Front Hubguards

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

A front hubguard is a protective cap for the front hub. Mounted on the grinding side, it prevents the ledge or rail from making direct contact with the hub flange or spokes. It also ensures less friction and protects your wheel from structural damage.

How is a front hubguard constructed?

Body

The actual protective shell, usually cone-shaped to guide the wheel away from obstacles.

Core (on Nylon guards)

Often an alloy or steel core that holds the structure while the outer nylon sleeve slides.

Mount

Either replaces the hub's cone nut or slides over it.

What types of front hubguards are there?

We distinguish three main categories based on mounting position:

• Hub Specific (System): Fits exactly on a specific hub model. Usually replaces the cone nut. Fits perfectly tight and offers the slimest profile.
• Universal (Inside): Is placed on the axle between the hub and fork or attached to the spokes (e.g., with zip ties). Fits many hubs but often requires some space on the axle (fork might need to be spread slightly).
• Overguard (Outside): Is placed outside on the dropout, sitting between the fork and the peg. The advantage: It fits guaranteed on any hub since it doesn't touch the hub at all.

What materials are used for front hubguards?

Nylon / Plastic

Slides extremely well on almost all surfaces. Cheap and light. When worn out, you often only replace the sleeve.

Aluminum / CrMo Steel

More durable on rough ledges. CrMo is almost indestructible but heavier and slows down slightly on some rails.

Which front hubguard is the right one for my needs?

How do I install front hubguards?

1. Remove front wheel.
2. Specific: Remove old cone nut, screw/slide on guard.
3. Universal: Slide onto the axle (between hub and fork).
4. Overguard: Install wheel, slide guard onto the axle from the outside, then mount the peg.
5. Tighten everything and check for clearance.

How do I maintain and care for front hubguards?

• Rotate the guard regularly so it doesn't wear through on one side.
• Remove burrs on metal guards to avoid injuries.

How do I identify and fix common front hubguard problems?

• Wheel doesn't spin freely: The guard is pressing on the hub bearing or rubbing the spokes. Check spacers.
• Rattling: Common with universal guards. Check the mounting (e.g., retighten zip ties).

What do the specifications mean?