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Chris King Overhauls Hub Design, Introduces Generation 4 Hub System

Radar

Chris King Overhauls Hub Design, Introduces Generation 4 Hub System

Chris King Precision Components has streamlined hub ownership and maintenance with a new Gen 4 hub line that uses universalized drivers and axles. This is not a performance-based evolution. King’s in-house signature bearings and proprietary RingDrive system remain, but these new Gen 4 hubs make service and upgrades more effortless and less expensive. All this is done to lower the overall cost of ownership and increase the useful life of each hub. Check out more below.

Project 321 G3 Hub with 6-Lock Technology Use Center Lock or 6-Bolt Disc Rotors

Radar

Project 321 G3 Hub with 6-Lock Technology Use Center Lock or 6-Bolt Disc Rotors

The bike industry insists on making diametrically opposed standards, often conflating them with improving the user experience or solving non-existent problems. While it’s often the larger companies making these moves, it’s up to the smaller, quicker to pivot brands to create solutions. The all-new Project 321 G3 Hub looks to tackle one such problem. The G3 hubs use what Project 321 calls 6-Lock Technology, and the tech is illustrated above: they can run center lock or six bolt. Check out more at Project 321.

It’s All Ball Bearings: Chris King Precision Components Factory Visit

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It’s All Ball Bearings: Chris King Precision Components Factory Visit

Within a relatively straightforward product lineup, Chris King Precision Components manufactures hubs, headsets, bottom brackets, and, perhaps most importantly, the bearings inside that make them spin. On a recent trip to Portland, Oregon, Josh spent some time at the Chris King HQ factory to learn more about the company’s origins and what makes it continue to stand out in a crowded space of bearing-centric bicycle components. Read on below for the full rundown of what goes on at CKPC’s giant vegetable oil-fueled machine shop!

Chris King Goes Deep: A First Look at the ARD44 All-Road FusionFiber Wheelset

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Chris King Goes Deep: A First Look at the ARD44 All-Road FusionFiber Wheelset

Today, with the launch of the ARD44 wheelset, Chris King adds an all-road offering to their FusionFiber wheelset lineup that previously catered to gravel cyclists with the GRD23 and mountain bikers with the MTN30. Laced to King’s R45D hubs, at 25mm internal width and 44mm deep, ARD44 wheels are designed for riders of all roads – from tarmac to dirt tracks. Josh got his hands on a set of these new aero wheels just a few days ago and shares a first look below…

Chris King Now Offers Made in the USA, Recyclable, GRD23 Gravel, and MTN30 Mountain Wheelsets

Radar

Chris King Now Offers Made in the USA, Recyclable, GRD23 Gravel, and MTN30 Mountain Wheelsets

If you’re going to manufacture carbon fiber rims in 2021, do it right. Chris King has developed its own made in the USA carbon hoops that are 100% recyclable thanks to FusionFiber tech, less harsh to ride (plush? supple? compliant? you pick), making it a winning choice for people looking for new gravel or mountain wheels. These wheelsets are built in-house at Chris King, with a plethora of anodizing colors, R45D Centerlock hubs for GRD23 gravel ($2650.00) and Boost Centerlock for the MTN30 mountain wheelset ($2550.00).

See more at Chris King.

DT Swiss: 240 EXP Oil Slick MTB Hubs

Radar

DT Swiss: 240 EXP Oil Slick MTB Hubs

DT Swiss took their 240 EXP hubs and coated them in a PVD – Physical Vapor Desposition – aka, oil slick finish as a special edition for their dealers and wheel builders.  These hubs are limited to 1000 pieces, utilize the Ratchet EXP freehub system, come in Shimano Micro Spline or SRAM XD, IS 6-bolt, and retail for:

Front: 159.90 € / 235.90 $
Rear:  323.90 € / 476.90 $

See more at DT Swiss.

Rodeo Labs and Cerakote: A Match Made in Hero Dirt

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Rodeo Labs and Cerakote: A Match Made in Hero Dirt

It’s no secret that we love earth tone themes over here at the Radavist. Which is why we’ve taken a liking to Cerakote, the durable and thin coating – .5 mil thick! – that is baked on like a powder but at lower temperatures. John’s Sklar’s finish is Cerakote and we’re seeing more and more integration with frames but very few component applications. That’s why this Rodeo Labs project caught our eye. They went extra dirty with this one with the Elite Earth color on everything, including their Rodeo 2.0 rims. Check out more photos below!

Radar

DT Swiss’ Iconic 240 Hub Gets a Refresh

Everyone’s favorite hub, the 240, just got a refresh from the engineers and designers at DT Swiss. The old 240 hubs were so iconic, I can’t wait to see what the next generation looks, feels, and sounds like. Check out this video showcasing the new design and see more at DT Swiss.

You Can Buy One of Those April Fools Industry Nine Volume Adjusting End Caps

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You Can Buy One of Those April Fools Industry Nine Volume Adjusting End Caps

Probably the best April Fools product video we saw was from Industry Nine with their volume knob end caps. Well, the reception was so warm, they decided to make them for real and yes, they go to eleven. Today, April 17th, through next Friday, April 24th, you can order Frequency Adjusting Ratchet Technology – F.A.R.T. – volume knob endcaps. These will fit Hydra and Torch rear hubs with 12x axles only, excluding 12×135 or 12×150. Once the ordering window has closed on Friday, April 24th, at 12:00am Eastern, there will not be any more orders taken. I9 will only make as many as are pre-ordered!

Proceeds go to local musicians who lost money due to the Covid 19 lockdown. Head to Industry Nine to order one (they’re at the very bottom of the page).

Radar

Chris King Announces Their Lifetime Warranty

I have a Chris King story. Do you? Well, I have a few Chris King stories and that’s because I own more than a couple of their products. In fact, most of my bikes have their headsets and hubs. My Retrotec is what I would consider the epitome of King’s reliability. This bike was built for NAHBS with the King 40th group: Hubs, headset, and even a stem faceplate. I still ride this bike as much as I can and still haven’t had to service anything, three years later. I really need to do an update gallery to the bike!

Knowing that now, King stands behind their products with a no-questions replacement warranty really sweetens the deal. King also now offers a lifetime warranty on their carbon wheels, including the Santa Cruz Reserve and ENVE wheels.

Head over to Chris King to see their Lifetime Warranty post!

NAHBS 2019: Chris King Finally Offers XD Drivers on R45 Road Hubs

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NAHBS 2019: Chris King Finally Offers XD Drivers on R45 Road Hubs

It took a long time and there’s a long story behind the reason for the abnormal wait but at NAHBS this year, Chris King released the plug-n-play XD driver for their R45 road hubs. Now, there is a compatibility window for this replacement driver, so you should check with your local bike shop to see if your hubs can take the 11-speed driver, but if you have a Centerlock hub, then you’re good to go. Head to your local shop to inquire about the upgrade so you can use SRAM’s 10-42 cassette on your all-road bike.