Front Hubs

Mountain Bike Front Hub Buyer's Guide

The front hub consists of a body, two sets of bearings, and a surface to bolt on a disc brake rotor. They are available in many different colors, designs and sizes, allowing riders to customize their front wheels while increasing performance and reliability.

Types

Hubs can be classified according to the kind of riding they are designed for. As mentioned above, hubs are manufactured to excel in a particular riding application. Downhill and freeride models tend to have large bodies to increase strength and allow them to accommodate larger diameter through-axles. These models also tend to have disk brake rotor mounts standard. Cross-country specific designs, on the other hand, are built to be as light as possible. V-brakes are still used by some cross-country riders, so many hubs are available without disk brake rotor mounts. All-mountain and trail models fall somewhere in between, looking to find a balance of strength and lightness.

Sizes

There are three common front hub diameters: 20mm, 15mm, and 9mm "quick release." 20mm hubs are used on all downhill bikes and many all-mountain models. 15mm hubs are used on many all-mountain forks and are also common on cross-country models. 9mm quick release hubs are standard on many cross-country and all-mountain bikes.

Materials

Front hub bodies are made from aluminum because it is both light and stiff. Some hubs use carbon fiber middle section in the bodies to save weight. Axles come in steel, aluminum or titanium. Bearings are available in steel or ceramic options.

Things To Look For

When exploring available front hub options, there are a few important things to keep in mind: intended use, axle size, the number of spokes it requires, and the rotor mounting standard it uses are all necessary to ensure compatibility.

Different styles of riding require different hub designs. The more abusive the riding, the stronger the hub needs to be, conversely, less aggressive riding styles are built to be light rather than strong.

Modern mountain bike wheels most commonly have either 32 or 36 spokes, so be sure the number of holes in hub and rim coincide.

There are three possible disc brake mounting types: International Standard (6 threaded holes), Centerlock (uses a special lockring), and non-disk compatible.

How Much To Spend

Front hubs range in price from $20 to $300.

The $20-$75 range includes hubs in every size with both rotor installation standards. These models have loose ball bearings, aluminum bodies and are designed to be durable components.

Moving up to the $75-$150 range, hubs become available in an assortment of colors and designs. Models in this range offer sealed bearings, reduced weight, and more precise manufacturing.

Hubs in the $150-$300 range are top of the line products. They use the most sophisticated materials and designs, such as ceramic bearings and extremely lightweight bodies, to produce unparalleled performance and looks.

Product Reviews

Before buying, be sure to do your research and read product reviews. Reviews are a great way to find out specifics about a particular model, user impressions, and things to watch out for. After you've purchased a product and had enough time to thoroughly test it, we encourage you to leave a review for other people to see when they are researching bikes and parts on the web.

We hope you've found this information to be helpful. If you have a question that isn't answered in this guide, our mountain bike forums are a great place to get advice from knowledgeable riders. Your local bike shop is also a great resource.