Hey dude, I thought I'd give you an update! Not sure how I can send you photos but I'll tell you the build I ended up doing: Grey Silver Koozer XM490 Pro hubs. Sapim Strong black spokes with silver brass nipples. Raceface ARC HD Offset rims!! (30mm internal width with a 4.5mm spoke hole offset) These were for a Marlin Gen 2 frame! I ended up reading a book on wheel building which was full of very helpful information! The Koozer XM490 Pro Hubs have a 2.6mm spoke hole diameter and the Sapim Strong Single butted spokes have a 2.3mm diameter by the J-Bend but they're 2.0mm for the rest of the spoke. We got a great fit for the spokes, a strong rim, strong spokes, and awesome hubs. Great recipe for awesome new wheels!!! I completed the build, installed my tubeless set up and took these guys out for a rip!! The improvement is immense and I am extremely pleased so far!
Hey man I agree. These hubs are great and they look like a very high quality build hub. The price is the best around. Its a win win. They have very nice quality smooth bearings. They are so well designed and can even changed from a shimano to a sram xd drive if you wanna changed your drive system style. It couldn't be a better designed hub.
I build my own wheels. I was seriously considering buying a set. I have a Chris King wheelset on one of my mountain bikes and Shimano hubs on the other. I'd like to see how they hold up to the stresses of serious use. I'm not a thru axel guy, I've always had quick release. Thanks.
I would recommend the koozer wheel set. Because I believe the spoke count is different on the stock wheels. Also The marlin uses a freehub and not a cassette.
Haha. I came here expecting the review to say that they hubs were terrible, but instead the review was terrible ;) But you're a good dude! Question: Do you think these hubs would be a great drop in replacement for a set of Bontrager 29" Kovee wheels with stock Formula DC-20 / DC-22 hubs?? (They are on a Marlin Gen 2 somewhat customized bike that shipped to the shop as a Marlin 7 but left the shop with a Deore 11s drivetrain, a Rockshox Recon RL airfork, etc etc) The Formula hubs are absolute budget options with a 15 point engagement hub. I had planned to wear these wheels right out and then replace them but I think that this might be a better option? I only have about 500miles of light XC riding as well as gravel paths and bike paths, so the spokes shouldn't be too bad.
These are definately a great budget upgrade from a stock hub. Im not sure about drop in. You have to measure your old hub flange to make sure they are the same size flange as the Koozer. I recently upgraded a wheel from a walmart bike and the hubs where exactly same size. New spokes are not too expensive if you had to change. Also Koozer has a full wheel set that is pretty good. That may be an option for you.
@@TrailFReEK I took an old compass geometry set and measured the distance (diameter) between the spoke holes from the center of each hole. I measured the distance between the two holes directly across the axle from each other and the distance is 59mm. This measurement is the flange, right?? It looks like the Koozer XM490s have the same size flange as the Formula DC-20 / 22 hubs after all!! I like the idea of a budget hub upgrade for these wheels. The Bontrager Kovee TLR wheels are XC wheels but they are one step up from Bontrager's entry level Connection rims so there's really no point to use a DT Swiss or Hope hub for an upgrade. Also, it's getting more and more tough to find 135mm / 100mm 5mmQR hubs that are good. I like the idea of being able to swap out the freehub body for a MS one in the future once my Deore 11s drivetrain wears out! ...and, there is SO much pedal lag with the current rear hub! Thanks for your input, I think we're in business. Now to decide on a colour. The bike is very dark blue with black and yellow hilights and silver / grey text and water bottle holders. Black? Blue? Grey??? Bike was modded at the shop before purchase but it started it's life as one of these! media.trekbikes.com/image/upload/f_auto,fl_progressive:semi,q_auto,w_1440,h_1080,c_pad/Marlin7_21_33148_A_Portrait
@@paulemillevasseur7622 Sounds like you got it figured out! Im partial to blue. Grey would look good too. Good luck man! Those Marlins are nice looking bike. I have a Marlin 5 . But older frame design
Hey dude, I thought I'd give you an update! Not sure how I can send you photos but I'll tell you the build I ended up doing:
Grey Silver Koozer XM490 Pro hubs.
Sapim Strong black spokes with silver brass nipples.
Raceface ARC HD Offset rims!! (30mm internal width with a 4.5mm spoke hole offset)
These were for a Marlin Gen 2 frame! I ended up reading a book on wheel building which was full of very helpful information! The Koozer XM490 Pro Hubs have a 2.6mm spoke hole diameter and the Sapim Strong Single butted spokes have a 2.3mm diameter by the J-Bend but they're 2.0mm for the rest of the spoke. We got a great fit for the spokes, a strong rim, strong spokes, and awesome hubs. Great recipe for awesome new wheels!!!
I completed the build, installed my tubeless set up and took these guys out for a rip!! The improvement is immense and I am extremely pleased so far!
