Whether you are an avid and expert mountain biker or someone who is new in the mountain biking world, you have to admit that having the best bike is essential to your biking experience. And one of the important parts of your mountain bike is the hub. It determines everything from how smoothly the wheels turn and torque to how efficiently power is transferred to the wheels. Therefore, getting the perfect hub for your front and rear wheels is of great importance.
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Now, that we understand the significance of mountain bike hubs, we need to understand what it is and how it works. The hub is located at the center of your bike wheels. It is attached to the rim of the wheel with the help of spokes and an axle is inserted through the hub to keep the wheel intact. This allows the wheels to spin freely and as fast as possible. The hubs on the front and rear wheels are not the same. The front hub is basically a tube that consists of bearings, an axle, and a rim or disc brake mount depending on the brake system of your mountain bike. The rear hub, on the other hand, includes all that and also a ratchet and freehub.
There are many factors to keep in mind when looking for your new hub. Factors such as bearing type, materials, axle type, and many more are crucial in delivering optimum performance to your mountain biking escapades. Making a decision about your new hubs while keeping track of all these factors can seem impossible. That is why we wrote this article to help you make a trouble-free decision. Before writing our suggestions and reviews we have tested the hubs ourselves and also read through countless first-hand customer reviews in order to provide you with the best and most popular mountain bike hubs available today. Therefore, if you are building a new mountain bike and looking for the perfect set of hubs to match them or just planning on upgrading your current hubs, go through our list of mountain bike hubs and you will find what you are looking for.
Before we jump into the list, we want to show you the overall best hub that we came across. This will save you the trouble of reading the whole article. Through our research, we have found that the DT Swiss DT 240S is the best mountain bike hub available in the market right now. And that is why we have chosen this product as our “Overall Best Choice”
Premium quality and lightweight hubs made with patented technology | Overall Best Choice
The DT Swiss DT 240S front and rear hubs are the best hubs we discovered through our thorough research. Engineered with great skill and patented technology these hubs will make you stand out from the crowd. These lightweight hubs are equipped with industry-leading hub engagement and star ratchet freewheel technology to offer you fast and superior performance in action. Also, the high-quality bearings and materials ensure that these hubs were built to last. It is also worth noting that the front and rear hubs are quite well suited to each other and perform really well together. Although this premium quality product is a bit expensive, we can assure you that it will be absolutely worth it.
- Model No. : 240S
- Brand: DT SWISS
- Hub material: Aluminium
- Weight: 220g
- Axle Fixing method: Quick Release or Thru Axle
- Axle_Length: 100mm (Front), 135mm (Rear), 142mm (Front)
- Axle_Diameter: 10mm (Front/Rear), 12mm (Front), 15mm (Front),
- Bearing: Precision, Quad-Bearing with a stainless steel cartridge
- Brake Type: 6-bolt or Center lock disc brake
- Spoke holes: Front – 28H, 32H, Rear – 32H
In the following table, we’ve listed the best mountain bike (MTB) hubs in the market:
| Hub | Why we recommend this |
|---|---|
| SHIMANO HB-M525 Front Hub for MTB | Lightweight. Durable. Affordable |
| SHIMANO Deore XT Front MTB Hub | Affordable. Reliable. |
| SHIMANO Deore Front Bicycle Freehub | High-performance. Low maintenance. Budget-friendly |
| SRAM 716 X7 Front Hub | Top-quality. Lightweight. Superior performance |
| DT Swiss DT 350 MTB Rear Hub | High-end. Built with patented technology in Switzerland. |
| Hope Pro 4 Rear Disc Hub | High-quality. Exclusive design. United Kingdom |
| Shimano Deore M525A Rear Hub | Great quality. Budget-friendly. Reliability. |
| Hope Pro 4 Rear Disc Hub | High quality. |
| SHIMANO HB-M820 Saint Hub | Superlight mountain bike hub. |
| DT Swiss 240S MTB Rear Hub | Premium quality. Lightweight. Patented technology | Overall Best MTB hub |
| Onyx MTB Rear Hub | Durability. A smooth riding experience. |
11 best mountain bike (MTB) hubs you can buy today
We have found the following mountain bike hubs to be the best ones available right now. Our list includes the following bicycle hubs.
