H-Works vs. Elitewheels Hubs | Seeking Long-Term Feedback & Heavy Rider Testers

[Jason_BladeX]

We're in the process of selecting a new hub supplier for our wheelsets (current hubs failed during testing) and have shortlisted two candidates: H-Works and Elitewheels' supplier hubs. Looking for real-world feedback before committing.

Questions for the community:

Has anyone used H-Works hubs long-term? How's the reliability?

Has anyone used Elitewheels' carbon-spoke hubs? How do they hold up?

Any other Chinese OEM hub manufacturers you'd recommend we evaluate?

Appreciate any feedback, especially from heavier riders putting down high watts.


The Plan & Tester Call:
Once we finalize the hub choice and complete the build, we'll conduct a simulated road test. After that, we're looking for a long-term tester with the following criteria:

Rider weight 90kg+

High sustained power output

Willing to log ~500km/month on these wheels

Location: Preferably USA/EU/UK, but open to others.

[aerog33k]

I've ran H-works hubs with CX-ray on my XC mtb and they've been great, I have used them for everything between gravel to even some downhill tracks. Had them for 3 years (although I primarily use my road bike), haven't serviced the hubs at all and I have no complaints.

[Jason_BladeX]

Appreciate the feedback – 3 years without maintenance is tough on hubs

If I may ask, which model were you running? Was it the M330? Also, what's your system weight roughly?

I've ran H-works hubs with CX-ray on my XC mtb and they've been great, I have used them for everything between gravel to even some downhill tracks. Had them for 3 years (although I primarily use my road bike), haven't serviced the hubs at all and I have no complaints.

[eins4eins]

I've been riding chinese wheels for years on the road, mtb and gravel bike. Over 500km per week, all year round, high absolute power. BTLOS, Lightbicycle, Nextie, Serenade and also Elitewheels. Carbon spokes as well as steel. Never has a hub failed on me. Bearings gone bad, spokes broke, but never the hub itself.
So would be interesting what failing during testing means?

[gribs]

I've got H-Works SR318 hubs with CX-ray spokes which were built into a wheelset last October by Zen that are still running perfectly after ~3k km for UK road miles. I'm ~100kg. I'm considering using them for cyclocross this winter for the muddier races.

[Jason_BladeX]

Hi, thanks for sharing – that's an impressive track record across so many brands.

Regarding your question: the failure was on a prototype from a new hub supplier. We've worked with DT Swiss and Taiwan-based hub manufacturers for years, but this new one was meant for our carbon-spoke build. The issue was a bearing defect on the prototype wheels, which caused wheel play after installation on the frame. The supplier claimed it was a bearing defect specific to that batch.

This experience really made me realize how critical supplier reliability is – quality control matters just as much as hub design. At this point, I'd prefer to work with OEM factories that already have large volume real-world deployments and proven reliability. That's why I've narrowed it down to the two main hub suppliers in China. I've also visited H-Works' factory, and their quality control seems quite precise. Still, I want to hear from end users before committing – firsthand data is the best data.

I've ran H-works hubs with CX-ray on my XC mtb and they've been great, I have used them for everything between gravel to even some downhill tracks. Had them for 3 years (although I primarily use my road bike), haven't serviced the hubs at all and I have no complaints.

[Jason_BladeX]

Hi, is the SR318 a similar model to the SR308 on their website? A gravel model? It's on our list as well. Looking forward to more updates from you in the future if you'd be willing to share

Muddier races will be a tough test for the hubs – definitely curious to see how they hold up!

I've got H-Works SR318 hubs with CX-ray spokes which were built into a wheelset last October by Zen that are still running perfectly after ~3k km for UK road miles. I'm ~100kg. I'm considering using them for cyclocross this winter for the muddier races.

[aerog33k]

Appreciate the feedback – 3 years without maintenance is tough on hubs

If I may ask, which model were you running? Was it the M330? Also, what's your system weight roughly?

Yes you are right, I should probably give the hubs some love. I mostly focus on my road setup so the MTB tends to get left without much care 
It is indeed the M330 and my system weight is around 95 kg.

[gribs]

Hi, is the SR318 a similar model to the SR308 on their website? A gravel model? It's on our list as well. Looking forward to more updates from you in the future if you'd be willing to share

Muddier races will be a tough test for the hubs – definitely curious to see how they hold up!

I'm guessing from their naming conventions they're just a slightly heavier version. Sander2177 on here had had them suggested as a well sealed unit for British winter so I copied his build. They appear to be as well built and sealed as the Hope or DT Swiss hubs I have on my mountain bikes.

[Sander2177]

I'm guessing from their naming conventions they're just a slightly heavier version. Sander2177 on here had had them suggested as a well sealed unit for British winter so I copied his build. They appear to be as well built and sealed as the Hope or DT Swiss hubs I have on my mountain bikes.

