Bontrager Shimano Freehub to XDrive Conversion

lonzo

Hi, hoping someone can advise whether it is possible to convert a 135mm QR bontrager rear hub from a Shimano compatible freehub to SRAM xdrive and if possible, tell me a part no. Or link to the xdrive body I would need. The hub is the original bontrager hub on a 2013 Trek Fuel EX7. The manufacturers website describes the hub as "Bontrager sealed cartridge bearing rear hub" which is on "Bontrager Duster Disc 32-hole double-walled Tubeless Ready rims". They are 26" wheels.
I know there are bontrager xdrive bodies, what I don't know is whether they will fit my hub.
Thanks

steve_sordy

So you are asking if Shimano make an XD freehub?

An XD freehub that will allow you to fit an 11 or 12-speed cassette by SRAM, one of Shimano's greatest competitors.

I doubt that Shimano will make one, but you may be able to get one made by another company that specialise in filling these gaps in the market.

However....
Shimano have just announced their own 12-speed, with a cassette that has a 10t gear, so they must have a freehub for it. Maybe they are also making conversion freehubs that will enable what you are looking to do.

Anyway, you could always ask Bontrager.

When I wanted to do the same with an e13 hub, I contacted Silverfish (the e13 UK agent). They pointed me in the correct direction to their website (the one where I had failed to find what I was looking for). Good luck!

The Rookie

Erm, no he’s saying he has a Bontrager hub with a Shimano (compatible) freehub and do Bontrager make an XD hub for it. (The freehub on a Bontrager hub wouldn’t be made by Shimano!).

Simple answer is ask a Trek dealer (Bontrager being owned by Trek), the answer is yes, but whether it’s compatible with your hub I don’t know.

steve_sordy

The Rookie wrote:

Erm, no he’s saying he has a Bontrager hub with a Shimano (compatible) freehub and do Bontrager make an XD hub for it. (The freehub on a Bontrager hub wouldn’t be made by Shimano!).

.....

I must learn to pay more attention.
I must learn to pay more attention.
I must learn to pay more attention.
I must learn to pay more attention.
I must learn to pay more attention.

:oops:

billycool

I've had a look on-line and from the bike specs, it's almost impossible to tell without some specialist knowledge.

Are you changing from 3x10 to 3x11?

I've found an 11 speed XD driver that works with 135mm, bit no idea if it would work with your hubs.

https://www.tritoncycles.co.uk/componen ... body-p6254

Why are you looking to change?

Plan B is buy a new wheel. I've just got got some Hope Pro 4's built into some nice WTB 26" wheels. Gives me the option of Shimano or XD driver (1x11 speed).

I know - I'm old, but 26" burns strong within me.

steve_sordy

BillyCool wrote:

.................

I know - I'm old, but 26" burns strong within me.

Give it 20 years BillyCool, and then at least you will look old. But actually be old, never!

"Old" is a state of mind.

njee20

Almost certainly not.

Higher end Bontrager hubs use DT internals (and thus freehub bodies), but that's a basic hub. New wheel time if you want an XD body I'd say.

lonzo

Thanks all for the replies,
I am looking for a Bontrager part so I will speak to a Trek dealer.

The reason I was asking is because I am currently running 3x10 shimano SLX and want to go to a 1x system. I will need a clutch derailleur, n/w chain ring, new chain and new shifter so the cost of upgrading is, imo, substantial which ever option I go for. I thought it might be better to spend a bit more and go for the 1x12 sram as this seems to be the direction things are travelling.

From what I've seen the new shimano set up requires a new free hub body anyway, so I doubt I will get back compatibility to a 2013 hub and it is also going to be XTR level stuff, and therefore pricey (I saw £289 for the cassette in a bikeradar report!).

I could try the sun-race 12-50 shimano free hub compatible 12spd cassette as a half-way house to a sram set up anybody experience with these?

steve_sordy

Lonzo wrote:

.............. so the cost of upgrading is, imo, substantial which ever option I go for. I thought it might be better to spend a bit more and go for the 1x12 sram as this seems to be the direction things are travelling.

............?

Even the budget versions of the SRAM Eagle kit is expensive. But the good news is that it seems to last a lot longer. I have this on my Whyte T130 and so far I've got more than twice as many miles out of a chain as usual* and with only one third the amount of wear I would expect (as measured by chain extension). Because gear tooth wear occurs mostly at the end of the chain's life, I'm expecting that the ring and cassette will also last much longer as well.

Note*: The comparison with chain life is with previous bikes, chain makes and speeds (9,10,11), it didn't seem to matter. I was getting about 550 miles before having to fit a new chain and I had to replace the cassette when I replaced the third chain. Right now I am at just over 1200 miles and I'm still on the first 12-speed chain and it is showing 0.33% length extension, averaged over 8 measurements along the full length of the chain.

Please note that it is me that gets 550 miles, I am not saying that you will. You may do better or worse, depending upon where you ride, how you ride and what your cleaning regime may be. But what I am clear about is that you should do maybe as much as six times better than what you are getting now.

njee20

I personally wouldn't bother with 1x12 on a bike like that (nor would I buy the new wheels to facilitate it). Go 1x11, with an XT 11-46 cassette (it's a wider range than the SunRace 12-50) and save yourself a small fortune.

The Rookie

Sunrace 11/12 speed are 11-46 or 11-50, not 12- (I assume that was a typo), so i'd consider it for the 1x11.
http://www.sunrace.com/en/products/cassettes-mtb

njee20

Apologies, I read 12-50 somewhere, although should have checked as 11-50 would make more sense!