I am thinking about ordering a pair of chinese carbon clincher wheels, I have read through the forum to try to find some information regarding hub quality but to no avail. I have also e-mailed the suppliers regarding the hub options and their reliability but didn't really get a clear response.
The novatec hubs seem to have a pretty good reputation and are used by UK builders such as Wheelsmith, but I am obviously tempted by the lightweight EDhubs. Does anyone have an opinion about the two types of hub and how they match up against each other in terms of quality of build and reliability?

Too general a question...

There are very good and just plain dogsh!t Chinese hubs.

The more generic the branding and cheaper the price, the closer you're getting to the back of the dog at evacuation time...

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charles@pezcyclingnews.com

The "EDHubs" are the top-range from BiTex, which produce great hubs... on their top range.
Same with Novatec: low-end? Meh! Top-end? Yeah!

Oh, and by the way, many of the branded hubs from small wheel providers (such as Boyd, Neuvation, Williams, etc) are mid-range Novatec or BiTex type stuff. ...

... so Chinese hub? That can mean anything.

At least you didn't ask about frames made in China! Then I'd have to break out the popcorn.

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Exp001

Lots of variables to consider--bearings, freehubs, etc. I have some BHS hubs being built up, and I'm looking forward to see how they compare to Shimano and US-made hubs.

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GRAVELBIKE.COM - ride everything

prendrefeu

Break out the popcorn... Luv ya

I think I was being reasonably specific actually. My question was if anyone had any had any direct comparison between the ED hubs and Novatec hubs, as mentioned in my first note. Novatec hubs are pretty well known and have a reasonable reputation, I am struggling to find any information as to reliability on the ED hubs.

Or if you want really specific, are ED hubs worse from a build quality/reliability point of view that Novatec?
(If we are being pedantic Novatec hubs are manufactured in Taiwan..)

OK, so specific as can be.
Are the Ed hubs (257g) from Farsports better or worse than the Novatec (325g) units?
Thanks for the replies.

Nothing wrong with Novatec hubs, nothing at all.

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www.thecycleclinic.co.uk

The EDs are comparitively new....this may explain the lack of reviews. Bitex (parent company) have been around for a while tho and have a decent rep. You may struggle a bit to a long term review on the EDs. Better novatecs are the same in terms of reliability as Reynolds in-house hubs (same) etc and can be considered as solid purchases and good value for $$.

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Used to race....got too wrinkly and old Updated: Racing again! Thought this was unlikely! Eventually, I may even have a decent race!

I have a pair of Bitex RAF10/RAR9 hubs a.k.a. EDhubs, their specs are identical. RAR9 is the lightweight sibling of the popular RAR13(a.k.a. bikehubstore superlight and under the disguise of many brands), the main difference is RAR9 uses a smaller bearing(6802) in drive side hub body to save 20 grams. Maybe the bearing size would be a concern for heavy riders, other than that RAR9 is very similar to RAR13 in construction and performance. Details can be found on Bitex's website: http://www.bitexhubs.com/htm/products_detail.php?t=507f06a88e8b7&p=5020db7a2e72f
As for the long term durability of EDhub/RAR9, I can't comment yet, cause I'm still waiting for some Chinese carbon rims to build with the hubs.
Both Bitex and Novatec's hubs have good reputations and one can't go wrong with either. BTW, they are Taiwanese companies, not Chinese.

Depending on whether you include Taiwan in "China", right now mainland China made hubs are still not up to par with Taiwan made hubs (Chosen, Q-lite, Novatec being the top ones). Mainland made frames on the other hand can be top notch (or crap).

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Elviento nailed it, just when I was about to break out the "Who owns this Island?!?!" Special Edition Popcorn. Damn, now I want to make some popcorn anyway.... hmmmm...

Also, I've been using the BHS super/ultra light (whatever it is now) on one of my wheel builds for at least two years. Hubs are still super smooth, still strong and not even a glimmer of a problem with them, despite thousands of miles logged both on road, rough roads, smooth roads and off road. The ED Hubs look sneakily similar, but I've only logged about 1.5k on those so far and they've been great... so far.

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Exp001

Bitex
Novatec
great hubs
maby Novatec are more durable becouse of design (and heavier)

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http://kavitec.blogspot.com/

click this! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqfFdCWAH5I&list=UUEtgd6K9EDGmoSE2YYipQgQ&index=20

My front Novatec hub;



and rear Novatec hub;



I built up some (50)mm full carbon clinchers with CX rays and Novatec. 5k miles and no problems.

I've been trying to decide between the Edhubs (rar9/raf10) and regular Bitex (rar12/A713SB) for a build from Farsports (not so keen on the heavier Novatech that other builders use), but after much digging I'm leaning towards sucking up the extra 40 grams on the the Bitex rar12 combo, not because it saves $40, but I suspect the rar12 with bigger bearings will be more durable. The rar9 apparently has 4x6802 bearings (static load capacity of 219 each - Total 876), whereas the rar12 uses 2x6802 and 2x6902 (static capacity for 6902 is 434 each - for a combined total 1300+). When you look at Fair Wheel Bikes hub review for 2012, I do believe the EDhub would have the absolute lowest static load capacity of them all - which raises a red flag for me, and makes me nervous of buying without more long term reviews (or someone explaining to me that static load capacity isn't that important). Also, aren't the EDhubs being used as replacements for the hubsmith hubs which were almost exactly the same weight...? I'm nervous we'll hear the same complaints by June that they had with hubsmith. Otherwise the Bitex rar12 seem to have been proven very good quality, reliability and a killer price -can't see risking rebuilding a wheel with new hubs later trying to save 40 grams on the hubs when the Bitex rar12/A713SB are only 218 + 78 = 296g. Only way the Bitex option at Farsports could be better I think is if they paired the wider raf12 front instead of the A713SB.

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Troy