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Chris King 6-Bolt MTB Hubs Are Back!

Chris King 6 bolt Mtb hubs are back
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If you’re a die-hard Chris King fan and only run 6-bolt rotors, you’re likely painfully aware of the absence of those hubs in the lineup. According to Chris King, they were capacity-limited during the pandemic, and they made the tough call of discontinuing 6-bolt mountain hubs. They also figured that since centerlock-to-6-bolt adapters existed, riders would still be able to use their hubs with 6-bolt rotors.

But fans of 6-bolt rotors are generally also fans of keeping it simple and adding another adapter to the mix doesn’t qualify. Chris King knows this, and is happy to announce the return of their 6-bolt Boost mountain hubs!

Chris King 6 bolt mountain boost hubs

Available only in Boost spacing, you’ll have the typical CK options of steel or ceramic bearings, Shimano HG, Micro Spline, or SRAM XD freehubs, and 28 or 32h drilling. The rear hubs are 148 x 12, and the front is available in either 110 x 20 or 110 x 15. There’s also a choice of eight colors.

Available starting April 2nd, pricing will be $322/$333 for the front (15/20mm) and $588 for the rear. As with all Chris King products, they carry the King Lifetime Warranty.

chrisking.com

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Tom Wenzel
Tom Wenzel
1 year ago

I seriously have no idea why they thought CL would trump 6B, and here we are. I was also baffled when I built up an SS and saw that they no longer made those either. Fortunately, Onyx has been filling my American-made niche hub fix, and they’re completely not annoying to other trail users!

Joe
Joe
1 year ago

This is not meant to be a sarcastic comment, but could someone explain why you’d want to run 6-bolt rotors?

Matthias
Matthias
1 year ago
Reply to  Joe

Availability and the fact that you don’t need anything but a hex key is can be a crucial advantage in many parts of the world. I don’t think the set intersection between people who need that and CK customers is very big though. Being a curmudgeon who has only recently given in to disc brakes and is Not Having It is another possibility

Jaap
Jaap
1 year ago
Reply to  Matthias

Although never on brake rotors, I have successfully done some lockring tightening on the roadside with a flathead screwdriver/multitool bit. Just always on cassettes, never encountered a lose centerlock lockring.

neil
neil
1 year ago
Reply to  Joe

I have the same question. You just know that they are rejoicing on Pinkbike about CK bringing 6 bolt back. “I’d rather tighten/undo 6 individual bolts than tighten/undo one lockring”. Why?

Bubbrubb
Bubbrubb
1 year ago
Reply to  neil

I’ve had many CL rotors develop play, never had a 6 bolt interface fail. The only argument for CL is weight savings, and if I’m running bigger than 160mm rotors, why am I gram counting? 6 bolt makes sense for MTB.

neil
neil
1 year ago
Reply to  Bubbrubb

Many? I’ve been working in shops for a looooong ass time (not a brag, I know I’m a loser) and I know that for almost 100% of us that isn’t a thing.

Roger Pedacter
Roger Pedacter
1 year ago
Reply to  Bubbrubb

Nah. The reason centerlock was developed is because 6B has six separate points of loosening/failure. The splined lockrings literally cannot loosen when paired with a matching rotor. If yours have been developing appreciable play, you’re either not tightening them correctly or doing a ton of pro-level observed trials.

Czechmate
Czechmate
1 year ago
Reply to  Joe

Fanatically hard-core weight-weenies generally agree on the fact that six-bolt rotors save a few grams over center-lock mounts.

Jaap
Jaap
1 year ago
Reply to  Czechmate

I’m not sure Chris King hubs are for weight-weenies.

Jaap
Jaap
1 year ago
Reply to  Joe

Pro-6-bolt-people argue that 6-bolt allows heat to dissipate front the rotor to the hub body resulting in cooler rotors. And 6-bolt allows the left hub bearing to be more outboard, creating less load on the bearing.

(I know you didn’t ask for this, but) Pro-centerlock-people argue that heat shouldn’t dissipate into the hub body and bearings. And that hub-centric is better than lug-centric/bolt-centric.

Keith
Keith
1 year ago
Reply to  Joe

I’d ask the same question about CL. I’ll NEVER own CL or an electric or hybrid…..

Martin Hotan
Martin Hotan
1 year ago

I‘d much rather see them taking Campagnolo freehubs back in their catalog – the earlier ones where made of aluminum and have a tendency to break – the later ones where made of steel and do the job.
But there are absolutely no spare ones left in the King warranty stock – THANKS

russell
russell
1 year ago

One more vote for CL over 6B. I have never had a CL develop play or come loose. Many times have I seen one or more 6b bolts work lose with vibration. Thread compound is a must for 6b. Installation and removal takes about 4 times longer (even more so without an impact driver). Treat with compound, thread in, tighten, and torque 6 individual bolts vs one tool and one lock ring. There’s a reason why Nascar tire changes are way faster now than they were a few years ago.

Choices are fine I guess. Article isn’t for me as I’m not a King customer anyway.

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