48s going the way of the 44 Tooth Sprocket?

[out~riding]

Primo SOB hubs are old stock. They have been out of production for several years. Primo now makes N4 front hubs only in 36h.

KHE had the HURE front hub available in 48h just a couple of years ago but I don't think thay make them anymore. It's still available in some shops.
It's a great hub, it uses 4 sealed bearings and has the EAS axle like in the geisha, you can use either 10mm or 14mm stubs and its light at 282g.

[out~riding]

I just looked at the ACS site and they have a front hub available in 48H with 3/8 or 14mm axle but I have no idea who sells them.

http://www.acsbmx.com/

[Havokflat]

the Ody store still has Homer front hubs, with 9/16"(14mm?) 48h
mine came with female axle, which i think is stronger.

i've running mine for almost 2 years, with absolutely no adjustments/regreasing,
and it still spins forever.

[keyoshi]

I ride with a guy that rides 48's in the front because his feet don't get caught in the spokes as much... I thought that was a good reason for 48h.

+1
Agree 100%. Almost every riding session I bitch about this exact issue.
I currently went with 36's for the first time since 1988 when I got GT 36's on my pro performer.

For now, I will ride these 36's a couple months (after winter) to make sure. But I may just put my old HP48's on after grabbing a 48 freecoaster and relacing.

[Jake4130]

Primo SOB hubs are old stock. They have been out of production for several years. Primo now makes N4 front hubs only in 36h.

Well I knew that. I was just saying that there doesn't seem to be much else out there for sale besides the Primo SOB. The fact that it's out of production just make my point. Old stock or not, if you can't buy it at all, your kinda screwed. The fact that the most prevalent offering in a 48 hole hub is one that is no longer being made scares me a little.

Had the same issue with the ACS. Looks like a decent hub, but I cant find anyone that carries it.

[Jake4130]

the Ody store still has Homer front hubs, with 9/16"(14mm?) 48h
mine came with female axle, which i think is stronger.

i've running mine for almost 2 years, with absolutely no adjustments/regreasing,
and it still spins forever.

Your going to have to send a link for that. All I can find is rears for those.

[BmxXriderX06]

I'm super hard on my bike, and having 48 would be overkill. I just don't see the need for it when there are so many good rims, spokes, and hubs out.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[D]

Rims, spokes, and hubs are all made better and with better materials than they were 25 years ago.  I loved the old Peregrine wheels and rode them all through the 90's, but I'm pretty sure the Odysseys I'm running now are just as strong and lighter than 48s. 

That being said, I've had a set of HB 48's that are currently on my ramp bike that I see no reason to switch out.  I got them in 1999 and they are STILL running very well.   The weight difference is not huge. 

Unless you're just dying to spend money on new, more updated parts, then I'd stick with the 48's.  Some guys on here have had the same Suzue front wheel since the 80s!   

[Jake4130]

Rims, spokes, and hubs are all made better and with better materials than they were 25 years ago.  I loved the old Peregrine wheels and rode them all through the 90's, but I'm pretty sure the Odysseys I'm running now are just as strong and lighter than 48s.  

Unless you're just dying to spend money on new, more updated parts, then I'd stick with the 48's.  Some guys on here have had the same Suzue front wheel since the 80s!   

Yeah don't agree with that at all. Rims, spokes and hubs are not all that much better than they were bitd. Everything improves over time, but they haven't improved THAT much.  Remember the rim weight is the rim weight. The spoke pattern doesn't effect that (in theory 48s would be lighter since they have more holes). 12 spokes don't weigh much at all. This one really blew my mind: (front) hubs are relatively the same weight as they were bitd. Figured that would have improved greatly, but it hasn't. Todays rims aren't that much lighter than the Peregrines of old. In fact some are the same or even heavier (and not nearly as good in my opinion). Just as strong, maybe. Just as stiff as a 48, no way.

I think your right though. It's a money thing, but that is the over all question I guess. If your in the position where you need to upgrade part of your wheels, do you stick with the 48s and say that they can have your 48s when they can pry them from your cold dead fingers, or do you just start over and build some nice 36s? Kinda similar to the question of if you keep dumping money in that old car or do you just say screw it and buy a new car?

