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This will be Part 2 of three that will introduce the rim, hub, and tire combination being used in our 650B wheel test. This part will focus on Velocity USA’s Mountain Disc Rear Convertible Hub rim.
Next up in our three part focus on the 650B test wheels is the hub on the rear which is Velocity USA’s newest Mountain Rear Disc Convertible hub. Just like the name implies, it is a 135/142OLD width hub with conversion built in to accommodate axle types and free hub body variations. Here is a bullet point list and a bit of a description from Velocity’s site describing the features of this hub:
- O.L.D.: 135mm 142mm
- DRIVE INTERFACE: Campagnolo 8/9/10/11 Shimano/SRAM 8/9/10/11 SRAM XX1
- DISC INTERFACE: 6 bolt
- WEIGHT: QR: 269g | 12mm: 279g
- INCLUDED ACCESSORIES: 135mm and 142×12 end caps and axle; Quick Release Skewer
- BEARINGS: Sealed Cartridge, 6902(4)
- DRILLINGS/COLORS: 28 or 32 spoke: Black.
New for 2016! The Mountain Disc Rear Hub converts from 135mm quick release to 142x12mm thru-axle compatibility and will accept Shimano/SRAM 11, Campagnolo 11, or SRAM XX1 cassettes. Hubs come with a selected cassette body and axle standard installed; and includes the alternate axle for future conversions. Additional cassette bodies/types are available seperately. Shimano 11 cassette body includes a spacer for use with 8/9/10 speed systems. Campagnolo 11 cassette body includes a lockring.
Convertibility and versatility in a hub are valued these days with all the changes in wheel and axle standards going on these days. Obviously, it isn’t “Boost” compatible, but that isn’t something we see much of in hubs that are convertible yet, if we ever will. The weight is impressive, and most of all I like the “ABG” “Anti Bite Guard” which helps prevent your cassettes with an individual cog construction from “digging in to” the aluminum free hub body and making casstte removal rather frustrating.
All in all, for $279.99 it seems like a pretty good value, if the performance is good and the bits inside hold up in the long run. This we will hope to find out, but it is going to take a while. In the meantime, go check out this hub on the Velocity USA website HERE. You can purchase this hub and others separately or have Velocity’s Wheel Department build them up for you on some Velocity rims of your choosing.
Next Up: The Horizon 47mm tires from WTB.
Note: The component parts of these wheels were sent to Riding Gravel by the various brands/manufacturers for test/review at no charge. We are not being bribed, nor paid, for this review and we will strive to give our honest thoughts and opinions throughout.
Any idea who manufactures Velocity’s hubs? Novatech?
Novatec is the only company I know of that has the Anti-Bite-Guard brand name on a free hub (I’ve owned 3 of them…).
The ABG really does work well, still get some depressions in the splines, but nowhere near as bad as a pure aluminum freehub, and without as much of a weight penalty as using a steel freehub.