We have made a comparison table for you so that you can compare all the products on our list and see which mountain bike hubs are right for you. The comparison table consists of all the specifications of the products from our list.
| Hubs | Preview | Material | Weight | Bearing | Axle type | Axle length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shimano MTB Hub HB-M525 (F) | Anodized Aluminium | 245g | Cup and Cone | Quick Release | 108 mm | |
| Shimano Deore XT (F) | Aluminium | 239g | Cup and Cone | Quick Release | 108 mm | |
| Shimano Deore HB-T610-L (F) | Aluminium | 108g | Cup and Cone | Quick Release | 108 mm | |
| SRAM 716 X7 (F) | Aluminium | 170g | Sealed Cartridge | Thru Axle | 100 mm | |
| DT SWISS 350 MTB (R) | Aluminium | 277g | Precision, SS Sealed cartridge | Thru Axle | 135mm, 142 mm, 150mm | |
| Hope Pro 4 (R) | Aluminium | 300g | Sealed SS Cartridge | Thru Axle | 135mm,142 mm | |
| Shimano Deore M525A (R) | Aluminium | 435g | Cup and Cone loose ballspoke | Quick Release | 135 mm | |
| Hope Pro 4 Boost (R) | Aluminium | 311g | Sealed Cartridge | Thru Axle | 148 mm | |
| Shimano HB-M820 Saint (R) | Aluminium | 202g | Cup and Cone | Thru Axle | 110 mm, 135 mm |
|
| DT SWISS 240S (F & R) | Aluminium | 220g | Precision, SS Sealed cartridge | Quick Release | 100mm(F), 135 mm(R), 142mm(F) | |
| Onyx MTB (R) | Aluminium | 447g | Ceramic hybris Sealed Cartridge | Thru Axle | 148 mm |
1) SHIMANO HB-M525 (Front Hub): Lightweight and durable hubs at a very affordable price
- Model No. : HB-M525
- Brand: Shimano
- Hub Material: Anodized Aluminium
- Weight: 245g
- Axle Fixing method: Quick release
- Axle Length: 108mm
- Axle Diameter: 9mm
- Bearing: Cup and Cone bearing
- Brake Type: 6-bolt disc brake
- Flange diameter: 70.6mm
- Flange distance: 59.2mm
- QR Skewer Length: 133mm
- Spoke holes: 32H, 36H
- Brand value: Shimano is very well known in the bicycle industry for bicycles, wheels, hubs, and every other bicycle component you can think of.
- Lightweight: The hub will deliver optimum performance without adding any extra weight to your mountain bike.
- Reasonable price: Great quality hubs are available at a reasonable price that makes it stand out from other similar products.
- Strength: The cup and cone bearing system are well built and make the hub strong and solid.
- Exactly as advertised: Customers claimed that this product matched exactly to what they saw online. Therefore, what you see here is what you buy.
- Durability: These hubs are very durable and will you last for years without the need for replacement.
- Color: This hub is only available in black.
- The bearings may feel a bit sturdy. It is advised to grease them properly for better riding experience.
Shimano is a brand that makes it to any list of best bikes or biking components and our list is filled with Shimano hubs today. That is because they are some of the best ones out there. Shimano HB-M525 is one of the most affordable hubs in the market. Made with anodized aluminum and weighing about 245g, it has the perfect weight for an activity such as mountain climbing. It will not weigh your bike down nor will it make it too light to hold strong on hilly terrain. The cup and cone bearings are of great quality and will give you a very smooth experience. To put it simply, you cannot go wrong with these hubs. So if you need a replacement for your old and weary hubs and you don’t want to spend too much, this Shimano hub is the way to go.
SHIMANO HB-M525 Front Hub Mountain Bicycle
2. SHIMANO Deore XT (Front): Affordable and reliable bicycle hub that provides a smooth experience and easy maintenance
- Model No. : HB-M756L
- Brand: Shimano
- Hub Material: Aluminium
- Weight: 239g
- Axle Fixing method: Quick release
- Axle Length: 108 mm
- Axle Diameter: 10 mm
- Bearing: Cup and Cone bearing
- Brake Type: 6-bolt disc brake
- Flange diameter: 70.6mm
- Flange distance: 59.4mm
- QR Skewer Length: 133mm
- Spoke holes: 32H, 36H
- Large flange design: A larger flange results in stiffer wheels because the spokes are shorter.
