Hunt Wheels – should I avoid?

[StuAff]

You're probably correct, they do sell a lot of wheels. They score 4.8 on Trustpilot and respond in depth to every complaint/1 star review. How long is their warranty? I think I read 3 years?

Yup, three years.

 

[T4tomo]

Anyone want to break down the spec.

you cant because Hunt, hubs, spokes and rims are unbranded / not disclosed, so very difficult to compare with what Spa, DCR or Cycleclinic or others will built you or to compare with a factory wheel.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Echo other's advice.

I had DCR build me these H Plus Son Archetype rims onto Velo Orange hubs and they have been super reliable and am 95kg.

If you have good quality hubs with Cartridge bearings they should be trouble free. On the day the photo below was taken it had just been through some 80 yards of flood water which was 2' deep according to the marker, so totally submerged and not for the first time either this year. The Cartridge bearings are still silky smooth.

 

[Jameshow]

Merlin have a decent discount on Mavic Cosmic Elites
https://www.merlincycles.com/mavic-cosmic-elite-ust-clincher-road-wheelset-164676.html
leaves budget for tyres

Heavy....

 

[vickster]

Heavy....

Doesn't really make a jot of difference to me All of my wheels have 32/36 spokes (so those would be no good for me on the basis of spoke count anyhow).
Those are said to be under 1800g, what do the Hunts weigh?

 

[Venod]

I had DCR build me these H Plus Son Archetype rims

If anybody fancies having a go at wheel building, the H Plus Son Archetype rims are the easiest I have ever built, hardly any fafing to true up and a good solid rim, but I built black ones for a rim brake, they look great when new but after a while they look a bit shabby, fine in black for disc brakes though.

 

[derrick]

My other half has used Hunt wheel for a few years no problem at all, i don't like the noisy freehub, but she does. seen a few mentions for DCR wheels, got a pair from him a couple of years ago, never liked them, there still hanging in the shed, best place for them. i went back to mavics.

 

[cool_hand]

you cant because Hunt, hubs, spokes and rims are unbranded / not disclosed, so very difficult to compare with what Spa, DCR or Cycleclinic or others will built you or to compare with a factory wheel.

I've heard they use Kinlin Rims.
TPI Bearings – newer wheels are apparently now using EZO Bearings.
Pillar Spokes
That leaves the Hubs; would be interesting to know but I don't want to use the the same Hubs as Hunt use as they appear to have issues.
Update: Hubs are Ceramic Speed.

 

[Jameshow]

Doesn't really make a jot of difference to me All of my wheels have 32/36 spokes (so those would be no good for me on the basis of spoke count anyhow).
Those are said to be under 1800g, what do the Hunts weigh?

1579g..

 

[ExBrit]

Hunt are heavily marketed and sell on look and feel over quality, but clearly a step up from OEM stock wheels supplied on a lot of bikes.

A set of handbuilts are probably your best bang for buck in your budget, usual suspects are (but you may have local specialist)

• SPA
• DCR
• superstar components (may have stopped doing wheels now)

but then also maybe a bargain to be had on soe ready builts, Wiggles' Prime own brand are decent, fulcrum, Dt swiss, Mavic all worth looking at.

What sort of bike / riding is it for - 4 seasons are a gravel / winter training "style" wheel, all you say is rim brake?

what sort of budget?

If you live on the wrong side of the puddle I can recommend https://peterwhitecycles.com/. He's an old-school wheel builder and I've had two from him in the last 20 years. Any wheel that can last 100,000 miles with a 100kg rider can't be bad.

 

[craigwend]

I've heard they use Kinlin XR31 Rims.
TPI Bearings
Pillar Spokes
That leaves the Hubs; would be interesting to know but I don't want to use the the same Hubs as Hunt use as they appear to have issues.

I read somewhere on that Internet that they use Kinlin as well or did for their Aluminium rims.

I have a pair of Hunt 4 Seasons (the first version) no problems with the Hubs, though few months outside of the 3 year warranty the rear rim cracked - contacted and Hunt they replaced at 'cost' (about £100) the current version (at the time) and threw in a free bottle and cap. Previous wheels had been Shimano 105 which were good though the Hunts just felt so much better (on my Ti road bike)
I would buy Hunts again or maybe Spa Kinlin rimmed similar

 

[cool_hand]

I read somewhere on that Internet that they use Kinlin as well or did for their Aluminium rims.

I have a pair of Hunt 4 Seasons (the first version) no problems with the Hubs, though few months outside of the 3 year warranty the rear rim cracked - contacted and Hunt they replaced at 'cost' (about £100) the current version (at the time) and threw in a free bottle and cap. Previous wheels had been Shimano 105 which were good though the Hunts just felt so much better (on my Ti road bike)
I would buy Hunts again or maybe Spa Kinlin rimmed similar

How did you find the rear hub noise – they appear to be quite noisy in some of the videos I've watched.

 

[craigwend]

How did you find the rear hub noise – they appear to be quite noisy in some of the videos I've watched.

I didn't mind it - it's loud when you freewheel, you get used to it and can be useful to let people know your there as you come up behind them by freewheeling (though not good for horses... Need to pedal slowly as they don't like the clacking sounds)

Had them checked / serviced after the first year and the came back quieter which I can only assume was some lubricant?

Lots of options on the Hunt site for riding type / suggested rider weight.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Why not use British made Hope Hubs and the rim of your choice?

 

[cool_hand]

Why not use British made Hope Hubs and the rim of your choice?

Probably because of cost. I've read good things about Bitex.