There are some gorgeous hubs out there with insane engagement. But they can also cost a small fortune. If you’re looking for something that checks all the hub related boxes and is still surprisingly affordable, you may want to check out the new Hex Drive hubs from Spank Industries.
Featuring a massive ratchet ring with 102 teeth, the Hex Drive freehubs lock in with six spring loaded pawls, each with three steps. Working in unison, Spank claims that this results in 18 points of contact – assuming all six pawls are engaged at the same time. Combined with the 102t ring, that results in 3.5° engagement.
Freehub options include the new Shimano Micro Spline, SRAM XD, and Shimano HG with a special steel “Hex Drive Bite Block” insert to prevent the cassette from digging into the freehub body. Need even more durability? Spank will also offer a full steel version of each meant for e-bikes. But if you don’t mind the weight, and you’re hard on freehubs, it could be a good option for non-e-bikes as well.
The Hex Drive Gravel hubs add XDR and HG Road freehub options to be compatible with road & gravel drivetrains.
Spank claims they gave extra attention to the seal system on each hub to endure their durability in the worst conditions. They also included a full set of oversized sealed bearings and a Universal Fit adapter system. What does that mean? Spank says that all of their rear hub adapters work with all three freehub types. That means you won’t need a different end cap for the XD freehub compared to the Micro Spline end cap, and so on. The front hub adapters are also symmetrical and interchangeable from left to right.
All of the end caps are tool-free allowing for easy access to the inside of the hub for maintenance. Spank also offers Torque Cap compatible end caps for RockShox forks.
Available in a range of discipline specific hubs, you can find the Hex Drive system in both straight pull and J-Bend hub options for almost all dropout fitments. Weights are claimed to start at 147g for the front and 300g for the rear. The best part? All of these options are included for just $99 for front hubs and $199 for rear hubs.
- 32H J-Hook (DH / Freeride / All mountain / Trail)
- 28H Straight pull (Enduro / Trail)
- 28H J-Hook (Gravel)
- Steel freehubs available soon for e-bikes
Not into gears? Spank also introduced a new single speed hub with the SS-DJ. Available with 11, 12, or 13t drivers, the hub is priced at $189 for the 135 x 10mm rear hub.
