SuperStar Switch Evo vs Shimano XT Hubs

iLukeKendall

Further to my recent wheel related posts, I've decided to build my own wheels rather than buy a factory wheelset.

So far, I'm pretty much decided on the rims and spokes, but still undecided on which hubs to buy.

I've narrowed it down to either Shimano XT Hubs, or SuperStar Switch Evo's.

Does anyone have experience with these, and which would you suggest is better?

Or would you recommend something else? I'd be looking to spend no more than £80 for front and rear pair, and would like something that runs quietly, and ideally has a serviceable freehub. They'll be used for XC.

They'll be built with Stans No Tubes ZTR Arch EX 29er Rims, and Sapim Double Butted Race Spokes.

Thanks for any advice!

edhornby

er.. how about hand built by a german ? different rims I know but frankly the price makes my wallet burn in my pocket.

http://www.actionsports.de/gb/Wheels/Wh ... 61502.html

rockmonkeysc

Superstar freehubs (Novatec) are quite weak and prone to cracking.
Shimamo still use cup and cone which puts me off. I would go with Hope or DT Swiss hubs.

iLukeKendall

edhornby wrote:

er.. how about hand built by a german ? different rims I know but frankly the price makes my wallet burn in my pocket.

http://www.actionsports.de/gb/Wheels/Wh ... 61502.html

I had looked at these the other day. I was kinda hoping someone would say Superstar hubs would be better reliability wise, as the sealed bearings and serviceable freehub tick some boxes for me. But I also wasn't sure if the XT's were any better than the SuperStar's.

RockmonkeySC wrote:

Superstar freehubs (Novatec) are quite weak and prone to cracking.
Shimamo still use cup and cone which puts me off. I would go with Hope or DT Swiss hubs.

Ah, okay. I wouldn't be doing anything stupid with them jump-wise, just the usual XC terrain, with some rock garden hops. I do like the look of the Hope hubs, but they're a bit out of my budget if I'm honest. The same goes for DT Swiss hubs - I'm hoping to build a whole wheelset for the price of one of those hubs!

chrisrobs

RockmonkeySC wrote:

Superstar freehubs (Novatec) are quite weak and prone to cracking.
Shimamo still use cup and cone which puts me off. I would go with Hope or DT Swiss hubs.

Spot on advice here im on my third freehub from superstars in less that 12 months. Shimano hubs are hard to maintain.

rockmonkeysc

Superstar freehubs crack however you ride. It's not an issue caused by jumping or hard riding.
The body is less than a millimetre thick where it's recessed for the pawls, that's where it cracks.

cooldad

chrisrobs wrote:

RockmonkeySC wrote:

Superstar freehubs (Novatec) are quite weak and prone to cracking.
Shimamo still use cup and cone which puts me off. I would go with Hope or DT Swiss hubs.

Spot on advice here im on my third freehub from superstars in less that 12 months. Shimano hubs are hard to maintain.

No they're not, half an hour now and again (every year or so) to grease and adjust and they'll go for years. Easier than replacing a lot of cartridge bearings.

The Northern Monkey

cooldad wrote:

chrisrobs wrote:

RockmonkeySC wrote:

Superstar freehubs (Novatec) are quite weak and prone to cracking.
Shimamo still use cup and cone which puts me off. I would go with Hope or DT Swiss hubs.

Spot on advice here im on my third freehub from superstars in less that 12 months. Shimano hubs are hard to maintain.

No they're not, half an hour now and again (every year or so) to grease and adjust and they'll go for years. Easier than replacing a lot of cartridge bearings.

I have had Superstar Switch hubs on my Canyon for about a year and a half, had zero issues. Hope pro2 hubs are/were prone to cracking, not superstar.
I have had XT hubs on my Spesh for about 10 months and run them many times before. They are spot on. As said, grease adjust and ride.

rockmonkeysc

cooldad wrote:

chrisrobs wrote:

RockmonkeySC wrote:

Superstar freehubs (Novatec) are quite weak and prone to cracking.
Shimamo still use cup and cone which puts me off. I would go with Hope or DT Swiss hubs.

