Bike hubs are an integral part of the BMX bike as it connects the bike frame and the cockpit to the floor and the wheels. Hubs allow the front and the rear wheels of the BMX bike to spin freely, connecting the frame through the wheel spokes.
However, you need to ensure that the bike hub needs to be of good quality. Otherwise, it can bend the rims of the wheels or tear the spokes. Therefore, we have selected the best BMX hubs of 2022, along with their features, pros, and cons, and a buyers’ guide to help you choose the best fit for a comfortable ride.
It is interesting to note that BMX hubs are not limited to the bike wheels – there are BMX hubs for cassettes/freecoaster and brakes as well. For anybody who didn’t know, a cassette is a hub for a BMX bike that allows the rider to pedal forward and backward. Unlike a freecoaster, which does not require the rider to pedal backward to go back, the rider has to back-pedal to roll back on a cassette hub.
Under thorough research to get the best BMX bike hubs of 2022, we concluded with DONSP1986 Rear Brake Hub and Freecoaster Ezra Hubs.
Comparison Table of Best BMX Hubs
Name | Images | Features | Rating | Price |
SHIMANO DXR |  |
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Black Ops MX-1100 |  |
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DONSP1986 |  |
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Eastern Bikes |  |
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Best BMX Hubs of 2022
| Key Specifications: |
| 32H / 36H drilling |
| Stainless ball bearing |
| Anodized Aluminum Hubs |
| B/O 3/8ʺ Axle |
| 36 notches pawl gears |
As a BMX bike rider, you want a perfect wheelset that can be easily modified and adjusted. This Shimano DXR Front BMX Bicycle Hub is a perfect example of a hub that you can trust. It is one of the great front hubs that is reliable, durable, and gives a great performance. It is an ideal choice if you want a faster and smoother ride under all terrains. Not only that, this hub provides a perfect combination of good design, quality control, and service system.
Every feature of this Shimano DXR Hub has the potential to be a top choice in particular applications. It checks all the boxes of price, weight, resistance, durability, ease of service, branding, and looks. It uses angular contact bearings designed to cradle the balls giving both radial and lateral support for added strength and durability. You can easily adjust and maintain these angular contact bearings. It provides a perfect balance between weight and size.
There is a strong steel axle with 100 mm over locknut dimensions. It is fast acceleration enabled by offering 6 notch pawl engagement on the freehub body for fast acceleration due to instant power transfer. This hub can easily survive tough conditions and the environment by having double contact sealing to shut out water and dirt from the bearings. This way you get extended service life and enjoy smooth operation.
| Key Specifications: |
| 68 ounce product weight |
| 14 mm Axle Size |
| 9T Hub teeth |
| 36H drilling |
| Freecoaster hub type |
If you are looking for an easy-to-install replacement under a budget, you have got yourself a great choice. The Black Ops MX-1100 BMX Hubs will work perfectly for you due to its user-friendly installation and aluminum construction. It is also one of the lightest BMX hubs that you can find in the industry. This aluminum hub has a perfect balance of performance characteristics. There is a wide flange spacing by having the straight-pull spokes.
The Black Ops MX-1100 has a standard axle diameter that increases oblique stiffness. This hub is designed into a rigid, lightweight, and smoothly-rolling wheel. It has a great build quality, its straight-pull smokes are also less prone to breaking. Its bearing features an exceptional load rating, even though the hub is not heavy at all. It is virtually striking with proper support within the shell.
Having an aluminum construction, this hub is certainly durable to its core. It can handle all sorts of different lacing options including heads in radial. Except for extreme cases, it can resist compression from the skewer in all cases. There are no performance issues recorded as yet to change your mind. It is a great hub that has the right balance between weight and size that ultimately enhances its performance.
| Key Specifications: |
| Dimensions of 6.4 x 6.3 x 2.4 inches |
| Weight of 1.85 pounds |
| Comes with a Coaster Brake Hub, 18 tooth slices, screws, and gasket |
DONSP1986 is one of the most economical BMX hubs in the market. Therefore, if you are buying a hub for the first time, you might consider experimenting with DONSP1986 before moving forward with an expensive model.
The entire hub is made of stainless steel, which means you can use it in any weather condition and for a long time without any worries. With a rear width of 110mm and an axle length of 165mm, the hub will fit on almost any BMX.
| Key Specifications: |
| Weighs 16 ounces |
| Weighs 16 ounces |
| Comes with 14 mm axle and three different slack options |
Eastern Bikes has worked with the BMX industry for more than two decades. As such, you can expect good quality products from them.
The Freecoaster BMX Ezra Hub for Eastern bikes is a compatible, advanced, and durable hub that has three slack options to allow the rider to tune tension accordingly. It is available in three different colors and simple designs.
The slack options let you fit the hub according to the discs separately. Made up of sturdy material that is extremely durable, Ezra hub is the top choice for riders who are looking for a perfect fit for their freecoaster BMX bike.
Globally, it is available at an affordable price, which is feasible for every rider. The hub can also be fitted in bike frames of varying sizes.
This freecoaster hub is a right driver and has an axle that is made up of a kind of steel comprising chromium and molybdenum. This steel adds to its durability and longevity as a hub, which is all the more reason why this hub from Ezra is one of the best BMX hubs 2022.
Buyer’s Guide
Similar to the quality handlebars and BMX Bike pegs, BMX hub is also a critical part of a BMX bike. It is fitted at places more than one in a single frame and is the focal point where all the dynamic load of the rider is transferred to and from throughout the frame and the wheels.
As a brake or a wheel hub, it is the connecting point that spreads the tension produced into the rim and the spokes of the wheel. Without a durable and strong hub to keep the auto-parts in place, you can potentially break the spokes of the wheel and bend the rims. Consequently, an ineffective hub can damage your BMX bike altogether.
Similarly, freecoaster and cassette hubs are as important to BMX bikes as hubs fitted elsewhere. In order to make sure your BMX bike performs smoothly, in important functions like back-pedaling, rolling backward, putting the brakes, and escalating far ahead, the hubs have to be of premium quality. As a buyer, you have to consider these points before purchasing the hubs.
There are plenty of brands manufacturing bike hubs, and going for the cheapest ones is not at all wise. A BMX bike should have the best of hubs incorporated into it, so to keep the parts intact when the rider puts on the pressure. Similarly, the hubs should also have different slack options to increase adjustability for more than one bike frame. Analyzing the material is important such that it does not generate friction or resistance, and does not produce a tear.
Top 5 BMX Hub Brands
- DONSP1986
- Eastern Bikes
- Profile Racing (Product link here)
- Eclat (Product Link here)
- Black Ops (Product Link here)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- How many types of bike hubs are there?
Primarily, there are three types of hubs in a bike: rear hub, internal hub, and external hub. The external hubs are with cassettes. The remaining two types are with the wheels and the brakes.
- What is the difference between cassettes and freecoasters hubs?
The freecoaster hub allows the rider to free-wheel while the BMX bike propels backward. However, in the case of cassettes, when the rider rolls backward, the pedals and the wheels will also rotate anti-clockwise. In addition, the cassette will make noise, whereas the freecoaster will remain silent.
- Will these hubs work on different-sized BMX bike frames?
Yes, the above-mentioned hubs belonging to renowned brands are workable on different sized BMX bikes, particularly for Ezra hub. The multiple slack options give space for adjustability.
Verdict
BMX Bike hubs might be small-sized, but their criticalness is huge. For the safety of the rider and the bike, a good–quality, and durable hub are mandatory. For that purpose, it is essential to be aware of the pros and cons plus the specification before buying a bike hub so that you can carry out your rides safely and sound.
