VAMPIRE V12 Posted November 19, 2012 Report Share Posted November 19, 2012 Hey guys i just wanted to ask your opinions on hub vs ffw reliability? and any issues running either would have? I know a ffw can wear chains down a lot more if you pedal distance because of the constant engagement with the chain rolling all of the time. Cheers guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake. Posted November 19, 2012 Report Share Posted November 19, 2012 I've had lots of ffw mods, and two mods that had a rear profile hub. The two mods that had profile skipped at least 3 times a ride, the numerous amount of echo ffw's I've used skip maybe once every 4 rides? On the other hand, I've a tryall ffw and that skipped a lot. Only other ffw I'd trust other than the echo one is a tensile 96 click 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aener Posted November 19, 2012 Report Share Posted November 19, 2012 That problem is purely academic. They're about the same. If you get a shit freewheel (eg. ACS Claws/Dicta etc), it'll skip. If you get a cheap freehub (eg. Deore/Budget Onza etc), it'll skip. If you get a really good freewheel (eg. Echo SL) it'll hardly skip, if ever. If you get a really good freehub (eg. ProII/King), it'll hardly skip, if ever. Four out of five people I ride with regularly have Echo SL freewheels, and the only one ever to skip was once before it had bed in properly. FFW also gives the benefit of a slightly more central dispersion of weight (whilst also usually being slightly lighter, depending on the hubs in question), which makes far more difference than you'd think. I'd say a ProII and Echo SL are just as reliable as each other, though the Echo has the benefit of weight and weight dispersion whereas if the Hope goes wrong you can send it back and almost always get it repaired for free within a few working days. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andeee Posted November 19, 2012 Report Share Posted November 19, 2012 (edited) I have just gone from the change of a free hub (pro2) to a freewheel (echo sl) At first it was scary i nearly laid a stone of dog eggs when it tightened its self up whilst on the back wheel. So far it has a made difference in the weight of my bike. Its gonna take some getting use to after the years of running free hub. Tomorrow will be day 2 of riding with a free wheel. I still do miss my pro2. In fact if anything i wish hope would develop a freewheel that is based on the pro2 but in freewheel formation with a interchangeable splined sprocket. I found the centralisation of weight in a free wheel for control at first rather weird to ride. Most riders now seem to run free wheels. You get the odd few who run the free hub. In fact for the past 6 years of running a pro2 it has never skipped once on me. Seeing other riders using a freewheel and when it skips on them is quite scary as it makes me worry like today when i was riding and still getting use to freewheel. Will update tomorrow for another review. Edited November 19, 2012 by Andeee 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VAMPIRE V12 Posted November 19, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2012 Cheers for the info guys!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BradJohnson Posted November 19, 2012 Report Share Posted November 19, 2012 I prefer the Echo SL FFW. For the simple fact, mines never skipped, the engagements are instant, it makes your bike feel lighter, cause you can run a lighter rear hub and if they break you can put a new one on in seconds! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark W Posted November 20, 2012 Report Share Posted November 20, 2012 when it skips on them is quite scary as it makes me worry like today when i was riding and still getting use to freewheel. One of the good things about higher engagement freewheels is that even if they skip, because there's another ratchet point straight away a lot of the time all you really get is just a 'bang' - but you still get drive. When I've had higher EP freewheels skip in the past I've still usually made it up/over/down whatever I was doing, albeit having shit myself when I've heard the bang and expected the worst. If you're riding BMXy/streety stuff, a rear freehub is a little more convenient as you won't have your chain constantly spinning around (trying to drag you into the freewheel), and I'd say for landing spins and stuff like that a Pro 2 would be more up to the job than most lightweight trials hubs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CC12345678910 Posted November 20, 2012 Report Share Posted November 20, 2012 (edited) I side with the freehub these days (Pro 2 on the fourplay, if I go stock it'll be a hope, mod it'll be profile and modstock it'll be a profile) because I genuinely believe they will out outlive one of the current crop of freewheels due to their ability to be freely serviced. Hubs seem to have a more solid feel too, guessing because of no flex in the body of the freewheel, just a solid sprocket and chain stretch. I prefer the Echo SL FFW. and if they break you can put a new one on in seconds! And the parts that are most likely to break are available from the hope dealer 3mins round the corner for less than 15quid, not £40-£65 from away for a new freewheel , Very handy at 4.55 on a friday night. Either one is just a temporary solution to the permanent problem of the drivetrain taking the brunt. Edited November 20, 2012 by CC12345678910 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FamilyBiker Posted November 21, 2012 Report Share Posted November 21, 2012 i like the feeling a ffw gives a lot,but i couldnt rely on a fixed lightweight hub as on my pro2 hub. if hope just built a 72ep version with the same reliability... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bing Posted November 21, 2012 Report Share Posted November 21, 2012 (edited) I side with the freehub these days (Pro 2 on the fourplay, if I go stock it'll be a hope, mod it'll be profile and modstock it'll be a profile) because I genuinely believe they will out outlive one of the current crop of freewheels due to their ability to be freely serviced. profiles are shite. I spun the driver ring inside the hub shell, and im not that much of a rider who kills parts. and the parts are very expensive to replace. would never have another, and everyone I've ever spoke to says the same thing. ffw all the way from now on, even if its a tensile 60 click if you are on a budget Edited November 21, 2012 by bing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghostrider88 Posted November 21, 2012 Report Share Posted November 21, 2012 profiles are shite. I spun the driver ring inside the hub shell, and im not that much of a rider who kills parts. and the parts are very expensive to replace. would never have another, and everyone I've ever spoke to says the same thing. ffw all the way from now on, even if its a tensile 60 click if you are on a budget Ooooor, bfw? I know it requires weird gear ratio, but it gives you even more ep´s and freewheel lasts longer when mounted on the hub too. To me it´s win win situation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bing Posted November 22, 2012 Report Share Posted November 22, 2012 (edited) bfw wouldnt work, as most trials freewheels are threaded so the lockring is self tightening. you put it on the back, the lockring will naturally unwind itself over time, and it'll explode. you'd need 22/18 gearing as well, and i doubt youd have enough clearance in most mod frames. mine was the same ratio 18/12, and it was only 48 click I think, it was a profile mini cassette hub. sounded nice though, but my tensile freewheel is loads better. I'm confident it's not gonna let go, where as the profile you were never quite sure. Edited November 22, 2012 by bing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamKidney Posted November 22, 2012 Report Share Posted November 22, 2012 Aye, bfw's cons out weigh its pro's. Heavier too. Bigger chainring, longer chain, added to having a freewheel too... Ffw is the better option for "pure" trials in my eyes. Centralised weight, lighter, with a more solid response. Freehubs seem more at home on a streety bike, where a constantly rotating chain could be a hindrence. I agree that they may be able to stand up to some more abuse than a freewheel, but freewheels are more than adequate enough for most. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghostrider88 Posted November 22, 2012 Report Share Posted November 22, 2012 bfw wouldnt work, as most trials freewheels are threaded so the lockring is self tightening. you put it on the back, the lockring will naturally unwind itself over time, and it'll explode. you'd need 22/18 gearing as well, and i doubt youd have enough clearance in most mod frames. mine was the same ratio 18/12, and it was only 48 click I think, it was a profile mini cassette hub. sounded nice though, but my tensile freewheel is loads better. I'm confident it's not gonna let go, where as the profile you were never quite sure. Lockring is positioned against spokes and also it´s spinning the other way round, you it´s tightening up if anything(except tensiles and maybe acs???),Yes hearing would be problem for mod, not so much for stock, I found 21:18 the best ratio for me, right between 18:15 and 18:16. This whole weight distribution argument is nonsense, today´s bikes are soooo rear and heavy anyways with carbon bars, forks, light and narrow rims/tires. So it´s durability, better engagement and choice of much stiffer cranks than isis vs weight distribution and harder to get gear ratio. To me this change was soooo worth it and I won´t ever go back if I don´t have to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LiamWood! Posted November 23, 2012 Report Share Posted November 23, 2012 I've run both set ups on different bikes over the years. Profile on a mod, Ffw on mods Pro2 on stock and ffw on stock. It all boils down to personal preference, it's no good someone saying yeh go ffw or rear free hub because you might ride it and decide you don't quite like the feel. From what I've found reliability wise, the rated ones are just as reliable as each other. My tensile front freewheel never skipped once on me, my profile hub shell actually cracked and started to pull apart because of the spoke tension but again still never skipped just looked horrible. Ride other people's bikes with various set ups and see what you think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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