Spot on advice here im on my third freehub from superstars in less that 12 months. Shimano hubs are hard to maintain.

No they're not, half an hour now and again (every year or so) to grease and adjust and they'll go for years. Easier than replacing a lot of cartridge bearings.

Grease won't stop them cracking. I give mine a light smear of grease regularly.
Under load the pawl is putting too much force through the <1mm thick part of the body where they crack. It's not just a Superstar issue, all Novatec free hubs are the same.
I think I have cured mine. The spacer inside the freehub, where it fits in to the hub is too loose and not supporting the thin body properly. I have made a new one which has only 0.016mm clearance. So far it has lasted 8 months which is better than previous freehubs have lasted.

The Northern Monkey

Pretty sure cooldad was referring to xt hubs not superstar when talking about grease...

rockmonkeysc

The Northern Monkey wrote:

Pretty sure cooldad was referring to xt hubs not superstar when talking about grease...

My mistake.
Shimano cup and cone bearings are very good if maintained. They just lack the fit and forget cartridge bearings but if looked after will last years.

DCR00

Ive used Switch hubs for going on 2 years now. Ridden everywhere from XC to DH. No issues with the hubs, but i did have to swap out the alloy freehub for a steel one after the spider on my cassette ate into the freehub. However, this is not an issue limited to SS, rather the interaction between an alloy freehub and a steel spider.

One of the major selling points for me was the interchangeability of the front hub from 9mm to 15mm to 20mm, so much so that im giving serious thought to a pair of their carbon AM wheelsets.

Twelly

Been using SS switch hubs for 6 months. A lot of wet gritty muddy shite and they have taken a fair beating. No problems yet. I just ordered a second set for t'other bike. It is also a very cheap and very easy job to switch between axle sizes.

Shimano hubs are very easy to service.

iLukeKendall

Thanks a lot for the opinions! General consensus seems to be that the SuperStar hubs can have a habit of cracking but sometimes can be fine, and the XT hubs are great, but just take a bit more maintenance.

I was also looking at Hope Hoops yesterday with the same rims and spokes for a fairly good price from Wiggle. I'm not sure I could cope with the sound of the Hope Pro Evo II freehub though!

Are Hope hubs any better than the above two? Or would an XT hub be just as good?

The Rookie

The Shimano free hubs are very reliable, and being steel cheaper cassettes don't bite into them either!

My commuter has done over 4000 miles on Shimano hubs which were bought 'pre loved'. I cleaned and regreased when I bought them, heck them regularly for play, had to tweak the cones once in that time.

The Northern Monkey

I've read as many posts related to cracked Hope Pro2 hubs as superstar.

The pro2 and superstar switch are essentially exactly the same.

poah

DCR00 wrote:

so much so that im giving serious thought to a pair of their carbon AM wheelsets.

they don't offer any advantage over cheaper metal rims

rockmonkeysc

POAH wrote:

DCR00 wrote:

so much so that im giving serious thought to a pair of their carbon AM wheelsets.

they don't offer any advantage over cheaper metal rims

Less flex for their weight and less prone to denting and flat spotting. Good rims, not the lightest but tough. I know a few people using them as DH race rims.

DCR00

POAH wrote:

DCR00 wrote:

so much so that im giving serious thought to a pair of their carbon AM wheelsets.

they don't offer any advantage over cheaper metal rims

Maybe so, but I want them

poah

DCR00 wrote:

POAH wrote:

DCR00 wrote:

so much so that im giving serious thought to a pair of their carbon AM wheelsets.

they don't offer any advantage over cheaper metal rims

Maybe so, but I want them

I'd like them too

but more likely to buy mavic crossmax enduro WTS or Easton haven's

DCR00

Crossmax WTS are well over £450. I do like them as well.

poah

£650 I think from CRC

rockmonkeysc

Don't they have stupid spokes as well? And ropey hubs?

poah

stupid spokes like hope SP's as for hubs no idea, no more than any others I suppose. had a mavic crossride on the rear of my old bike for a number of years without any issues. depends on how much, what type and what conditions you ride in. what was reliable for me may not be for someone that rides 10x more than I do.