fairy elephants Posted November 9, 2004 Report Share Posted November 9, 2004 (edited) Hub: American Classic Disc 140 Front Disc Hub Time Used: Couple of months (not completely certain) Good points Weight Smooth bearings Strength (so far) Supplied with Quick Release Price Looks Bad points Couldn’t get the non-disk version that I wanted. When I first tried to order my hub, I wanted to get the non-disk version of this, but Super cycles didn’t have them, and didn’t no when they would be getting them in stock. So I decided to pay the extra and go for this hub, at a fair price of £41.50, which included the Quick Release. It then arrived at my door a few days later, and I swiftly took it to the shop to have it built onto my new Mavic xm719 rim. The hub on its own has a weight of around 130g, even though American Classic says it is 140g, which makes it roughly 70g lighter than a hope XC, and just 10g heavier than a hope mono. The hub can be this light due to not having a complete axel going through the complete width of the hub-body. Instead it has two bits of axel (one at each end) which go around an inch into the hub, so that the bearings rest on it. This could become an issue with the strength, but has been fine so-far. Before I put the hub on my bike, I had a quick look at it, to see how this axel thingy worked, and I noticed that the only seals were little rubber covers which go over the cartridge bearings, now I’m not really sure how this compares to hope hubs, but I was abit weary of it. I have now been using the hub for a while, and it is spinning better than my friend’s hope XC, which he seemed surprised about. And after the Hampshire comp on Sunday I took the axel out again to see if any dirt had worked its way onto the bearings, only to find a pleasant surprise (it hadn’t). I have been very pleased with the performance of this hub, and I think it is a very worthy competitor for the hope XC. Just thought I would post this to make a change from the pad reviews. Please say if there is anything I have missed out, or if there is any information that you would like to no. cheers, Alex. EDIT: pictures.... here and here sorry about poor quality (Y) Edited November 9, 2004 by fairy elephants Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tartridge Posted November 9, 2004 Report Share Posted November 9, 2004 The hub can be this light due to not having a complete axel going through the complete width of the hub-body. Instead it has two bits of axel (one at each end) which go around an inch into the hub, so that the bearings rest on it. This could become an issue with the strength, but has been fine so-far. Before I put the hub on my bike, I had a quick look at it, to see how this axel thingy worked, and I noticed that the only seals were little rubber covers which go over the cartridge bearings, now I’m not really sure how this compares to hope hubs, but I was abit weary of it. ← Theres a sleeve which spaces the bearings out - stopping them from being side loaded (as well as those two end caps). That system is actually MORE sealed than a Hope - the Hope hubs only have the seals on the actual cartridge bearings themselves. Cool little review, cheers (Y) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fairy elephants Posted November 9, 2004 Author Report Share Posted November 9, 2004 well you learn something new every day (Y) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tank_rider Posted November 9, 2004 Report Share Posted November 9, 2004 Ive had my 140 disc hub for the past 6 months and havent had a single rpoblem from it. Basically its perfect for a front trials hub, it has been lightweight and i have given it some serious stick and the axel is still perfect. Before i got this hub i had the non disc "120 sus hub" which has the same bearing setup but with a alightly lighter body due to smaller flanges. Again after a year, this hub was still running as smooth as the day i bought it. It is now on the front of one of my mates bikes and as far as i know is still happiy spinning after what is now 18 months of use, without a single bit of maintenance!! As has been mentioned i think these hubs are not just competitors to the Hope Mono/XC i think they surpass them in both quality, functionality (weight), and price. Both hubs come with a QR which i havent had any problems with, and for either less in the case of the 120 sus, or slightly more money than the equivilant Hope. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ali C Posted November 10, 2004 Report Share Posted November 10, 2004 mine is currently sitting in pieces after the left tab snapped off (the bit the fork sits on), its proving to be a royal pain in the ass to get a new part. I dont blame it for breaking though, it happened when my forks snapped at the disk mount and flexed forward, not many hubs could withstand that. I am sure mine cost me more like £20? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fairy elephants Posted November 10, 2004 Author Report Share Posted November 10, 2004 mine is currently sitting in pieces after the left tab snapped off (the bit the fork sits on), its proving to be a royal pain in the ass to get a new part. I dont blame it for breaking though, it happened when my forks snapped at the disk mount and flexed forward, not many hubs could withstand that. I am sure mine cost me more like £20? ← maybe you got it in a sale? the sus 120 (non-disk) hub is £22 or something. but the disk hub is £41.50. well thats the super cycles prices anyway (Y)" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Bleech Posted November 10, 2004 Report Share Posted November 10, 2004 Cheers dude thats a good review, i am liking the look of it too, nice big flanges!!!!! :- anyhow yeah if i can find the none disc version I am very tempted to get it build up as a lighter front wheel, rhynolite xl (instead of my atomlab on dmr revolver) now just need some nice (24 inch wheel (Y) ) spokes mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fairy elephants Posted November 10, 2004 Author Report Share Posted November 10, 2004 the non-disk hub doesnt have the big flages with the cut-out bits in it....still looks nice though (Y) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayne-king Posted November 10, 2004 Report Share Posted November 10, 2004 it is spinning better than my friend’s hope XC, which he seemed surprised about. ← *cough* disc rotor drag *cough* (Y) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tartridge Posted November 10, 2004 Report Share Posted November 10, 2004 *cough* disc rotor drag *cough* (Y) ← Could be. But the bearings in the Am Classic hubs do have a very light action. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fairy elephants Posted November 10, 2004 Author Report Share Posted November 10, 2004 *cough* disc rotor drag *cough* (Y) ← yea, just after you had been saying how your disk was set-up perfectly, and it didnt touch atall :- oh how the stories change to your advantage :D :-" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoojames Posted November 10, 2004 Report Share Posted November 10, 2004 Does anyone know how the rear hold out? I would quite like to find that out as hopes are good and I love my mono but itd be nice to see a competitor! