Author Topic: 48s going the way of the 44 Tooth Sprocket?  (Read 16313 times)

Offline Jake4130

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48s going the way of the 44 Tooth Sprocket?
« on: December 28, 2010, 06:42:17 AM »
Wanted to get some opinions on this. Is it your thought and feeling of the industry that 48's are going away completely for BMX and soon no one will make them?

The reason I ask is I have a decision to make on weather to dump some money into my 48s or start all over with some 36s. It will cost me $70 to keep the 48's going (which I would prefer) or $260 to put together some reasonable 36s (and change sprockets due to a smaller driver, etc). I could not care less about the trend or what is "cooler," but I also don't want to save the money now, invest in my 48s and a year from now I can't even get rims anymore, know what I mean?

So what do you guys think? Are 48 hole rims going to be available in the future?
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Offline Limited

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Re: 48s going the way of the 44 Tooth Sprocket?
« Reply #1 on: December 28, 2010, 08:11:09 AM »
I prefer 48 in tha back. :mellow: wish others would feel me 48H/14mm is great for the rougher rider haha

Offline Jake4130

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Re: 48s going the way of the 44 Tooth Sprocket?
« Reply #2 on: December 28, 2010, 08:17:31 AM »
I prefer 48 in tha back. :mellow: wish others would feel me 48H/14mm is great for the rougher rider haha

I agree, but don't you worry about being able to buy parts in the future. They seem to be disappearing.
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Offline out~riding

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Re: 48s going the way of the 44 Tooth Sprocket?
« Reply #3 on: December 28, 2010, 11:49:05 AM »
There are still plenty of 48h rims available but on the other hand I dont see any new model hubs in 48h.

Offline robpossible

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Re: 48s going the way of the 44 Tooth Sprocket?
« Reply #4 on: December 28, 2010, 02:04:44 PM »
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.
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Offline paulbrown692000

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Re: 48s going the way of the 44 Tooth Sprocket?
« Reply #5 on: December 28, 2010, 02:21:09 PM »
I feel that my old 48 spoke wheels were stiffer then my 36s.
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Offline MICHELE

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Re: 48s going the way of the 44 Tooth Sprocket?
« Reply #6 on: December 28, 2010, 02:53:51 PM »
i don't understand why the 48 are disappering.
the wheigth saving using 36 is very little but there is a huge loss of strength.
seriously how much weigth do you save taking off 12 spokes?.
If I ever see a flat rider do a hop-to-wallride, my head would explode.

Offline wolverines

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Re: 48s going the way of the 44 Tooth Sprocket?
« Reply #7 on: December 28, 2010, 05:54:45 PM »
"Jake4130:
Quote from: Limited on Today at 08:11:09 AM

I prefer 48 in tha back. :mellow: wish others would feel me 48H/14mm is great for the rougher rider haha


I agree, but don't you worry about being able to buy parts in the future. They seem to be disappearing. "


Good point....If I could find a way to have a 48 hole easy street hub, I would be very happy.

Offline out~riding

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Re: 48s going the way of the 44 Tooth Sprocket?
« Reply #8 on: December 29, 2010, 12:54:29 AM »
I feel that my old 48 spoke wheels were stiffer then my 36s.

And they are.

It's a trend at the moment to go with 36 and companies are following.

Offline Jake4130

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Re: 48s going the way of the 44 Tooth Sprocket?
« Reply #9 on: December 29, 2010, 02:48:05 AM »

It's a trend at the moment to go with 36 and companies are following. [/color]

I hope your statement there is accurate and it really is just a "trend." I hope that 48s are going to return. Like you say the rims are still around, but where are the hubs.

Listen up companies that make hubs: A lot of us still want the option.

After a lot of discussion with JellyRoll (Thanks man) I think I am sticking with 48's and will switch when I have no choice to 36s.

Michele, 12 spokes weigh roughly 2oz on average.

Makes me think though. I have a drawing somewhere of a 48 hole hub that should be pretty cool. Now if I can just find a CNC machinist that is wiling to play with some stuff...
Kids, you only get one face in life - don't spend it on pavement

Re: 48s going the way of the 44 Tooth Sprocket?
« Reply #10 on: December 29, 2010, 03:17:17 AM »
My LBS builds a lot of 48h wheels for old school dudes (and some current street rippers like Sean Burns)

The real problem is finding 48h FRONT hubs...Profile is making them but those are big bucks!

I just had them lace up some of the 7KA's with my old Nankai and Peregrine hubs...so nice!!


Offline Jake4130

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Re: 48s going the way of the 44 Tooth Sprocket?
« Reply #11 on: December 29, 2010, 04:14:53 AM »
I just had them lace up some of the 7KA's with my old Nankai and Peregrine hubs...so nice!!

Ick. Always hated Peregrine (Suzue) Sealed hubs. At least they were bearable once Standard started making decent axels to fit them.
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Offline BmxXriderX06

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Re: 48s going the way of the 44 Tooth Sprocket?
« Reply #12 on: December 29, 2010, 05:13:01 AM »
I prefer 48 in tha back. :mellow: wish others would feel me 48H/14mm is great for the rougher rider haha

I rock a 48 freedom mosh front hub (I think thats the name) which is light to me with the hollow axle!  I snaped 3/8 front axles cause how i ride and land hard on some tricks! 14mm 48 hole is the strongest front rim ever!

Offline 2flat2furious

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Re: 48s going the way of the 44 Tooth Sprocket?
« Reply #13 on: December 29, 2010, 07:10:20 AM »
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.

Offline Jake4130

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Re: 48s going the way of the 44 Tooth Sprocket?
« Reply #14 on: December 29, 2010, 08:26:17 AM »
Did a search (ebay and google shopping) and it seems that primarily the hubs that you can find in 48 hole anymore are Primo SOBs in either 14mm or 3/8".

Never had a problem with 3/8" axels. Rode them for years, bent a few, stripped a few, only broke a couple and I was always a fan of the high smith decade. I think it all depends on how solid your hub is bolted to your frame or forks (combination of locknuts, washers, etc.)
Kids, you only get one face in life - don't spend it on pavement