Front Hubs

What is a front hub and what is its main purpose?

The front hub is the rotating center of your front wheel. It connects the spokes to the fork and ensures that the wheel spins with minimal friction. Since BMX riding involves enormous forces from jumps and grinds, front hubs must be extremely robust while remaining lightweight.

How is a front hub constructed?

Hub Shell

The outer casing to which the spokes are attached. It protects the inner mechanics.

Hub Flange

The raised edge on the hub shell with holes to accept the spokes.

Axle

The static rod inside that is bolted into the fork dropouts.

Bearings

Allow the hub shell to rotate around the axle.

Cone

Acts as a spacer between the bearing and the fork and secures the bearing on the axle.

Bolts / Nuts

Fastening hardware to securely bolt the hub to the fork.

What types of front hubs are there?

The distinction is primarily made by the axle construction and shell shape:

• Male Axle: A continuous threaded rod (usually 10mm or 14mm) protruding from the hub, secured to the fork with nuts. Classic and very strong.
• Female Axle: The axle ends flush with the hub and has internal threads. Bolts are screwed into the hub through the fork from the outside. This often looks cleaner ("Clean Look").
• Flange Hubs: Standard hubs with clearly visible flanges for spoke attachment.
• Flangeless Hubs: Hubs without flanges, where spoke heads disappear into the shell.

Which materials are used?

Hub Shell: Aluminum (6061-T6, 7005, 7075)

The industry standard is 6061-T6 Aluminum – light, strong, and easy to anodize. High-end hubs occasionally use the harder 7075 or 7005 Aluminum, which is even more resistant and allows for thinner wall thicknesses.

Hub Shell: Carbon Fiber

Mainly popular in Flatland to maximize weight savings. Carbon offers a unique look and stiffness but is more sensitive to direct impacts (grinds) than aluminum.

Axle: 4130 CrMo (Chromoly)

Heat-treated steel that withstands extreme loads. Standard for almost all Street and Park hubs.

Axle: 7075 Aluminum

Often used in Trails or light Park hubs. Saves weight but is less robust for heavy peg usage.

Which front hub is right for my needs?

Your choice depends on your riding style and fork:

• Street & Park: We recommend female hubs with 10mm (3/8") CrMo bolts. If you grind a lot, ensure hubguards are compatible or already installed (often marked as "incl. guards").
• Dirt & Race: Weight matters here. A hub with an aluminum axle or a simple male axle without hubguards is often the best choice.
• Flatland: Look for a narrow design so your hands don't get caught on spokes during tricks.

How do I install a front hub?

1. Loosen the bolts or nuts of your old hub and remove the wheel from the fork.
2. If buying a new hub, you first need to build it into a wheel with a rim and spokes (lacing).
3. Insert the front wheel into the fork dropouts.
4. Check the rotation direction (if specified on the hub, though usually irrelevant for front hubs).
5. Tighten the bolts/nuts alternately left and right to ensure the wheel sits centered.

How do I maintain and care for a front hub?

• Clean the hub regularly from dirt, especially around the bearings.
• Check if the bolts or nuts are tight.
• Avoid using high-pressure washers directly on the bearing seals.

How do I identify and fix common problems with my front hub?

• Hub has side-to-side play: Often the cone nuts have come loose. Remove the wheel and tighten the cones.
• Rough running noise: Bearings might be worn or dirty. With "Sealed Bearings," usually replacing the bearings is the only fix.
• Damaged threads: With female hubs, you can simply replace the bolt. With male hubs, you often have to replace the entire axle.

What do the specifications mean for front hubs?