Author Topic: Question about Chinese freehubs  (Read 4700 times)

lidation

Question about Chinese freehubs
« on: August 31, 2025, 01:33:05 AM »
I have bought the XM Carbon Speed wheelset half a year ago, then I switched from Shimano drivetrain to SRAM so I bought the ZRace freehub off Aliexpress for $25. It works and sounds great. I have been riding with it for about 600 miles without issues. But then I am wondering, what are the differences between this cheapo ZRace freehub and the $100 original DT Swiss 350 freehub?  What will I miss. Will the ZRace seize in the future?

jfcb

Re: Question about Chinese freehubs
« Reply #1 on: August 31, 2025, 01:51:30 AM »
The difference between the dtswiss and the chinese hubs: the cost of R&D, patents, marketing and Swiss manufacturing. 8)
Does DTSwiss use slightly higher grade materials and have more precise tolerances? Maybe.
If I see a difference between the more expensive hubs and the cheap ones, it's often the bearings they use. In that end that's a wearing part so that you can upgrade once it needs to be replaced.

kbernstein

Re: Question about Chinese freehubs
« Reply #2 on: September 01, 2025, 02:18:54 AM »
The difference between the dtswiss and the chinese hubs: the cost of R&D, patents, marketing and Swiss manufacturing. 8)

lol!
DTSwiss used to be a sizeable employer here. I still know someone working for them.
They dont make anything locally anymore AT ALL. it's just some light assembly, r&d but mostly marketing. that's where the premium you pay for goes. hubs have been made in taiwan for probably 10 years. pretty sure they closed factories in poland too so it's all taiwan and vietnam now

ZacItaly15

Re: Question about Chinese freehubs
« Reply #3 on: September 01, 2025, 05:50:05 AM »
I have bought the XM Carbon Speed wheelset half a year ago, then I switched from Shimano drivetrain to SRAM so I bought the ZRace freehub off Aliexpress for $25. It works and sounds great. I have been riding with it for about 600 miles without issues. But then I am wondering, what are the differences between this cheapo ZRace freehub and the $100 original DT Swiss 350 freehub?  What will I miss. Will the ZRace seize in the future?

I asked myself the same question years ago when I purchase for less 15€ an XD body
Time passes, the kilometers increase, I can't give myself an answer
I just realize China is a part of the world does not respect any laws and because of this we can choose to pay 50€ or 15€ for the same piece of aluminum, based on our conscience and honesty.
But, Considering that every day I am robbed of taxes on my work and I pay 22% of VAT...I choose China and I'm willing to wait 10days shipping instead of 1 day from Europe.
The body are pretty identical
The bearing in DTSwiss parts are of better quality

Mario kart

Re: Question about Chinese freehubs
« Reply #4 on: September 01, 2025, 12:16:03 PM »
I have bought the XM Carbon Speed wheelset half a year ago, then I switched from Shimano drivetrain to SRAM so I bought the ZRace freehub off Aliexpress for $25. It works and sounds great. I have been riding with it for about 600 miles without issues. But then I am wondering, what are the differences between this cheapo ZRace freehub and the $100 original DT Swiss 350 freehub?  What will I miss. Will the ZRace seize in the future?

Your saying the zrace freehub is compatible with XMcarbonspeed hubs? Can you show what listing you bought? Also trying to get a XDR freehub for switching over to sram cassette from a shimano cassette

dwaniel

Re: Question about Chinese freehubs
« Reply #5 on: September 01, 2025, 02:36:20 PM »
Well there won't be chinese callbacks after bad quality control / issues.
It's already a mess if there is stuff happening like this but atleast DT Swiss took responsibility and checked every single rim.

Ulkem

Re: Question about Chinese freehubs
« Reply #6 on: November 05, 2025, 06:28:03 AM »
Your saying the zrace freehub is compatible with XMcarbonspeed hubs? Can you show what listing you bought? Also trying to get a XDR freehub for switching over to sram cassette from a shimano cassette

I ordered the Zrace freehub and will try to replace my XMCS freehub. I ordered the wrong one at XMCX.
I'll report back in a week or two.

Ulkem

Re: Question about Chinese freehubs
« Reply #7 on: November 17, 2025, 02:32:07 AM »
Your saying the zrace freehub is compatible with XMcarbonspeed hubs? Can you show what listing you bought? Also trying to get a XDR freehub for switching over to sram cassette from a shimano cassette

I can confirm, I ordered them form AliExpress, from the official zrace store and they fit the XMCS hubs.