- Angular contact bearing: The high-quality cup and cone bearing has angular contact which reduces friction in the wheel and decreases the chance of getting damaged.
- Bearing races: The hub is equipped with Borozon treated bearing races which lessen the effect of friction and enables smooth rolling.
- Affordable price: Priced slightly higher than the previous Shimano hub, the Deore TX is also very affordable.
- Quick-release: Hubs with quick-release axle fixing methods are easy to use and maintain as wheels with quick-release mechanisms can be removed from the bicycle frame and replaced without using tools.
- Color: This specific hub is only available in black.
- Accessories: This package includes a quick-release skewer along with the hub.
- Be careful when installing the hub. Incorrect installation can cause misalignment of the hubs to the wheel.
Just like our last product, Shimano does not disappoint. Shimano perhaps has the most popular hubs, especially in the affordable range. The Deore XT is just what you need for your mountain biking needs. Weighing almost 240 grams, it will get you through any type of terrain. It is just as strong as it is durable and the large flange design allows for a much stiffer wheel. This is because the spokes are shorter.
Also, this hub has angular contact bearing which absolutely sets it apart. The angular contact bearings reduce friction in the wheel which allows for a much comfortable ride. It also reduces the change of damage to the hub. On top of all this, the quick release axle makes this hub even more convenient as it allows ease of use and replacement. Get this hub on your front wheel to have a much more relaxing mountain biking experience.
SHIMANO Deore XT Front Mountain Bicycle Hub
3) SHIMANO Deore Front Bicycle Freehub – HB-T610-L: High-performance bicycle hub that requires low maintenance and is budget-friendly
- Model No. : HB-T610L
- Brand: Shimano DEORE T610 Series
- Hub Material: Aluminium
- Weight: 108g
- Axle Fixing method: Quick release
- Axle Length: 108mm
- Axle Diameter: 10mm
- Bearing Cone: Cup and Cone bearings
- Brake Type: Rim brake
- Flange diameter: 48.4mm
- Flange distance: 71.6mm
- QR Skewer Length: 133mm
- Spoke holes: 32H, 36H
- Brand: Shimano is known to deliver excellent and reliable products to its faithful riders.
- Bearing performance: The angular contact cup and cone bearing are stronger than sealed cartridge bearing due as it is able to move lateral and vertical loads efficiently to offer smooth rotation and long-lasting performance.
- Low maintenance: Double contact sealing gets the job done perfectly. The sealing maintains the level of grease on the hub while also preventing contamination. Thus, requiring less maintenance by the rider.
- Low rolling friction: The bearing races come highly polished straight front the factory and provide very low rolling friction, therefore offering great performance.
- Budget-friendly: These effective hubs are priced quite reasonably and definitely worth the money!
- Light shifting: Offers light shifting from MTB 10-speed.
- Size Availability: The package is available in both 32H and 36H spoke hole sizes.
- Accessories: The Deore HB-T610L hub has a quick release axle and comes with a light aluminum alloy quick-release skewer.
- Color: These fantastic hubs are available in black.
- It can only be used in combination with a V-rim brake.
- Some customers have complained about a grating sound coming from the hub when riding the bike. However, it is something that can be fixed at your local bike shop.
The Shimano legacy continues. This front wheel hub was built for trekking bicycles with rim brake systems. Great for any type of mountain biking experience, it provides strong and reliable performance, thanks to its bearing system. The top quality double contact sealing and angular contact bearing really take its performance to a whole new level. That coupled with the superbly polished bearing races and the low price is everything you can really ask for on your mountain bike hub. Built with aluminum and weighing just over 100 grams, the Deore HB-T610L is really an example of what Shimano as a titan in the bicycle industry can achieve without the use of fancy materials and components. So if you are looking for a new front wheel mountain bike hub that will not burn a hole in your pocket, this is your best bet.
