http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Loudest and quietest freehubs? en Sun, 28 Jun 2026 11:45:32 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15647#post-202547 Thu, 22 Oct 2015 23:21:04 +0000 Dave 202547@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I find the newer (40t) Hope to be disappointingly quiet. It's still audible, but it doesn't quite have the clatter that I was hoping for. I still decided to get another one for the new bike so that I could swap the bearings on my MTB and commuter as a batch job. So far so smooth though. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15647#post-202524 Thu, 22 Oct 2015 17:01:18 +0000 Gilbot 202524@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I've got Hope hubs on 2 of my bikes.<br /> Main advantage is I don't need a bell!<br /> Got pretty cheap shimano on my 3rd bike which is quiet. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15647#post-202511 Thu, 22 Oct 2015 14:13:21 +0000 Cyclingmollie 202511@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>What I should have said was "I'd be quite happy with Hope hubs *but* I'm talking cheap wheels". And I do want to use gears. Budget is £120.</p> <p>Thanks for the advice. I stopped by Ace Bikes and heard a Fulcrum 3 that was in for servicing. "Acceptably quiet" according to the mechanic. If the Fulcrum 7s were like that they might be okay. If Aksiums are quieter then they would be fine. I'll probably end up with Shimano because I'm used to working on them. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15647#post-202478 Thu, 22 Oct 2015 10:57:16 +0000 steveo 202478@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>If I never hear a Hope hub again it'll be too soon. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15647#post-202476 Thu, 22 Oct 2015 10:32:21 +0000 Darkerside 202476@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I took a hope hub apart a few weeks back. Glorious piece of engineering.</p> <p>Not quiet though. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15647#post-202451 Thu, 22 Oct 2015 08:26:09 +0000 earthowned 202451@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I've got some Fulcrum 4s (thats a 5 hub laced onto a 3 rim apparently) which are buzzy as you would expect having being made by Campagnolo. The Shimano R501 and Ultegra 6700 wheelsets I also use are quiet. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15647#post-202446 Thu, 22 Oct 2015 00:17:11 +0000 Tulyar 202446@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Do you want gears?</p> <p>No drive connection to give any drag at all if you use a roller clutch or cone clutch drive, and the ultimate in no noise no drag is a BMX freecoaster hub or to go the next stage a freecoaster/coasterbrake hub as made by Perry of Birmingham for the Moulton mini and also available as a Sachs Torpedo model. Aside from the bearings just 2 main moving parts The drive connection (which takes the rear cog and has a 2-start ACME internal thread) and the double ended cone (which floats on the external ACME threaded brake/drive clutch cone carrier).</p> <p>A huge advantage of the pressure enhanced friction system of drive engagement is that the harder you press on the pedals the harder the cone is forced into the seat, or the rollers up the ramps. </p> <p>It really is noticeable that the wheel goes almost silent when the drive disengages and you are running almost totally on 2 main wheel bearings. I also feel that the bike holds its momentum, and even catches up with bikes that have whirring ratchets when coasting downhill (my 110Kg weight might be relevant there though). </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15647#post-202436 Wed, 21 Oct 2015 21:42:26 +0000 Arellcat 202436@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Hope? This must be some use of the word 'cheap' that I wasn't previously aware of.</p> <p>The Hope Bulb has a 36t ratchet ring that is a bit quieter than the XC and the original Pro 2 that had a 24t ratchet. The new Pro 2 hub uses a 40t ring that is probably quieter again and more buzzy. But Hopes and the like aren't filled with lots of grease - the pawls and the ratchet ring only need a skim of grease, so there's less damping of noise.</p> <p>In my experience, Shimano freehubs are among the quietest and Chris King and top-end Campag the loudest. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15647#post-202435 Wed, 21 Oct 2015 21:41:52 +0000 amir 202435@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Aksiums are quiet if I remember right. Fulcrums are noisy I think </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15647#post-202426 Wed, 21 Oct 2015 21:09:55 +0000 Cyclingmollie 202426@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I'm looking for a pair of cheap winter wheels. I would like to avoid a set with a noisy freewheel. <a href="https://youtu.be/Mp1sXSaxZy0">This sort of thing</a>*. Which are the worst offenders? Which ones are super quiet?</p> <p>* Actually I'd be quite happy with Hope hubs - I'm talking cheap wheels - Fulcrum 7s, RS 10s that sort of thing </p>