£50 Front, £120 Rear
Hope's Pro IIs have been about for a while now and fast became a favourite. The improved drive system - four pawls running round a 24-tooth ratchet - which gives a super quick and accurate pick-up while still being easy and quick to strip and service.
It does make a bit of a racket but this calms down after a few miles to a reassuring tick - no good for sneaking up on race rivals but very handy for echo location on nightrides. Both the bearings and freehub are kept away from grit behind decent seals and a full range of spares is available at Hope dealers nationwide. >The weight is on the sensibly solid side of svelte and it enables the hub to tackle anything from purest cross-country to all-mountain and beyond. Just about every possible combination of spokes and fixtures is available - 28-, 32-, or 36-hole, bolt-through, bolt-on, singlespeed, quick release... The only thing missing is a Centrelock version. Pair with good rims and matching skewers for one of the prettiest and most functional wheel packages going.