Good point on still using hubs from the 80s though. Hadn't thought about it, but I am sure that is true. lol

[out~riding]

If you do google a bit you will find that there are many shops that still have lots of older stock 48h hubs in stock.

examples:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=54629

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=53196

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=53199

http://www.bmx-shop.com/Primo-STOCK-FRONT-HUB-48H-10MM-BLACK/p33896.aspx

http://www.bmx-shop.com/414-Industries-FRONT-HUB/p5322.aspx

http://www.billys.co.uk/english/group.php?prod=hudn-c-ft&PHPSESSID=n4h090n0ijhefggntif540g8o6

http://www.bmxcity.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=53&products_id=399&osCsid=riliro2cgs9r9m10k59h59cra4

http://www.bmxcity.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=53&products_id=395&osCsid=riliro2cgs9r9m10k59h59cra4

http://www.ediscountbike.com/Hubs-/Hubs/BMX/Sun-Ringle-Jabba-The-p7318573.html

http://www.bikeman.com/HU0235.html

http://www.winstanleysbmx.com/product/9086/Eastern_Atom_Front_Hub

http://www.winstanleysbmx.com/product/37834/DNA_CFront_Hub

http://www.winstanleysbmx.com/product/6662/Fly_Front_Hub_2006

http://www.winstanleysbmx.com/product/8212/KHE_Die_Hure_Front_Hub_2006

http://www.winstanleysbmx.com/product/2621/Profile_SS_Front_Hub

http://www.winstanleysbmx.com/product/5681/Proper_Magna_Titanium_Front_Hub

http://www.winstanleysbmx.com/product/5631/WeThePeople_Pi_Hub_Rear_20056

http://www.winstanleysbmx.com/product/1203/WeThePeople_Hub_Front_2003

http://www.customriders.com/prodshow.asp?prodid=7814&cat=0&parent=0&sid=3

http://americancycle.com/product/ace-bmx-sealed-front-14mm-hub-5153.htm

http://dansbmx.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=472

http://dansbmx.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=446

http://www.bmxtransition.com/comersus/store/comersus_viewItem.asp?idProduct=5505

You just got to search and on ebay they pop up all the time also. Get them while you can.

[Jake4130]

Nice list out~riding. Your right man; get em while you can. Just wish it wasn't so.

[Paul Chamberlain]

BMX has gradually been moving more towards the disposable as things get lighter and more gimmicky. Internal headset - your frame won't last as long. 36 spoke wheels - your wheels won't last as long. I hope I can always run 48's. The ones I've got now should last me until they come back in fashion.

Sean Burns only runs a 48h rear.

[tod miller]

My experience is that the Peregrine 48's I rode BITD, bent just like any other rim.  In fact, I think they bent because I always had trouble keeping the spokes tight because of the lack the little "nipple" to keep the spokes straight.   I also remember lots of guys putting zip ties around the spokes where they crossed to try and keep the spokes tight...and wasn't that why people put tennis balls in thier spokes? 

But anywho, I don't have any more problems with my 36's than I did with my 48's.  A good wheel, is a good wheel.

Just don't bring back Z-Rims and mags please.

[paulbrown692000]

Less spokes and less holes to drill, thats less labor to build them but they cost ten times more?   

[Jake4130]

I completely agree. It does seem like there is a shift into disposable parts. Was hoping that was just my weird perception, but it doesn't look like it. We totally need to vote with our dollar on this.

To me the progression of parts went like this:

• First parts were waaaay gimmicky and some of them really stupid. Manufacturers made what they thought we wanted without listening to riders.
• Things got better, but there was still an emphasis on weight for some reason and not strength. Still the bikes weren't all that well suited to the riding.
• Most of the old Pros started their own companies and gave the old companies the finger. Started making parts that lasted, but weighed a ton.
• Now there is an emphasis on having both strenth and light weight, but I think we are back to having parts that are disposable, but  this time they work well for the riding. They are somewhat light and strong and they aren't poorly designed, but they are designed to wear out

Only Peregrine I ever just bent the heck out of was the one I had my accident with going really fast, hitting a curb block as hard as I could and sliding face across the ground. Put a flat spot in it about 13 spokes positions long. Other than that, never had many problems compared to the Araya 7xs or the RL Edges I rode before. Seemed like those things were always bending. A bit of truing here and there on Peregrines is all it took for me.

I remember a lot of people doing the zip tie thing too though. Not sure it ever really helped. I don't think that is why the tennis balls though. I really think that was just a style thing that Blyther started. I know we did it too and every time a kid would ask us about it we said "It counteracts the suns light reflecting off the chromoloy based on earths gravitational pull and how it effects Jupiter's moons, which means that on every third tuesday the bike gets a little lighter." Needless to say, they didn't ask silly questions anymore. lol

I agree man. Z-Rims come back (especially with all the tales of freezers and other voodoo) and I am disowning BMX like a wayward step child. lol