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Looking for the LOUDEST rear wheel / hub.

Greetings and salutations!

I have searched all over Google but most of the answers to this question are now pretty dated.

I do lots of my riding (or 'cycling', as we used to call it) through a fairly busy city.  I try to be as respectful as possible to the many pedestrians BUT I regularly get people suddenly stepping out in front of me.  I do have a bell attached but dinging that constantly like a maniac is exhausting - and would rightfully lead to me being attacked or mistaken for a tram.

So, jah - does anybody have any recommendations for an extremely loud rear hub?  I need to buy a new wheelset as my old Fulcrum Quattro set are badly worn so I'm happy to go the whole hog and buy a whole wheel, if need be.

I used to have a Halo Clickster freewheel on an old singlespeed  - anything near to that type of volume would be excellent.  Never any troubles with unsuspecting pedestrians as you could hear the bike from a mile away.

Thanks!

 

If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.

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20 comments

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martybsays | 5 years ago
0 likes

Chris Kings on my bikes seem to work for peds on shared paths and such,  they always seem to hear it and react, it's an unusual sound. Backpedaling a little makes it louder yet. Apart from that, a polite 'excuse me'or 'on your right' doesn't hurt either. 

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matthewn5 | 5 years ago
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Plus 1 for Hunt with the latest hubs. So loud it was embarrassing wheeling the bike through our office foyer every day. I sold them!

Campag hubs with a Campag spline are noisy too, but nothing like as loud or insistent as the Hunts. 

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Caligari | 5 years ago
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Thanks forall of the tips/recommendations so far!  I purchased a 'lightly used' Hope wheelset from eBay with a RS Mono (?!) rear hub.  Let the buzzing commence.  Hopefully.

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shufflingb | 5 years ago
1 like

Turbospoke nah, the continuous noise will drive you nuts. Way back in the day, these are what the "cool" kids had :-).

More seriously though, might be worth considering something like a Timber! Mountain Bike Trail Bell

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cycleofaddiction | 5 years ago
0 likes

My Hope RS4 hubs are some of the loudest I've heard and I have yet to hear one louder out on my rides!

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Deeferdonk | 5 years ago
1 like

Sounds like you need some spokey dokeys. Used to come free in packs of cereal back when i was a kid..

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bicycle-Spokey-Dokey-Spoke-Beads/dp/B004CXZSDA

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Morat | 5 years ago
3 likes

I would never condone an Air Zound

(but a friend of mine finds them hilar.. very safe)

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TheHungryGhost | 5 years ago
3 likes
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Prosper0 | 5 years ago
1 like

Go for Hunts with their Sprint hub. Crazy loud. 

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bechdan | 5 years ago
0 likes

what about a few zipties on the seatstays and leave the ends long to tap against the spokes?

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maviczap | 5 years ago
0 likes

Hope hubs or playing cards and a peg

Vero hubs are quieq noisy, but nothing like Hope hubs

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StraelGuy | 5 years ago
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Don't go for Hunts, I have them and they sound like Shimanos but a little bit angrier maybe. Try Hope. I bought a Whyte MTB a few years ago and the rear wheel was so loud I had a similar replacement built with an XT hub and sold the Hope on, it was RIDICULOUS.

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Ratfink | 5 years ago
2 likes

Lolly stick and a couple of elastic bands.

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ibr17xvii | 5 years ago
1 like

DT Swiss freewheels are pretty loud.

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Drinfinity | 5 years ago
1 like

Try a Turbospoke.

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kil0ran | 5 years ago
0 likes

My Vision Team 35s are loud, as are most of the Hunt wheels. Generally the louder wheels are the ones with the fewest degrees of engagement (more/stronger pawls) so anything that's at the racy end of the spectrum is worth considering.

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Woldsman | 5 years ago
0 likes

I bought a second hand tandem that came with Hope hubs. Here’s a cheaper option if you are good with your hands...

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMXC284JrSU

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srchar | 5 years ago
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Campag. Especially if low on grease.

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ktache | 5 years ago
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Chris King hubs are reportedly very loud, big on the angry bees, the woods are often alive with the sound of Hope hubs.

The new Shimano XTR is apparently silent.  Mmmmm..

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VeloUSA | 5 years ago
1 like

 I do not have an answer nor suggestion for a loud hub.  And, yeah, those rinky dinky ding-ding bells are for kids toys. On my Fixie, I solved my pedestrian problem with a mini air horn that blasts out a 120 db toot - 1 mile audible distance.  Gets cars/trucks to move out of the bike lane too. Picture below is basically what I have. Taped the horn to the clip and slide the clip over my right side belt/waistline.  Measures 4 inch high x 1.5 inch diameter. Co$t around $6.00 US. Lasts a long time.

 

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