Yep H-Works have 3 steel spoke gravel/road  hubs

I remember the video H-Works sent me of them submerging the hub in water leaving it for a period of time cannot remember how long and then removing end caps etc to show they were still dry not super scientific but good enough for me I’m contemplating and other winter wheels build I will probably use this hub again if I do.

SR318 24/24 spoke 290g
SR330 24/24 spoke 326g
SR308 28/28 spoke 301g
And they also have now a carbon spoke hub HW321 21/21 336g 2:1 laced.


All I know is I was speaking to someone yesterday and they mentioned Elite hubs use a conical ratchet where H-Works use the more traditional ratchet which would I imagine be easier to service if people are concerned with that. 

[miwe35]

Hey,
I am riding the Elitewheels Edge 3.0 all year long. I have had no issues with these wheels. Once a spoke loosened but nothing with the hub itself.
Since this year I use the Edge 3.0 for every condition like long hard gravel roads (f.e. Traka 560) and also for other long distance races on gravel or road. I would say this year around 8000km just on the Elite husb and no problems at all.
I am a tall rider 193 cm with around 92kg.

I would be interested into testing a wheelset, please let me know if I can help you somehow.

Best regards
miwe

[Jason_BladeX]

Thanks for confirming – M330 at ~95kg system weight is good data for us to know.

I'd actually be keen to see how those hubs hold up long-term  , so if you wouldn't mind, please keep us updated here if anything happens (or doesn't!) down the line.

Cheers!

Yes you are right, I should probably give the hubs some love. I mostly focus on my road setup so the MTB tends to get left without much care 
It is indeed the M330 and my system weight is around 95 kg.

[Jason_BladeX]

Oh thanks, sealing performance is definitely something we need to consider, given all the wet and muddy conditions out there.

I'll also check with the H-Works guys. Carol from H-Works mentioned that they take sealing into account when choosing bearing types.

I actually sent a wheelset to Sander2177 for long-term testing. He owns so many wheelsets that his feedback as a rider carries real weight. He was the one who found the bearing issue, so once the hub model is finalized, I think I'll send him a new wheelset to test.

I'm guessing from their naming conventions they're just a slightly heavier version. Sander2177 on here had had them suggested as a well sealed unit for British winter so I copied his build. They appear to be as well built and sealed as the Hope or DT Swiss hubs I have on my mountain bikes.

[Jason_BladeX]

I'm considering using the SR308 for our future gravel wheelset. H-Works said the HW321 is built to last， you can pass it on to your grandson， but it's pretty heavy in today's market.

And yes, I think the traditional ratchet system would be easier to service. Sound is another factor, though，H-Works sounds more like DT Swiss. The Elitewheels hub is much louder and sharper than H-Works. Elitewheels' hub supplier said this is due to their hub design: the ratchet directly contacts the hub body, so it can't be changed.

I'm not sure if I've got this right, but a rider who likes a quiet hub usually dislikes a loud one, whereas a rider who likes a loud hub should also be fine with a quieter one. So a quiet hub is probably the safer choice for most riders, right?

Yep H-Works have 3 steel spoke gravel/road  hubs

I remember the video H-Works sent me of them submerging the hub in water leaving it for a period of time cannot remember how long and then removing end caps etc to show they were still dry not super scientific but good enough for me I’m contemplating and other winter wheels build I will probably use this hub again if I do.

SR318 24/24 spoke 290g
SR330 24/24 spoke 326g
SR308 28/28 spoke 301g
And they also have now a carbon spoke hub HW321 21/21 336g 2:1 laced.


All I know is I was speaking to someone yesterday and they mentioned Elite hubs use a conical ratchet where H-Works use the more traditional ratchet which would I imagine be easier to service if people are concerned with that.

[Jason_BladeX]

Hi, thanks for sharing — good to see that. It's probably the first feedback on Elitewheels hubs; I was expecting to see more, since they have a larger presence in the market.

Can I ask a couple of things?

1. How often do you service the hub?

2. Do you like the sound of the hub?

Regarding the testing, I'll send you a private message — please have a look when you get a chance.

Hey,
I am riding the Elitewheels Edge 3.0 all year long. I have had no issues with these wheels. Once a spoke loosened but nothing with the hub itself.
Since this year I use the Edge 3.0 for every condition like long hard gravel roads (f.e. Traka 560) and also for other long distance races on gravel or road. I would say this year around 8000km just on the Elite husb and no problems at all.
I am a tall rider 193 cm with around 92kg.

I would be interested into testing a wheelset, please let me know if I can help you somehow.

Best regards
miwe