U.S. Patent No. 9,102,197. This number probably doesn't mean a thing to you, but I am happy that it exists. It belongs to Onyx Racing Products of Minnesota. A company that seems to fly a little under the radar for some people and that shouldn't be the case. With out a doubt this hub manufacturer does some incredible things and they deserve the nod.
I am completely stoked to be carrying this companies amazing hubs and I am looking forward to building up some seriously cool wheels this season with them.
I should detail why I think that Onyx is worthy of your consideration. In a word, engagement. Zero degree engagement to be precise. Onyx hubs use a special German made Sprag Clutch which runs silently and provides virtually instant engagement. It's a system that uses 29 cam shaped wedges that are held there by springs. The photo below helps to show what is hiding under those 7075 alloy hub shells.
Instant engagement! The Sprag clutch is dead quiet and completely reliable.
This unique feature is not the only reason to line up for a pair of Onyx hubs. Their hub choices are sufficient to make you a little overwhelmed. Spoiled for choice is no overstatement. Just about every cycling discipline is represented in their catalogue. The only people forced to search elsewhere would be tandem riders and unicyclists.
Onyx has concentrated their energies on hubs for those who would revel in their sprag clutch design. Their hubs are backed by a solid 5 year warranty against manufacturers defects. MTB, cyclocross, roadies, track, downhill, BMX and Fatbike enthusiasts will celebrate this hub in a big way.
A trip to their website will reveal that they have left no stone unturned. Their bearings are a ceramic hybrid that is made for them in Germany. They come standard on all their models. In an effort to shave some weight off their rear hub they have updated their driver to a lighter alloy version. It can be retrofitted on older Onyx hubs. It saves you 65 grams, if you tend to count such things. Those riding disc breaks will find both standard 6 bolt interface and centerlock options.
Where things really start to get interesting is your colour choice. Onyx offers the largest number of colours of any hub maker that I am aware of. 24 stock colours! If their fantastic stock colours don't answer your whims then they offer custom colours that can be sought through a company that they work with named Prismatic Powders. Upon visiting the website of Prismatic Powders it became immediately obvious that you are going to find a colour that will turn your crank. There's about a $100 up charge for this platinum service, but for some this is a must do. If all these colours options weren't enough there is still more. You can get free laser etchings of names or logos on your hubs! Let your imagination go to work.
A magnificent BMX rear hub in retina popping orange. Get a matching front and hit the road!
Phat indeed! The Onyx Fat R 087807 Centerlock 177 X 12mm thru axle. In glorious gold!
Because Onyx offers things like custom colours its a good idea to build in a few extra weeks in the timing of your wheel order. Special things take a bit longer, but are definitely worth the wait. I can see a pair of Pelham blue Onyx hubs on my own bike soon. I just can't resist.