Sounds like sweet build! Congrats on doing it yourself! Look me up on FB ,also Instagram as trailfreek1 . would like to see pics!
Wow, one of the best Koozer hub reviews. Its not just an unboxing and sound check! Thanks for posting this.
Thank You!
Hey man I agree. These hubs are great and they look like a very high quality build hub. The price is the best around. Its a win win. They have very nice quality smooth bearings. They are so well designed and can even changed from a shimano to a sram xd drive if you wanna changed your drive system style. It couldn't be a better designed hub.
I build my own wheels. I was seriously considering buying a set. I have a Chris King wheelset on one of my mountain bikes and Shimano hubs on the other. I'd like to see how they hold up to the stresses of serious use. I'm not a thru axel guy, I've always had quick release. Thanks.
I have run them in enduros and many xc races. They are awesome bang for the buck Hubs.
Do you have any problems whith this hub? The axle, besrings, pawls?
No problems for me. Running one of the hubs on my xc bike over 3 years.
So what's the difference between boost and non-boost version?
Rear hub spacing is 148 for boost, non boost is 142.
@TrailFReEK I'm new to this. I have Trek Marlin 6 2023 so do you have any idea what specification will fit ?
@@MazharAliz If i remember right,The Marlin 6 will need a 135mm hub.
I would recommend the koozer wheel set. Because I believe the spoke count is different on the stock wheels. Also The marlin uses a freehub and not a cassette.
@@MazharAliz amzn.to/4eZhSpc also Aliexpress has good deals on koozer stuff
Awesome review! Love your take and knowledge plus the humor you add! Keep it coming
Lol, thanks man!
Haha. I came here expecting the review to say that they hubs were terrible, but instead the review was terrible ;) But you're a good dude!
Question: Do you think these hubs would be a great drop in replacement for a set of Bontrager 29" Kovee wheels with stock Formula DC-20 / DC-22 hubs?? (They are on a Marlin Gen 2 somewhat customized bike that shipped to the shop as a Marlin 7 but left the shop with a Deore 11s drivetrain, a Rockshox Recon RL airfork, etc etc) The Formula hubs are absolute budget options with a 15 point engagement hub. I had planned to wear these wheels right out and then replace them but I think that this might be a better option? I only have about 500miles of light XC riding as well as gravel paths and bike paths, so the spokes shouldn't be too bad.
These are definately a great budget upgrade from a stock hub. Im not sure about drop in. You have to measure your old hub flange to make sure they are the same size flange as the Koozer. I recently upgraded a wheel from a walmart bike and the hubs where exactly same size. New spokes are not too expensive if you had to change. Also Koozer has a full wheel set that is pretty good. That may be an option for you.
@@TrailFReEK I took an old compass geometry set and measured the distance (diameter) between the spoke holes from the center of each hole. I measured the distance between the two holes directly across the axle from each other and the distance is 59mm. This measurement is the flange, right?? It looks like the Koozer XM490s have the same size flange as the Formula DC-20 / 22 hubs after all!!
I like the idea of a budget hub upgrade for these wheels. The Bontrager Kovee TLR wheels are XC wheels but they are one step up from Bontrager's entry level Connection rims so there's really no point to use a DT Swiss or Hope hub for an upgrade. Also, it's getting more and more tough to find 135mm / 100mm 5mmQR hubs that are good.
I like the idea of being able to swap out the freehub body for a MS one in the future once my Deore 11s drivetrain wears out! ...and, there is SO much pedal lag with the current rear hub!
Thanks for your input, I think we're in business. Now to decide on a colour. The bike is very dark blue with black and yellow hilights and silver / grey text and water bottle holders. Black? Blue? Grey???
Bike was modded at the shop before purchase but it started it's life as one of these!
media.trekbikes.com/image/upload/f_auto,fl_progressive:semi,q_auto,w_1440,h_1080,c_pad/Marlin7_21_33148_A_Portrait
@@paulemillevasseur7622 Sounds like you got it figured out! Im partial to blue. Grey would look good too. Good luck man! Those Marlins are nice looking bike. I have a Marlin 5 . But older frame design
Which materials are they made of? Is the freehub steel or aluminium? How many degrees of engagement?
freehub is Aluminium. Its a 24 tooth ratchet system for the MF480. www.koozer.net/150.html
@@TrailFReEK nice they have a website now.
Who is your wheelbuilder these days?
Me at the moment ,lol. may have to get an expert to check em though.
@@TrailFReEK This is what I did. I had a bike tech check my work. The two thumbs up he gave me was one hell of a satisfying experience!
is the ratchet gear upgradeable?
Im not sure. Not a lot of info on this hub yet.
are they good at DJs
Im not sure they make one for Djs. But if they do it would be a good hub for sure.
Koozer means pen15 hahoheha
😂nice review
thanks lol