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tartridge Posted November 10, 2004 Report Share Posted November 10, 2004 Aluminium ratchet and pawls. XC and road only. Sub 230g (Y) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UKBIKETRIALS Posted November 10, 2004 Report Share Posted November 10, 2004 There's your awnser " (Y) " - thats all it took to convince me like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fairy elephants Posted March 15, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 15, 2005 Well i said i would post if i had any problems, so here i am. I have just got back from a ride, where i was doing alot of taps to back wheel, and i tried a few front hooks. The hub was probably put through more punishment today than i have put it through in the past. After landing a gap, and lowering the front wheel to the ground, the whole wheel shifted over at an angle, and wouldnt go through my brake anymore. I thought this was strange, but managed to get it straight again, and carried on riding. A few minutes later, the same thing happened. but this time, when i got it straight, it shifted over again as soon as i put weight on it. I then walked back to the car, and took my wheel off the bike. I pulled the "axle" out of one side, and instead of it just being the end bit that came out, it was both the end bit, and the tube which should stay inside the hub, Along with multiple bits of cartridge bearing. As far as i can tell, i have crushed the bearing in one side of my hub, and it as basically exploded. I will get on the phone to super cycles tomorow to find out about warentee, and will up-date with what is going on. Cheers, Alex. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ali C Posted March 15, 2005 Report Share Posted March 15, 2005 mine is currently sitting in pieces after the left tab snapped off (the bit the fork sits on), its proving to be a royal pain in the ass to get a new part. I dont blame it for breaking though, it happened when my forks snapped at the disk mount and flexed forward, not many hubs could withstand that. I am sure mine cost me more like £20? ← lol, its been a while since I have seen this topic. I have an update on my hub too, it turns out bike dock lied about what hub I got! They advertised it on their site as an am classic, but in fact it was a GREY CLASSIC, my bike shop hadnt seen one of these for years and as far as they knew were no longer made (true?) I now have a PROPER am classic 140 disk hub, had it for a few months without any problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fairy elephants Posted March 15, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 15, 2005 lol, its been a while since I have seen this topic. I have an update on my hub too, it turns out bike dock lied about what hub I got! They advertised it on their site as an am classic, but in fact it was a GREY CLASSIC, my bike shop hadnt seen one of these for years and as far as they knew were no longer made (true?) I now have a PROPER am classic 140 disk hub, had it for a few months without any problems. ← Hmmn, that sure aint right. lol. Yea, i used the SEARCH function to find this topic, as i didnt see the point of starting a new thread saying "my hub broked". I still really like the hubs, and i'm hoping that this is just a 1 off problem, which as we no, could happen to anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SQuiT-man Posted March 16, 2005 Report Share Posted March 16, 2005 Does anyone use the £22ish non-disk one that is on Tartybikes with skewer? It is described as being designed for roadies only, but can be used for trials "if you want to take the risk" or something. If so, how are they running? They seem ridiculously light and cheap, might get one for my mod Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tank_rider Posted March 16, 2005 Report Share Posted March 16, 2005 just a quick update, my hub is still running sweet, with no probelms at all :- fairy elephant, it sounds like one of the bearings has broken, if thats the case, buy a replacement from a bearing suppliers, press it in and bobs you freakily young uncle. as for the really light hub on tartybikes, that would be the micro 68, i would steer clear of those as they have a reputation for the bearings not being the greatest. However if your in the market for a cheap light hub, check out the 120 sus hub, same weight as a hope mono, but for £26 including skewer, how can you go wrong!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SQuiT-man Posted March 16, 2005 Report Share Posted March 16, 2005 Has anyone else had any experience with the road hub thing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ali C Posted March 16, 2005 Report Share Posted March 16, 2005 yep, it lasted about a month Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fairy elephants Posted March 17, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2005 just a quick update, my hub is still running sweet, with no probelms at all (Y) fairy elephant, it sounds like one of the bearings has broken, if thats the case, buy a replacement from a bearing suppliers, press it in and bobs you freakily young uncle. as for the really light hub on tartybikes, that would be the micro 68, i would steer clear of those as they have a reputation for the bearings not being the greatest. However if your in the market for a cheap light hub, check out the 120 sus hub, same weight as a hope mono, but for £26 including skewer, how can you go wrong!!!! ← Yea, that is what has happened, it literally shattered. Can somebody please help me out with how to find out exactly what bearing i need to purchase? I guess i need the size, but is there anything else i should no before i go and buy crap? (Y) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tank_rider Posted March 17, 2005 Report Share Posted March 17, 2005 the easiest way to do it is just to take the wheel into a local bearing suppliers, they will match the in tact bearing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fairy elephants Posted March 17, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2005 the easiest way to do it is just to take the wheel into a local bearing suppliers, they will match the in tact bearing. ← This may sound dumb, but where would i find a bearing supplier? I assume general hardware stores won't have the right sort of thing?! (Y) Cheers for all the help (Y) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quick_spider Posted March 17, 2005 Report Share Posted March 17, 2005 Try Yell.com/co.uk My AM Classic 140's bearings are starting to get worn after 2 years which isn't bad. I suspect the 68g hub isn't great for anything but road. If you want a light front hub then look out for a Hope Ultra-Lightweight. It's very similar to the AM Classic but has a complete axle and the bearings last a lot longer. I've replaced mine twice in around 4 years. Jon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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