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Heavyweight Hub Battle – A Revisit
Today…I have done something that I have never done on Mountain Biking by 198. I went back and revised a previous article that was product based. Normally, I would leave the article alone…that was how I felt at the time, so it should have stayed in tact. In this case, my opinion has changed over time due to several business practices and quality issues. These changes are completely fact based and dependent upon my views as well as other people’s views in the industry, but more importantly…how I feel about the outcome of the article since I am it’s author.
Back in June of 2008, I did a “Heavy Weight Hub Battle” between Chris King and Industry Nine. Both companies provide a very premium component to the mountain biking industry and much debate still rolls on about who should really claim the top spot.
Now…onto the reason behind my change of opinion.
Please understand, I do still believe that both companies put out an exceptional product. The fact that we are able to debate on this subject with these two wheelsets really blows my mind and should be a true testament on how far the mountain biking component manufacturers have come over the years.
This versus type post is an opinion piece about who I feel is at the top spot in the wheelset market for mountain biking. Over the months preceding the article, Industry Nine has changed. Most significantly, the lead times for a set of wheels has increased dramatically. I believe this to be a customer service issue that needs to be directly addressed because with longer lead times comes rushed production and miscues which directly affect the quality of the product they bring to the market.
This is not something that you will see often on Mountain Biking by 198. It takes a dramatic change in opinion that is not swayed by outside influences for something like this to happen. I still believe that Industry Nine makes a fantastic set…I just do not believe they are at the point that they take Chris King down as the King of hub production.
Many of the comments that you will see on the article were left before the change…some of them are still accurate…but some others may seem out of place.
Revised article can be found here: Industry Nine vs. Chris King
That brings the ultimate question to you…
Who do you believe is on the top spot?
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12:59 pm
In reality you cannot compare the two because they are not the same thing. I9′s are a custom WHEELSET, not just hubs (although stand-alone j-bend hubs are available) where the CK is just a set of hubs.
Your comment about lead times being a major customer service issue could be taken outside of the wheel/hub arena and applied to frames. If I had to wait months/years to get a Wolfhound frame built does that make it a lower performer vs. a Ventana I could have in less time?? Should I be afraid that it got rushed and will have defects?
I do think I9 is experiencing growing pains but they are willing to accept responsibility for mistakes and make the needed changes to make things right for the customer. I know – I’ve been there recently.
The flexibility of configurations and ease of maintenance still makes the I9 the clear choice for me when I am looking for high-end wheels for my bikes.
OK Robb, now I have to slip into my devil’s advocate suit.
This entire article reeks of a MBA review where they don’t like something but don’t want to say it in fear that it will cost them an advertiser or limit what mfg’s send them to “review”.
What really promted this about-face change in what was previously written? Actual failure of a I9 hub to perform? Couldn’t get a set from I9 even though you buttered them up with an initial good review? Trying to get some CK product in for review?
I saw this “In this case, my opinion has changed over time due to several business practices and quality issues.” How about providing some supporting details or examples? Are they systemic issues or just flukes of a small mfg process?
Then you say it’s “…completely fact based and dependent upon my views as well as other people’s views in the industry”. So, facts or opinion? Why base it on bike industry folks badmouthing another mfg? If you have soem supporting details – spill it. Then you whip out another 180 and say “It takes a dramatic change in opinion that is not swayed by outside influences for something like this to happen.”
What’s the real dealio?
2:04 pm
SS…
First…comparing a one off, steel frame built by a one man shop to a frame that is carried as a stock item in retailers is not the same as comparing wheelsets. Both of the brands you mentioned are completely different and their differences have nothing to do with performance.
Also, there is nothing that is custom about and Industry Nine wheelset other than maybe the color. They are still built with the same rims…just with Industry Nine spokes and hubs, so that analogy doesn’t apply in this situation.
Now…you are entitled to your own opinion and I thank you for taking the time to submit it to this article. If you read both articles completely, you will see that I still think that Industry Nine makes a fantastic product. I just don’t think they can claim the top spot at this point in time. I also agreed with you that they are much more versatile than the offerings from Chris King. On the maintenance issue…I believe it to be a coin flip…they are both easy to work on, but you could make the argument that parts for the King’s are easier to get a hold of.
The change of opinion has nothing to do with my relationship with either company as it relates to this blog and possible work in the future. I actually considered not even writing this article because I didn’t want readers to think that was swaying my opinion.
Wheelsets from Industry Nine are getting delivered with uneven spoke tension and I do not believe a wheelset in this price bracket should have that issue. I can understand having to re-tension them after several rides, but upon delivery…they should be tensioned properly. At the time of the original article, that did not seem to be an issue.
Chris King does offer fully built wheelsets from the factory at this point in time.
So you can play the devils advocate if you would like…but it sounds more like a blind faith rather than an objective opinion. Just as you said…you had to deal with some CS issues recently as well.
How long did you wait for your last set and what was your issue?
2:13 pm
I have to agree with Robb. The I9 wheels are sexy. They’re pretty, and the guys stand behind the product. They are not, however, better than CK. I had 10+mm +/- of lateral out of true movement on a warranty set of I9 out of the box. I had to true and retension the wheels before riding them. Shouldn’t happen. Per directions, I’ve had to retrue them a time or two since, but by and large, they have held OK. I don’t have those issues with any of the CK wheelsets. The drive mechanism is pretty damn cool on both, but I give serviceability to CK. Yeah, you have to have access to the tool, but the .5mm allen required for the I9s is too easily stripped, leading to difficulty servicing the hub. Nothanks. I own both, but will be going with CK moving forward.