Price Paid:  $600.00 at LBS/ Interweb

Summary:
I picked the rear hub up at a sale in December (a little Christmas present to myself) and bought the front at Aspire Velotech (GREAT SERVICE!). Laced them up to a set of Open Pro's and with DT revolution spokes. This was my first handbuilt wheelset. The initial drag on the rear hub was awful - chain flop when back-pedalling was ridiculous. These were my summer wheels and I adjusted the rear a handful of times between April and October. All to no avail. This week I had the rear rebuilt and it feels amazing. Spins forever. Problems solved. I honestly don't know what the deal was - whether the rear was low on CK's proprietary grease or what. All I know is that they roll unbelievably smoothly and coast forever.

To be honest I'd only recommend these hubs for someone looking for the absolute best indestructible hub. For racers there are lighter for less money that roll faster (DT) and for amateurs it's probably cheaper to just replace your hubs every few years. For century and touring riders with the means these are your hubs.

Strengths:
Pretty light, super strong and beautiful to look at.

Weaknesses:
Problems fitting with Campy, initial drag was unbelievable. Freewheel noise is an acquired taste.

Similar Products Used:
Campy Eurus

Price Paid:  $600.00 at Colorado Cyclist

Favorite Ride:
Six Gap - North Georgia

Bike Setup:
Merlin Cyrene with Ultegra - another bombroof set up - 15K miles of silky rides. 32 hole Open Pro CDs with King Classics & DT swiss spokes.

Summary:
Merry Christmas to me. Trashed my rear Mavic Cosmos and wanted a bomb proof set of wheels that could take my (and the local roads) abuse. Lots of research into hubs (and rims). Chris Kings were universally revered. Went with Open Pro CDs and King Classics. More than I intended to spend but I like quality and have no regrets. 4500 miles on them and they are smooth as silk with nary an issue. They are slow rollers for a good while (the other reviews are spot on). Frankly, not convinced they roll as quickly as my old Cosmos hubs even now which seems odd given the cost. Per others, awesome engagement and cool buzz (swarm of angry bees)- every century someone with a set pulls beside me and comments on them - the brotherhood of the angry bees. If you have the jack, you'll be plenty happy.

Gotta plug Colorado Cyclist - awesome hand built wheels and they hit my door very quickly after the order was placed. First rate and helpful in every respect.

Strengths:
bombroof - immediate engagement - sound cool - instantly bonds you to strangers who ride them

Weaknesses:
They ain't cheap

Similar Products Used:
Mavic Cosmos

Price Paid:  $0.00 at LBS

Favorite Ride:
Anytime Hot

Bike Setup:
Custom steel, with Ultegra

Summary:
I had a set of custom wheels built using 32 hole King hubs, DT spokes, and Sun rims. The wheels were built to replace a set of problematic Ksyrium Elites.

The wheels were built by my LBS and have been great. I wanted an indestructible wheel set for all purpose usage, and these are perfect for that.

I completely broke a spoke on my rear wheel and was able to finish my ride (15 miles to go) with minimal notice. On my Ksyriums, I bent a couple of rear spokes and could barely make it home (after 50 miles on the wheels).

For heavier (190+) custom, high spokes are definitely the way to go. Have a set built from a reputable wheel builder and you can’t wrong.

Strengths:
Great customer service, earth friendly company, great reputation.

Price is worth every penny, the cool "BUZZZ"

Weaknesses:
None, you get what you pay for.

Similar Products Used:
Bontrager Selects (Good), Ksyriums Elites (Crap).

Price Paid:  $525.00 at Colorado Cyclist

Favorite Ride:
Holy Hill

Bike Setup:
On this bike: Specialized S-works E5, Dura-ace 10, but Dura-ace 9 crank, King hubs on Mavic open pro rims.

Summary:
This is a follow up review to the other review I posted. O have played with these hubs alot. Bearing preload is very important to get the hubs set right. Also, when cleaning the bearings Chris King suggests using light solvents, but this just does not work. You need some stronger chemicals to flush the debris that floats around. I used Mineral Spirits this last time, then flushed them with simple green, and lastly water. Then, I used a hair dryer to blow them dry. In the past, I used an air compressor, but the air compressor blows air that has water in it and it just did not seem to help blow out debris as much as a stronger solvent did. I can say for sure, the best solvent to use would be electric motor cleaner that you can purchase at a hobby shop. Trinity, Orion, and other makers have good cleaners. The cleaner comes in an spray can and WILL NOT harm plastic. This is important due to the plastic race in the hubs. Use philwood green bearing grease as it is much better than the King grease. I used the king grease for the ring drive, but that is it. Overpack the bearings with the Philwood grease and let the grease work its way out on its own. When you rebuild them this way, they will feel like new. I was so frustrated when cleaning these hubs, I honestly wanted to get rid of them. They would never feel as smooth as they should or like new, until I came up with this way to clean them. OH yeah, and when you rebuild them, remove the plastic washers that ride next to the bearings. But, leave the plastic washer that goes between the ring drive and the large bearing on the rear hub, otherwise the ring drive may touch the inside plastic race on the bearing and possibly damage it. ROCK ON! Hope this helps!

Strengths:
Overdesigned, ability to get parts, durability, etc.

Weaknesses:
Price

Similar Products Used:
Dura-ace, XTR, mavic, real design, philwood, etc.

Price Paid:  $525.00 at Colorado cyclist

Favorite Ride:
Anything with friends

Bike Setup:
'Da bomb!

Summary:
These hubs are a little overrated in my estimation. They are a work of art from a design standpoint, but overbuilt a little for use in cycling. The construction and design is that of auto racing- really! They are designed that good. Just take them apart and you will see. But, beyone the infamous "buzz" and the fact they engage faster than any other hub on the market, it is questionable if that is a huge advantage. I guess I try to NOT coast, so the quicker engagement is little of a big deal. Really- it comes down to the rolling of the hub. I think there are alot of great rolling hubs on the market, but the nice thing about the king hubs is you can service them yourself if you buy the VERY EXPENSIVE service tool from King. I have the tool and I use it on the hubs. My best recommendation is to remove the inner plastic ring that sits behind the bearings. This reduces drag HUGE! In fact, the bearings wear intot he plastic ring and that is why it takes so long to get the drag to go away. Yes- when they are new, you slow down going downhill as anotehr reviewer said! Removing the plastic rings is the hot ticket. I emailed King, but they deny any improvement in removing the plastic rings. But, I disagree 100%. You must clean the hubs often or debree will enter the plastic cage on the bearings and ruin the smoothness of the bearing. This happened to me on some moutnain bike wheels. I am also not too impressed with the white chris king lube they sell for repacking the bearings after cleaning them out. I have used Philwood grease (green grease) in the bearings this time and they roll smoother. I will see how it works out this summer after about 800 miles or so and I will post an additional review. All in all, if you have the cake to spend- buy these. But, don't get them becasue everyone says they are great- there is other stuff that is nice too. Philwood is heavier, but nothing rolls like a philwood hub. :)

Strengths:
Overbuilt- very high tech.

Weaknesses:
Lots of drags, parts are expensive. But- at least you can get parts

Similar Products Used:
Philwood, Dura-ace, Mavic cosmos