SHIMANO Deore Front Bicycle Freehub
4. SRAM 716 X7 Front Hub: Top quality and lightweight mountain bike hub that exhibits superior performance
- Model No. : 716
- Brand: SRAM
- Hub material: Aluminium
- Weight: 170g
- Axle Fixing method: Thru Axle
- Axle Length: 100mm
- Axle Diameter: 15mm
- Bearing: Sealed cartridge bearings
- Brake Type: 6-bolt disc brake
- Flange diameter: 58mm
- Flange distance: 54.6mm
- QR Skewer Length: N/A
- Spoke holes: 32H
- Lightweight: This front hub is very light and will barely add any extra weight to your mountain bike and offer a better climbing experience for you.
- Build quality: Built with aluminum, the hub is stiff and durable.
- Bearing performance: This front hub comes with sealed cartridge bearing which allows just the perfect amount of friction that provides protection for the hub. The sealing is great too as it keeps the hub greased and prevents any mud or water from entering the hub.
- Radial lacing: This hub supports radial lacing the spokes with the wheel which reduces weight and maximizes performance. It is important to keep in mind that the radial lacing voids the warranty of the manufacturer.
- Thru-axle: It has a thru-axle fixing method therefore you don’t have to worry about your skewer loosening when you are climbing mountains or going downhill with your bike.
- Color: The front wheel hub comes in black with a white SRAM label.
- This front hub is priced a bit higher than its competitors on this list.
- It is only available in 32H size and in color.
Now it’s time to move on from Shimano and look into some other well-known brands. Priced a bit higher than the other front wheel hubs in this list, the SRAM 716 X7 6 bolt disc brake compatible hub should definitely be considered when buying a new hub. Weighing only 170 grams, the hub is super light and will not add any extra weight to your mountain bike. This is a huge advantage as a lot of mountain bikers complain about their hubs weighing them down. This hub also offers solid build quality and bearing performance. Built with aluminum, this SRAM 716 comes with a sealed cartridge bearing which offers the perfect level of friction to protect the hub and is also good at keeping the hub in perfect shape. Therefore, a strong hub with long-lasting abilities and serviceability, what more can you ask for.
SRAM 716 X7 Front Hub
# Rear hubs:
5. DT Swiss DT 350 MTB Rear Hub: High end bicycle built with patented technology in Switzerland
- Model No. : 350
- Brand: DT Swiss
- Hub material: Aluminium
- Weight: 277g
- Axle Fixing method: Thru Axle
- Axle Length: 135mm, 142mm, 150mm
- Axle Diameter: 12mm
- Bearing: Precision, Stainless Steel Sealed Cartridge
- Brake Type: 6-bolt disc brake
- Flange diameter: 58.0 mm
- Flange distance: 53.9 mm
- QR Skewer Length: N/A
- Spoke holes: 28H, 32H
- Brand value: DT Swiss is a famous European brand, well known all over the world for their superior products. It is a brand you can trust.
- Manufactured in Switzerland: This impeccable product is made in Switzerland, thus ensuring high-end quality and craftsmanship.
- Patented Technology: These supreme hubs consist of a patented freewheel system, that provides highly accurate star ratchets, that ensures superior performance and reliability. It also allows ease of repair and maintenance.
- Bearing performance: The DT 350 consists of high-end cartridge bearings that offer low friction due to the single-sided sealing.
- Strength and durability: Its weight and large diameter give it strength and longevity.
- Hub engagement: The large number of engagement points (36 to be exact) allows the rider to enjoy a hassle-free and flawless ride.
- Lightweight alloy axles: Built to endure all the loads and heavy riding a mountain bike hub goes through.
- Color: The rear hub is only available in black with its model number written in white label.
- This superior rear hub comes at a very high price. So it is not for someone who is on a tight budget.
- It is only available in one color.
