"Phil hubs - are they worth it?" Well, they're not for everyone.
Shimano makes a nice hub, and a set of XT hubs can be had for well under the cost of a Phil front hub. An overhaul requires only a few dollars in bearings and grease. Since they're designed with the off- road rider in mind, they feature better seals than Shimano road hubs, and I believe current XT freehubs have 10-degree engagement (a gratuitous selling point for the non-offroader, perhaps). Shimano also has a solid reputation for offering very good quality for reasonable prices. But, those XT bearing seals won't stop everything. When water is able to deliver contaminants to the hub bearings, an overhaul is necessary. Even when you don't ride in harsh conditions, Shimano hubs need regular cleaning and regreasing. Either you need to pay a local mechanic to do this for you, or you need to take on the task. It's not terribly difficult, but it's more involved than some people want to get, and you've got to get the adjustment right to avoid damaging the hubs. Phil hubs are quite different, and the difference is more than the finish. Cartridge bearings aren't intended to be serviced, though you'll sometimes hear of folks pulling the seals away to add grease to the bearings. Don't know how well that works out. You run the bearings until they need replacement with new cartridges, available from Phil, your LBS or a bearing supply house. I haven't replaced my bearings yet, but the process is well described by Phil for user serviceability. The axles are robust, to say the least. Phil is known for superb customer service and standing behind their product. With bearing replacement and the less frequent freehub replacement, you could ride these to the end of your riding days. But the biggest reason I think a Phil hub would be worth your consideration is the option of building a 40-spoke rear wheel. At 250- lbs with the intention of some unpaved riding, this would be reassuring. I don't see 40-hole hubs or rims offered on RBW's site, but they could possibly get them for a build for you. Talk to Rich, Peter White and others to get their impressions. If they convince you a strong 36-spoke wheel can handle your needs, then you have various options for hubs. But if a 40-spoke is preferable, then you're probably only looking at Phil or White Industries as options. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
