Hope Pro II Hubs: Cassette Compatability and Skewers

myopic

I've got a couple of preconceived notions about Hope Pro II hubs, but not sure where I got them from or if they are true! Hopefully someone can help tell me if these are urban myths or otherwise. Cheers!

1. The alloy freehub is best fitted with a cassette with an alloy carrier. A steel one can be used, but there is a danger that the freehub will be damaged. Is this true? If so, what cassettes would be compatible - is it just Shimano XT and up, or will any cassette be OK?

2. For a std QR hub spec with 6 point disc, Hope skewers can work loose and be a pain to lock/unlock. If not going for Hope skewers, will any/most QR skewers do? Anyone got any recommendations for something good quality and reliable for trail riding? I had been thinking about these:
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... delID=3588

ANy help guidance appreciated, thanks!

GHill

1. True, Hope say the damage will be cosmetic, but I believe it may cause problems when you come to change cassette. For alloy carriers, XT and above with Shimano, 980 and above with SRAM (although you may want to got for 990 as the carrier spans more of the cogs).

2. Shimano Deore are one of my faves. Seriously.

Eranu

1. Yes you need XT or higher. You can get a steel freehub body though which negates that.

2. QR wise I've used Superstar, Shimano and Mavic QR with no issues. Personally I'd try and get some Shimano ones.

myopic

Thanks for the feedback Guys (x2 to you GHill ). Its helpful and much appreciated!

llamafarmer

Another +1 for Shimano Deore skewers - Not the lightest, or very bling but the enclosed cam system is the best by far imo.

The Spiderman

SLX cassettes also have an alloy carrier according to the Shimano website.

Andy B

The Spiderman wrote:

SLX cassettes also have an alloy carrier according to the Shimano website.

But only on the top 3 rings, XT have a carrier on 6 rings. The SLX will mark the freehub body more than the XT

Hope recommend XT & above or the Sram equivalent.

I have owned 4 pairs of Hope skewers, none have come undone.

bails87

1. XT and above

2. Another vote for Shimano Deore, cheap but brilliant.

Northwind

Eranu wrote:

1. Yes you need XT or higher. You can get a steel freehub body though which negates that.

But that's at extra cost and makes them barely any lighter than an XT hub so there's not much point tbh.

jairaj

the old style hope skewers have some complaints but the new style ones (post 2009) are OK. Although my hope skewers don't feel as nice to use as my shimano xt skewers, they do the job just as well i.e. they hold the wheel in the drop out nice and tight.

simmo3801

myopic,

recently bought mavic xc717s on hope pro 2 hubs myself. I bought an XT cassette and I think it was Supersonic who recommended deore quick release which are excellent. Shop around for the deore skewers as got mine half price on net. Not sure where now before anyone asks. Unhelpful I know!

myopic

Thanks for all the feedback guys. Not decided about the cassette yet, (XT or SRAM) but going to try the deore skewers for now and leave the bling Hopes as a possible future birthday present

Remy_98

Halo Porkie's are great skewers

ride_whenever

I've not had any trouble with the CB split qr levers 8)

llamafarmer

myopic wrote:

Not decided about the cassette yet, (XT or SRAM)

Xt is lighter and cheaper

Radixmatrix

#2: My Kore QR Skewers as CRC link have been on since 2003 with no problems whatsoever

The Northern Monkey

get a different hub

I chose XT hubs over hope because..

1) they were a hell of a lot cheaper.
2) just before buying there were a load of people popping up with cracked hope hubs
3) I can use whatever cassette I want
4) I had the option of centerlock hubs
5) they dont make me feel like i'm trying to get noticed
6) matching kit (skewers, seatclamp, brakes etc) is cheaper and works better.

The only reason I have a hope headset is because it was free!

Eranu

2) just before buying there were a load of people popping up with cracked hope hubs

There are as many horror stories about XT hubs, ask Mr Toast. My hopes have been fine for 18 months or so and I'm sure that if they failed hope would replace them can you say the same for shimano?

4) I had the option of centerlock hubs

Care?

5) they dont make me feel like i'm trying to get noticed

That's all in your mind to be perfectly honest

6) matching kit (skewers, seatclamp, brakes etc) is cheaper and works better

Matching? That's just proves my point above. I've used my hubs with SS QR, Mavic QR and Shimano. Get over the bling factor you great northern jessie

myopic

Got Deore skewers for £11.99 a pair from Ready to Ride Cycles

Also I bought Hope over XT because.... that's probably another thread which could run for a bit

The Northern Monkey

myopic wrote:

Got Deore skewers for £11.99 a pair from Ready to Ride Cycles

Also I bought Hope over XT because.... that's probably another thread which could run for a bit

Go on... why did you buy hope over XT

myopic

bigbenj_08 wrote:

Go on... why did you buy hope over XT

...not biting!! but probably for at least some of the reasons you must have been thinking about in your P7 thread before you went for XT!

The Northern Monkey

lol! bling then? :P

myopic

bigbenj_08 wrote:

lol! bling then? :P

So is that what was in your head?!!

but actually no: I went for silver, so relatively subtle.

I wanted to go for something quality that would last, perform well and with cartridge bearings for a change. And I wanted to indulge myself. Just for once....

The Northern Monkey

silver... how boring

Yea thats all I was thinking tbh... I don't think i'd ever tell the difference between XT and Hope apart from the price and colour!

ride_whenever

noise?

Curious Yellow

Sorry to resurrect this, but anyone know if a PG1030 cassette would do the trick with a Hope freehub please?

njee20

It has the largest sprockets on an alu spider, so it will minimise the damage.

People really get far far too het up about this! Any cassette will be fine, you may eventually have a little more issue removing the cassette, but that's about it. I use a cheap HG50 cassette (no spider) on an alu freehub body on my PowerTap on the road and it's fine. A bit of burring, but no different to the XTR cassette on my 240s on the MTB, either way a few seconds with a file sorts it before I put the new cassette on. It's either 2 burrs or 9, that's about it...

Curious Yellow

You're right.

Usually buy the cheap Deore cassettes but seeing the PG1030s at £35 on Tredz (£30 if I get a discount for reviewing it) so thought perhaps these would be a decent alternative and a treat for a new wheelset I got as a present.

supersonic

njee20 wrote:

It has the largest sprockets on an alu spider, so it will minimise the damage.

People really get far far too het up about this! Any cassette will be fine, you may eventually have a little more issue removing the cassette, but that's about it. I use a cheap HG50 cassette (no spider) on an alu freehub body on my PowerTap on the road and it's fine. A bit of burring, but no different to the XTR cassette on my 240s on the MTB, either way a few seconds with a file sorts it before I put the new cassette on. It's either 2 burrs or 9, that's about it...

Unless it rips right around the splines! Seen that before with big heavy riders!

njee20

At which point you are clearly an oaf and you buy a steel freehub body. No point doing it until that happens, and that really isn't relevant for 99% of riders. And if you're that fat then I'd be worrying about the 11-12 sprockets anyway, and the hub flanges on Pro 2s!

supersonic

Either way, is something to be wary of, and you may be better off getting steel to start rather than potentially destroying an alu one. Or just buying a better hub if you are worrying about busting the whole thing!