The new Shimano XTR isn’t even available yet, but already people are making plans for their hubs. The reason? A new freehub body design that is required for the XTR cassette called Micro Spline. At the time of the initial launch, Shimano was offering their own hubs with compatible freehub bodies, and they had worked out a deal with DT Swiss to allow them to produce their own as well.
But that leaves a lot of hub companies out in the cold trying to figure out how to allow their hubs to be used with the new cassettes. Without a deal from Shimano, there aren’t many options… unless you play with the number of splines on the freehub body. Since White Industries makes their freehub bodies out of titanium, they were able to go from 22 splines of the Shimano hub, to just 12 splines which supposedly allows them to get away with the design.
The freehubs will uses the same pawl and ratchet kit as other White Industries hubs, and will be backwards compatible to their hubs for about the past 20 years. The freehubs will include a required axle kit, and should be available around the time that XTR hits the market.
Another new standard that White Industries has in their sights, this raw hub is a prototype of things to come. Specifically, a Super Boost + (or just Super Boost, same thing) 157 x 12mm hub to fit modern bikes with the wider rear hub spacing. The hub will use their 3 pawl, 48t engagement system with Centerlock brakes only, and will be offered in 28, 32, or 36h options. White Industries will have more information on prices, colors, and availability soon, though expect it about the start of, or early next year.
Finally, White Industries will soon be offering colored versions of their BSA 30 threaded bottom brackets. Originally just available in silver, they will now come in black, yellow, blue, red, pink, and purple. Silver BBs will start at $120, black bumps up to $127, and the other colors will come in at $140, and all will be available next month.
