Why are clicky hubs good?

[wimma]

I have really clicky new hubs and while they sound really cool I just wanted to know what makes clicky hubs so sought after? Is it just that the clicking means they have more engagement points? If so, I think it would make more sense for the hub to be quieter so as to lose less energy to sound while you're coasting or backpedalling.
What are your opinions/comments?

[Lorday]

Clicky hubs are well sought after because that what some people want. No difference to preformance (technically) except the really loud click hubs may need a good greasin'.
I like silent hubs, zilch clicky noise's, that way I can be a ninja on my bike, or like a splinter cell.

[wimma]

LOL i love splinter cell... and ninjas.
Also, nice work with this pearler:
Clicky hubs are well sought after because that what some people want.
sought after = wanted...?

[will...]

The "clickyer" a hub is, the more engagement points it has.

Which makes it fractions faster to respond when you go to pedal. So they are better, but more annoying.

So they kind of do have a technical advantage.

[Jay_Patriot]

This is really off topic, but, remember taping a little bit of plastic onto your frame and letting it touch your spokes, giving you a Moto sound/clicky sound ;)

oh how i loathe for the good old days of mechanical componentry ;)

jb:eek:

[wimma]

This is really off topic, but, remember taping a little bit of plastic onto your frame and letting it touch your spokes, giving you a Moto sound/clicky sound ;)

oh how i loathe for the good old days of mechanical componentry ;)

jb:eek:

oh how i loathe for the good old days of mechanical componentry
Not really sure what you meant there at all?? Loathe =/= yearn.

[Chumbo]

Being loud doesnt make a hub any better but you will find that many of the mechanically better quality hubs do happen to be loud. King, hugi, hadley, hope, profile, etc. Most of these do have better engagement as well but i think people just want them because they're loud. I'm sure there are some loud hubs that are shit but dont know any off hand.

[Jay_Patriot]

Not really sure what you meant there at all?? Loathe =/= yearn.

Like i said, completely off topic, but the lads are correct, the clickyness is the amount of engagement points in your sprocket.....
:D

(i was reminiscing ;) )

[will...]

Being loud doesnt make a hub any better but you will find that many of the mechanically better quality hubs do happen to be loud. King, hugi, hadley, hope, profile, etc. Most of these do have better engagement as well but i think people just want them because they're loud. I'm sure there are some loud hubs that are shit but dont know any off hand.

I was referring to the number of clicks a hub makes in a rotation.

To make a hub loud all you have to do is run no grease.

Repeat every two moths or so with new hubs.

[No Skid Marks]

I also hate loud hubs, they make it so hard to be stealth when you'd rather not be known about.
I'd say the louder the click the worse the performance if anything.
My Hadleys properly lubed(no not over lubed)has never been that loud(108 and 72 clicks). My I9 hub purs(120+clicks), My Profile on my hardtail is hellishly noisy, I have to lift the back when pushing up a certain track if people are about, to not be heard.
The louder the click, could mean,lack of lube, heavy spring(meaning friction),or not many clicks. None of this is good, not many clicks may be good on a bike with lots of chain growth(pedal kick back).

[AngoXC]

The "clickyer" a hub is, the more engagement points it has.

Which makes it fractions faster to respond when you go to pedal. So they are better, but more annoying.

So they kind of do have a technical advantage.

Not always. I have a very clicky Shimano Parallax hub here. Just a matter of how much grease you put on it.

[JP]

This is really off topic, but, remember taping a little bit of plastic onto your frame and letting it touch your spokes, giving you a Moto sound/clicky sound ;)

oh how i loathe for the good old days of mechanical componentry ;)

jb:eek:

The only acceptable item to use in that situation was a footy card.

[maxwolfie]

I'm a crap rider, so I try and keep attention to myself to a minimum when I am riding. That way, I can go OTB at my own will and no one will even realise.

[Jay_Patriot]

The only acceptable item to use in that situation was a footy card.

kudos to you bro ;)

[chuckies_here]

I rather a more of a buzz like Hadleys and i9.
Clicks just shit me off haha.

[StInKy LoVeR]

I'm a crap rider, so I try and keep attention to myself to a minimum when I am riding. That way, I can go OTB at my own will and no one will even realise.

Hahaha I found that funny. I'm the same. Loud hubs are the new fashion. I'm sure hopfully they will go out soon. The novelty lasts about 2 weeks then your begging that you never bought it. Maybe if Sam Hill rode with a dead silent hub maybe all the young kids would follow his lead.

