MTB hubs

How to choose your MTB hub

The hub defines how the wheel performs: the quality of its bearings is felt with every revolution, and its engagement system is felt with every acceleration. This page brings together complete hubs and the spare parts needed to make them last.

Dimensions to check

• Front : 15x110 mm Boost, 15x100 mm or 20x110 mm depending on your fork.
• Rear : 12x148 mm Boost, 12x142 mm, 12x157 mm Super Boost or 9x135 mm depending on your frame.
• Spoke hole count : 28 or 32 most often, 36 for downhill and e-MTBs. Must match the rim.
• Disc mount : Center Lock or 6-bolt.

The freehub body

• Shimano HG : 8- to 11-speed cassettes, both Shimano and SRAM.
• Micro Spline : Shimano 12-speed cassettes.
• SRAM XD : SRAM Eagle 12-speed cassettes, with their 10-tooth sprocket.
• On most quality hubs, this body can be replaced: changing your drivetrain doesn't mean changing your wheel.

Engagement: what you feel when pedalling

The higher the number of engagement points, the smaller the dead angle before you can start pedalling again. This is crucial on technical climbs and obstacles, where you often reposition the pedal over a quarter turn. A 54-tooth DT Swiss Ratchet system engages every 6.6 degrees, compared to over 10 degrees on a 3-pawl hub. On the other hand, more points of engagement mean more drag when freewheeling and a louder freewheel sound.

Spare parts

Threaded rings, ratchet rings, spacers, shims and axle kits can be replaced individually for a fraction of the cost of a new hub. That's what allows a good hub to last ten years. Bearings have their own dedicated page.

To find out more: How to choose your MTB hubs

See also: MTB bearings · MTB Freehub Body · MTB wheel adaptors