Novatec Hubs - any good? (2023)

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• Novatec Hubs – any good?

• TimothyD

  Free Member

  What are peoples’ experiences with Novatec hubs to do with durability and ease of repair?

  Thanks all.

  Posted 7 years ago

  epicyclo

  Full Member

  That company probably makes most of the other brand and OEM hubs except for the boutique makes.

  Posted 7 years ago

  Singletrack Unscripted: Talking Abo...

  andyl

  Free Member

  tbh you could look at the Superstar hubs. I think they are similar if not one of Novatecs lines but you know you can get spares very easily.

  LB supply Novatecs on their base level builds and I think a lot of On One/Planet X hubs have been novatec.

  Posted 7 years ago

  cp

  Full Member

  As already mentioned, novatec are a massive supplier and supply many many other ‘manufacturers”.

  Their hubs are generally highly regarded.

  Posted 7 years ago

  (Video) Top 5 Best Bicycle Hubs in 2022 | Best Mountain Bike Hub

  jaffejoffer

  Free Member

  THEY ARE ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE. MAKE YOU GO X2 FASTER

  Posted 7 years ago

  jaffejoffer

  Free Member

  by the way, i happen to have a a pair for sale.

  QR15 front, 142x12mm rear (with Sram XD driver) both for centre lock rotors.

  swapped out a new set of wheels, never used.

  £75

  Posted 7 years ago

  mooman

  Free Member

  I had novatec hubs on a recent set of wheels.
  They spin very well.
  Downside is that they not best sealed and the splines on rear hub cracked and chipped off … meaning no more use of the 11T.

  The splines are made of an alu type cast metal. So they break off, not bend as some hub splines do (Hope)

  Posted 7 years ago

  devash

  Free Member

  The Superstar Switch hubs (99.9% sure they are novatec) are very good for the money and you can get a steel freehub for them. I’ve just bought a wheel build with them and they spin very well.

  Posted 7 years ago

  Nobeerinthefridge

  Free Member

  Yokaiser of this parish bought a pair from an Australian site recently, incredible value – included every adapter and axle for all configurations for aboy 80 quid IIRC.

  Posted 7 years ago

  dbcooper

  Free Member

  (Video) Novatec hub D042SB VS Normal hub

  I had wheels built by the Spokesman in Devon http://www.spokesmanwheels.co.uk/
  He uses novatec hubs and rates them. Mark is the best wheel builder ever.

  Posted 7 years ago

  rocketman

  Free Member

  The rebranded Novatecs on my Scott were indestructible

  Workmanlike in places where it didn’t matter but the important bits were fine

  Posted 7 years ago

  gypsumfantastic

  Free Member

  I had wheels built by the Spokesman in Devon http://www.spokesmanwheels.co.uk/
  He uses novatec hubs and rates them.

  I have two sets from Mark on my road bikes and am impressed, bearings when they go are easy to obtain and replace.

  Re logevity, I have a MTB novatec hub from 2001 still spinning perfectly it could be filled with space age bearings or magical unicorn fairy dust, I wouldn’t know as I have never had to look inside it, ever (although I’m now curious)

  Posted 7 years ago

  amedias

  Free Member

  I had novatec hubs on a recent set of wheels.
  They spin very well.
  Downside is that they not best sealed and the splines on rear hub cracked and chipped off … meaning no more use of the 11T.

  Which model?

  They have BIG range for various uses.

  Posted 7 years ago

  kerley

  Free Member

  Can’t comment on durability as only built them up 6 months/1500 miles ago but they seem pretty good quality and weight for the price.

  I use the 711/712SB and the pair cost £70 from Poland. I only use for XC and am light on parts but the weight is great for that price (rear = 269g, front = 139g)

  No marks on freehub and running single speed (albeit a wide base cog)

  Posted 7 years ago

  gelert

  Free Member

  (Video) Unboxing and Install Novatec Hub (D042SB) / #TrekMarlin7

  I’ve got a set of Superstar Switch Ultra front and Switch rear hubs on one set of wheels and if they are Novatecs then they’re holding up very well after 6 months of abuse. They run very smoothly, the freehub isn’t as loud as my Hope Pro 2 Evo but still makes a nice even sound. I found the front hub caps can squeak and the very thin O-ring can get caught when putting them back on if you take them off to add grease and silence the annoying squeak. I ended up buying a new set of end caps for the front and was very very careful fitting them on. Nothing flimsy like that on the Hope hubs.

  I swap rear hub axles regularly on the Switch Hubs to swap bikes and you don’t have to take the cassette off to do it (unlike Hope) and also unlike Hope when the freehub pops off you don’t need a £10 tool to press the seal back in but you do need 17mm cone spanners to tighten the axle properly and this is what holds the freehub in place too. I will say that the Hope freehub seal is a BEAST though and I can’t ever see any dirt getting past it.

  I’ve done about 700 miles on the Switch hubs and over 1500 on the Hope Pro 2 Evos.

  Posted 7 years ago

  mcj78

  Free Member

  Got a couple of pairs for my road-esque bike, been completely trouble free other than a freehub bearing on one seat after a few thousand wet road miles, bdop cycling in Taiwan are good suppliers, I got a replacement freehub for not much more than a set of decent bearings (inc. postage) from them!

  Posted 7 years ago

  deviant

  Free Member

  Superstar / Novatec hubs on my HT too, they’re great….easy to swap between axle standards, never had to change the bearings yet despite DH and winter abuse, I’d happily have another set.

  Posted 7 years ago

  cheekyget

  Free Member

  Ive been on nova tech hubs now for the last 3000+ miles…..no probs…as good as any other brand I’ve used!!

  Posted 7 years ago

  brassneck

  Full Member

  Novatec from Spokesman on my disc road wheelset. No compliants at all, light enough good price and keep working.

  Posted 7 years ago

  HoratioHufnagel

  Free Member

  Superstar switch are Novatec D881SB/D882SB I think.

  Posted 7 years ago

  mattyfez

  Full Member

  (Video) Don't Upgrade Your Fixed Gear Hubs Before Watching This! | Suzue Pro Max Review

  They have an extensive range – as mentioned they are often used as OE hubs which are rebranded by many manufacturers, so I imagine quality varies from cheap budget stuff to faily high end:

  Novatec hubs

  Posted 7 years ago

  Leon

  Free Member

  I built a rear wheel for my commuter/ winter road bike from heir £35ish rear hub, and it’s still spinning like new two years later, and weighs about the same as the DT 240s it replaced!

  I’ve got a pair of 7series disc hubs for my cyclo cross race wheels, as relatively cheap and light, and supporting a road 11spd cassette. Again, can’t fault.

  They do a very wide range, and even the same level of hub comes in different options (different bearings, some have a steel strip on the freehub body), but I think they are great value for money, and wouldn’t hesitate to use them in whatever wheels I build next.

  Regarding mashing freehub bodies – the trick is to do the lockring up really tight. Since I’ve been doing that, I no longer get mashed freehub bodies.

  Posted 7 years ago

  lovewookie

  Full Member

  Got a pair on my 29er, bought from ebay guy from Poland

  

  red D711SB and D712SB.

  built them into this:

  

  DT X392 rims laced via Red Pillar butted spokes.

  🙂

  Posted 7 years ago

  groundskeeperwilly

  Free Member

  Are the ones that Light Bicycle use any good?

  Posted 7 years ago

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