[wimma]

Well I bought the Hope Pro 2's because I read (on mtbr etc) that they are a good quality DH hub, and I got them for a good price.
I didn't get the hub because it is clicky, though it certainly turns out to be. The noise sounds cool, but I think it could get an-noise-ing.

[Howie66]

This is really off topic, but, remember taping a little bit of plastic onto your frame and letting it touch your spokes, giving you a Moto sound/clicky sound ;)

oh how i loathe for the good old days of mechanical componentry ;)

jb:eek:

Haha yes!

I remember my mum cracking the shits all the time cos id steal all her pegs off the clothesline.

Spokey-Dokeys were the big hit, although they didnt make a good as sound as wooden clothes pegs. And they looked a bit gay.

And yeah, lol, the old footy cards worked too!!

[Dan.]

The "clickyer" a hub is, the more engagement points it has.

Which makes it fractions faster to respond when you go to pedal. So they are better, but more annoying.

So they kind of do have a technical advantage.

Not true at all. Clicky hubs can be shit sometimes.

My hub that i have on my street bike at the moment it the complete opposite of loud. I can't even here it click. I can just here it skip and engagement.

[Reubs]

Well I bought the Hope Pro 2's ...

good choice... they are so damn noisy though! I shelled out for a King earlier this year and on my first ride with it I was all keen to hear the "angry bee" sound except all i could hear was my friends damn hope pro 2 clicking away over the top of mine! King has the most engagement points of any hub but is a "whirring" sound. I think it may be related to spring tension in the ratchet pawls as to how loud it is.

[Gekigengar]

On a slightly different note. Is there a way where you can minimise the noise comming from the hub? A safe and non-damaging way?

[StInKy LoVeR]

More grease. Go to your LBS and ask them to put some heavier grease in it.

[Jimass]

good choice... they are so damn noisy though! I shelled out for a King earlier this year and on my first ride with it I was all keen to hear the "angry bee" sound except all i could hear was my friends damn hope pro 2 clicking away over the top of mine! King has the most engagement points of any hub but is a "whirring" sound. I think it may be related to spring tension in the ratchet pawls as to how loud it is.

Really? I thought it I9 hubs had the most at 120 (contact points). How many do the Kings have?

[No Skid Marks]

More grease. Go to your LBS and ask them to put some heavier grease in it.Heavier grease might slow the pawls down to much, stopping them getting the correct engagement(or at all)and wearing prematurely.
Follow the manufacturers recomendations.

Really? I thought it I9 hubs had the most at 120 (contact points). How many do the Kings have?
Yeah King don't have the most anymore.

[zaccyboy]

Really? I thought it I9 hubs had the most at 120 (contact points). How many do the Kings have?
I think the Macmahone hubs have 128 engagement points :eek:.
I'm sure M.artin would know more than me.

[M.artin]

I think the Macmahone hubs have 128 engagement points :eek:.
I'm sure M.artin would know more than me.

Yea, the King120 model - Is a 120 Point hub, triple pawl.

The Chriskings and I9 are also the same... If you ask me, I think that is almost too many engagement points, I like it around the 72 point area.

[AngoXC]

More grease. Go to your LBS and ask them to put some heavier grease in it.

As NSM said earlier, this will work against you. You can add more grease to a point...preferably thinner synthetic types if anything as it wont restrict the pawls as much as a thicker grease.

[mayo]

if im right,

my good mate *matt-d8* uses silicon spray in his ringle to deaden the sound and to stop premature wear of the componens in his hub

this is only a temporary fix as the silicon spray gets thin after a while so you'll have to keep doing this to keep the noise down

[M.artin]

if im right,

my good mate *matt-d8* uses silicon spray in his ringle to deaden the sound and to stop premature wear of the componens in his hub

this is only a temporary fix as the silicon spray gets thin after a while so you'll have to keep doing this to keep the noise down

I hear you can also use a PTEF lube.????

Anyone tried it?

[frenchman]

Not true at all. Clicky hubs can be shit sometimes.

My hub that i have on my street bike at the moment it the complete opposite of loud. I can't even here it click. I can just here it skip and engagement.

Followed by a horrific scream as your knee connects with the stem?

Not quite sure what you mean by skip, surely that would translate to knee bashing or scorpian face grinding?

[bitterbro]

The "clickyer" a hub is, the more engagement points it has.


Dude. No that's the stupidest thing i've read. How do explain some Hadley hubs that don't even make a peep? Last time i checked Hadleys would have more engagement points that some repco bike that makes a louder noise