xt or pro 2 what new back wheel to get

lugsey2k5

hello
im looking for a new rear wheel and have been for a while. asked on hear several months ago but forogt what conclusion we came to.

i have around £100 to spend and was looking at an xt hub on dt comp spokes and mavic xm xm819. but then looked at a pro 2 hub. is it realy worth the extra £50.
will i notice any extra performance or lifespan.

i currently have these wheels

Freewheel : Shimano CS HG50 9 speed
Rear hub : Shimano FH-M475 disc
Spokes : Stainless 14g
Rims : Sun S.O.S. PI

if any one knows the weight saving from my current wheel to the xt one that would be great
thanks for any help

Boffington

yeah the pro 2 hubs are sweet! they look good as well and the sound lets everyone know your coming! They will last as well but thats not to say the XT's won't. They won't cost you an extra £50 over the XT's but whether their worth the extra money for you personally is a difficult quetion.

nicklouse

http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopi ... highlight=

lugsey2k5

chears nick can find anything. although didnt realy think to look. wouldnt have though keep them that long.

n think ill go for the xt option then. pro 2s little out of price range if im being sensible.
will order from merlin tomorrow since they seem to have good wheel building record
chears

rob cole

Pro 2 without a doubt

I had 2 sets of wheels built with XT hubs and had ongoing problems on the rear with the lock-nuts / axle constantly working loose, despite being tightened correctly by a pro-mechanic and numerous mechanics looking at them, would never touch them again!!!

I've had Pro2 hubs for over 2 years and never even looked at them, still run buttery smooth as the day they were purchased, we sell alot of Pro2 hubs to our customers and rarely (if ever) have issues

a regular problem with both shimano and non-branded loose ball hubs we see in our workshop is constanty loosening, especially on jump / freeridey bikes

I've always thought that loose ball / cone hub were well over rated, as without a replaceable bearing surface, once your races are damaged (for example if your hubs come loose mid ride and you need to get home), your hub and therefore wheel is toast

with a hub using a cartridge bearing, its a 10 min job using the Hope toolset to replace the bearings and you've effectively got a new hub....

well worth the extra $$ especially on a rear hub which is so critical to your bike

lugsey2k5

ahhhhhhhh
in two minds now both you and mate say pro 2 buts its an extra £75!!!
i have enough money. i know id never regret the pro 2 but has any one else had any problems with the xt hub. prefferably the 2008 models

why is this sooooo hard :shock:

Mr_Orange

A well built wheel around an XT hub will need little maintenance, and it will be a heck of a lot quieter than those bloomin' Pro IIs, I digress, there is another thread about the noise.

If you're not happy to spend the extra, you won't regret XT hubs. I've used them for the last 16 years. I've only recently gone to XTR - mainly for the bling element and the fact that the insurers were paying 8)

rob cole

xt = :shock:

hope =

lugsey2k5

chears im going with xt:)
but does any one know what type of hub the xt is
is it straigh pull or the J type 1s
shimano web site shows j pull types but on merlin an xt wheel set already build has straight pull.
thanks guy

supersonic

XT hubs you buy are standard eyelets - the factory wheelset is a little different.

The competitor to Hope Pro2 on the Shimano front is the XTR which is worth looking at if you have the money - titanium freehub, (not swiss cheese like Hope ;-)), great quality bearings, and lighter.

As for servicing, can be swings and roundabouts. Hope use cartridge bearings, Shimano uses a 'cartridge' freehub (you can service it if technically minded) - but most just chuck it when (if) it wears out. Hopes need periodically greasing and the pawls replacing.

lugsey2k5

chears
just ordered the xt option.
but while on about servicing any help my other thread
http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=12559475