DT Swiss is the epitome of premium brand and product quality. The DT 350 expresses that completely. It is a high-quality aluminum hub that features proprietary technology that makes this product stand out in such a competitive field. As mentioned before, the star ratchet system technology provides top of the line performance that will catch your attention on the very first ride. These hubs are an example of just how much change a good hub can bring to your bike. The ride will feel comfortable and give you more control. The hub also shows great resilience and will last you years. DT Swiss also has a “no tools” concept which allows you to fix or adjust your bike easily on your own. Also, the hub engagement on this rear hub is quite exceptional. It has 36 points of engagement which allows the rider to have the best experience ever. Weighing about 277 grams, this hub has an extensive diameter which gives it the strength and durability it needs to last a long time while providing the best performance all the way. This hub is perfect for any type of mountain biking activity and also good enough for cross country riding. Lastly, although it comes at a high price, the DT Swiss is worth every penny.
DT Swiss DT 350 MTB Rear Hub
6. Hope Pro 4 Rear Disc Hub: High-quality bicycle hub built with an exclusive design in the United Kingdom
- Model No. : Pro 4
- Brand: Hope
- Hub material: Forged 2014 T6 Aluminium Billet
- Weight: 300g
- Axle Fixing method: Thru Axle
- Axle Length: 135mm, 142mm
- Axle Diameter: 12mm
- Bearing: Stainless steel sealed cartridge bearings
- Brake Type: 6-bolt disc brake
- Flange diameter: 57.0 mm
- Flange distance: 52mm
- QR Skewer Length: N/A
- Spoke holes: 24H, 28H, 32H, 36H
- Manufactured in the United Kingdom: The well-known brand, Hope is situated in the UK. The Hope Pro 4 was built in Barnoldswick, UK and therefore ensures that the hub was built with impeccable effort and technology, and also proving the product to be reliable.
- Exclusive Design: High-quality design that achieves performance and also gives a great look to the rear hub.
- Increases spoke flange diameter: This allows the use of shorter spokes that allows the wheel to be stronger, more sturdy, and even more durable.
- Bearing quality: The stainless steel bearings on the Pro 4 makes the hubs run smoothly and also makes them long-lasting. On top of that, the bearing type is a sealed cartridge which further enhances the performance of the hub.
- Hub engagement: It has a 44T ratchet ring and a 4-pawl drive system that gives way to a faster engagement system.
- Versatile: The hub can be easily changed to 10mm Thru-Bolt x 135mm or 12mm Thru Axle x 135mm. Thus, allowing more flexibility for the rider.
- Color: This hub is available in black with a white PRO label.
- The PRO 4 has a distinctive sound when it runs. Most users don’t have any complaints, however, it is something to consider if you are not a fan of a slight buzzing sound.
- It is available in only one color.
The Hope Pro 4 is the proud and successful successor of the very popular Pro 2. Hope worked relentlessly to outperform its old model and they were successful to do so. Pro 4 is better enhanced and built to beat its predecessor. The sleek-looking hub weighs about 300 grams and is built with forged aluminum billet. It has stainless steel sealed cartridge bearings which are some of the best that industry has to offer. If that all is not enough, the Pro 4 has an excellent hub engagement system with a 44T ratchet ring and a 4-pawl drive system. This was a massive improvement from the previous Pro 2 as a lot of users complained about it. And so, Hope listened to their consumers and built a better and faster engagement system, perfectly equipped to handle the challenges of intense mountain biking.
The hub is also quite adaptable as riders can convert the thru-axle to their choice in order to suit their respective mountain bikes. And last but not least, this hub has a larger flange diameter that increases its lifespan and stiffness, giving the biker more control when riding. So the bottom line is that this brand has a lot of experience in this field. They have tried and tested every material and technology available to deliver a well-rounded product to their customers. Therefore, we can come to the concussion that Hope’s well built and dependable mountain biking rear hub is worth the money.
Hope Pro 4 Rear Disc Hub
7. Shimano Deore M525A Rear Hub: Great quality and budget-friendly mountain bicycle hub that ensures reliability
- Model No. : Deore M525A
- Brand: Shimano
- Hub material: Aluminium
- Weight: 435g
- Axle Fixing method: Quick release
- Axle Length: 135mm
- Axle Diameter: 10mm
- Bearing cone: Cup and Cone, Loose BallSpoke Bearings
- Brake Type: 6-bolt disc brake
- Flange diameter: 70.6 mm
- Flange distance: 57.1mm
- QR Skewer Length: 168mm/173mm
- Spoke holes: 32H, 36H
