Chris King versus Dura Ace Hubs

bennyboyh

I'm getting some handbuilt wheels. Currently have a Chris King front hub but need to decide on a rear hub (10 speed Shimano compatible). Is it reallly worth the extra money, hundreds of pounds, for a CK rear over a Dura Ace rear? I'm thinking no, any experience or opinions?

mrushton

It's Chris King and built to that standard. But then there is Tune or Phil Wood if you want to spend money. It depends what your budget is? The DA hubs are good enough for the Pro teams but then again why not go with ceramic bearings if available.,

caw35slr

CK = loud: http://youtube.com/watch?v=lq3yCgbnnG8

acorn_user

Shimano use nice steel bearings. No point in changing them. If you must change, get Phil Specc'd.

TheGreatGatsby

I'm having a set of wheels built at the moment and opted for tune hubs with ceramic bearings - I've ridden them before (without ceramics) and CK's and just find them a little nice and not so damned noisy!

Gats

mookie

bennyboyh wrote:

Is it reallly worth the extra money, hundreds of pounds, for a CK rear over a Dura Ace rear? I'm thinking no, any experience or opinions?

Frankly, no it's not. They are well engineered, but CK hubs really are loud when freewheeling and seriously overpriced IMO. The DA rear hub (and the Ultegra, incidentally) are virtually silent. The recent DA 10sp hubs feel almost frictionless to me.

If you opt for Tune, be very careful about using Shimano 10sp cassettes. The deep splines of the cassette will dig into the soft alu of the hub, et voila! Hammer and chisel job...

maddog 2

ditto the soft freehub on Tunes.

DA will be fine IMO. Serviceable, lightish.