Should I get rid of my modern bike?

[drystonepaul]

I agree with that. Shimano have largely stuck with 'old fashioned' cup and cone hub bearings for whatever reason.
But for a couple of quid you can replace the ball bearings, and the cones don't usually cost much more. Certainly less than decent cartridge bearings.

Strip down and regrease your hubs every now and then and they will just keep going even with the original ball bearings.

I much prefer that, especially on bikes that get ridden through the long dark winters.

 

[Sketchyxup]

My last set of wheels for my modern bike I had built with shimano hubs because I've been riding long enough to know what works. Hope stuff has always had problems yet people still lust after buying it, never really understood that.

Infact I think xt hubs are probably some of the best about.

 

[Coach Jeff]

Yep ..... get rid of it I reckon.

In fact I will help you out and take it away for you

 

[tintin40]

I've had no problems with any Hope hub new or vintage.
Infact i 've had no problems with any hub. Perhaps i've been lucky?

 

[02gf74]

You simply bought a bike with rubbish hubs. No need to blame modern bikes, blame Hope ... or yourself.

+1

take the hope hubs apart and service them, be grand after that. If sealed bearng races are fitted, then price off seals, clean and and fill with grease. Happy riding for 2013.

 

[Rampage]

I bought a 2008 Stumpjumper FSR, worst bike I've ever bought for reliability. Riding it once / twice a week the rear hub was knackered within a month, turned out to be a worn cone which was replaced with one from a very well used 1991 LX hub, has been fine ever since. The BB lasted slightly longer. Every bearing on the bike was knackered within a year except for the front hub.
It's been as in the garage for a couple of years now, I can't be bothered with it.

 

[dyna-ti]

Ive recently picked up 2 sets of pro2 based wheelsets for about £60 each.I dont think theyre as good as the early models so if you see a set of bulbs then snap them up
One of the 2 sets i got had so much grease in the freehub the whole lot was stuck together,the other was similar but the pawl springs had snapped and the loose pawls were preventing the hub from engaging.The grease in the freehub could have come from the previous owner pressure washing his wheels or could point to a lack of adequate sealing
Both were an easy fix as Hope have so far stuck to their model of making things easy to service.The freehub is alloy as standard so not as robust or long lasting as their earlier Ti freehubs.I do like the 4 way engagement though and the new design of pawl spring appears to be a real step forward
Overall i wouldn't rate a pro2 to a bulb or maybe even an XC but i think that if you look after them,use a cassette with an alloy carrier[dont forget the anti-seize ] then they should last pretty much

 

[drcarlos]

Had similar with my Kona, first the BB went (ceased on one side, so I upgraded to team issue spec BB), then the chain and cassette wore out (in less than 500 miles and only one muddy ride), the replacement cassette lunched itself after about 50 miles (got replaced under warranty and waiting to be fitted), disc brakes are awful to keep adjusted and the transmission doesn't like muddy conditions. I will keep and ride it though but I don't think i'll buy another modern bike.

Carl.

 

[Blackstar]

Hub bearings cop a lot. It's surprising they last as long as they do.

There might be an unwritten rule there somewhere about bearing maintenance.

It seems like a good idea to inspect the hub bearings and repack them every 2 years or 5000km or so.

To be fair, I don't see why a modern bike should be any less reliable than an older one.

 

[drcarlos]

I would guess that the bearings supplied will not be particularly high quality and when you replace them, replacing them with RHP or SKF will see them lasting longer, it's what I will do with my Mavics when they need doing.

Carl.