Chinese / Taiwanese hubs

BigAl

My lad (15) is showing an interest in learning wheel-building

I've built a couple of wheels so can help him out.

Anyhow, he's got himself a pair of Superstar XC-430 rims in the Superstar sale (£15 the pair)

I'm recommending some Shimano Deore or XT hubs. I like Shimano cup & cone hubs and they're also inexpensive.

However he fancies something a bit more blingy and has found some on eBay:

1) Novatec D041SB & D042SB
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Novatec-D041SB-D042SB-MTB-Bike-Hubs-Sealed-Bearing-32Holes-Bicycle-Hubs/301798116872?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140122125356%26meid%3D09972b898ce24ec4bfaf48c9c3a74b82%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D181848276016&tfrom=181848276016&tpos=unknow&ttype=price&talgo=origal

2) 'Chosen' hubs
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Chosen-Mountain-Bike-Hubs-With-QR-Skewers-Front-Rear-Hub-Set-4-Bearing-32-Hole-/181848276016?var=&hash=item2a57007c30:m:mlyz951eqOVAtb6sjalJfqA

Anyone know anything about them?

I'm guessing that one or both of these are what a number of other companies rebrand?

Not bothered about the skewers - I'll ditch and use some Shimanos I have

poah

both are pretty heavy. what is the budget on the hubs?

have a look for Novatec D771SB/D772SB MTB hubs should be able to get a pair for about £75

BigAl

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19776445#p19776445]POAH[/url] wrote:

both are pretty heavy. what is the budget on the hubs?

have a look for Novatec D771SB/D772SB MTB hubs should be able to get a pair for about £75

Well, it's his money. He's got around £50 right now

rockmonkeysc

Just make sure you can get spare freehub bodies easily. Novatec make hubs for lots of other brands like Superstar and Nukeproof.

poah

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19776554#p19776554]RockmonkeySC[/url] wrote:

Just make sure you can get spare freehub bodies easily. Novatec make hubs for lots of other brands like Superstar and Nukeproof.

the ones the OP suggested are steel hence the weight

rockmonkeysc

There are lots of different steel freehub bodies though, Novatec have more than one and not all are readily available.

BigAl

Understood - the need to be able to get hold of spares

But the question is more about their 'off the shelf' quality

I'm guessing they're much the same as most 'generic' hubs (Superstar, Nukeproof, etc) as China is where most of these originate from anyway

As I said, on that budget I' buy some Deores. I guess I'm asking whether the Chinese ones are, at least, 'OK'

Chunkers1980

Yes. And if the actual bearings are rubbish from the off they can be changed after a few months

poah

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19776996#p19776996]BigAl[/url] wrote:

Understood - the need to be able to get hold of spares

But the question is more about their 'off the shelf' quality

I'm guessing they're much the same as most 'generic' hubs (Superstar, Nukeproof, etc) as China is where most of these originate from anyway

As I said, on that budget I' buy some Deores. I guess I'm asking whether the Chinese ones are, at least, 'OK'

my son has had no issues with his superstar switch evo (novatec 811/812 hubs)