the merlin wheel above.

[Digga]

SoliD said:

Have read a fair few stories about poor quality wheels from superstar, so will be avoiding them I think.

Not tried their wheels, but this thing's rolling on Hope Pro2 hubs and Superstar DH rims:



This is me trying my best to squash the rims on Sunday, to no avail.

[Richair]

Digga I was up at the chase on Sunday too; one of the guys on the yellow Mega's...

I've heard mixed reviews about Superstar too, but I've made my own decision by putting my money where my mouth is and I've been happy. I'd avoid the Alex Rims Supra 30 builds though; the rims are badged for enduro use but are far too lightweight and mine are now going in the bin...

[SoliD]

Thanks for all the advice, went for the solid option of Shimano XT hubs with Mavic XC717 rims and DT swiss spokes after doing a bit more reading. Couldn't bring myself to get some nice blue rims, as I'm not fast enough for them yet

[Vladimir]

Good choice! Stuck the same of the missus bike when her hubs went. I did the Hope thing; Pro 2s on 717s. Very good but I did kill the pawls very quickly. Luckily easy to replace! I do like the Hope/Chris King rear hub clickety click!

[Digga]

Richair said:

Digga I was up at the chase on Sunday too; one of the guys on the yellow Mega's...

Good man! Yes I did see a pair of yellow Megas went I did my stint marshalling.

I think the seven days of 'high altitude training' (skiing, eating dumpling and drinking lager) spent in Austria the week before, polus the fact I wasn't back from the airport until 8pm the night before, didn't help my speed/times.

On the plus side, I was clearing the double step-down nicely, unlike this guy: https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-...

Edited by Digga on Friday 22 February 08:36

[AndrewEH1]

I just have two hubs rebuilt in new rims.

I supplied hubs (Hope Pro II) and rims (Mavic), they supplied spokes, and it cost £80 total.

[rhinochopig]

SoliD said:

Richair said:

All the answers you need are here: www.superstarcomponents.com

As an owner of several Hope hubs I've gone off their rear hubs big time. The freehub main seal amounts to a crappy ring of poorly fitted plastic (consider it less of a seal, more of an extra few grams of pointless rotating mass...), the points of engagement are lacking compared to the competition, the pawl springs regularly snap oh and I've had the axles snap on the bolt through hubs. I have freinds who have exerienced the same issues too.

I now have two Superstar Switch Evo rear hubs and they've proven to be great, especially considering the price! I accept that the bearings may need replacing sooner as their bound to be cheap, but I've not had any problems so far. Their axle system is great and the freehub pawls are very easy to service.

I don't see myself using anything but these in the future.

Have read a fair few stories about poor quality wheels from superstar, so will be avoiding them I think. Waiting on an email reply but think I'm going to go with the merlin wheel above.

I have three of their wheels and all have been fine to date. Re the bearings: they use good quality SKF or a Japanese brand AFAIK.

OP you won't go wrong with the Shimanos though.

[Richair]

Digga said:

thumbup:
Good man! Yes I did see a pair of yellow Megas went I did my stint marshalling.

I think the seven days of 'high altitude training' (skiing, eating dumpling and drinking lager) spent in Austria the week before, polus the fact I wasn't back from the airport until 8pm the night before, didn't help my speed/times.

On the plus side, I was clearing the double step-down nicely, unlike this guy: https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-...

Edited by Digga on Friday 22 February 08:36

Ouch!