We launched Tune hubs over 20 years ago, and even then, they were a revolution, justifying the Tune premium name. Our intention was to bring to market something that was not easily replicated, and we succeeded. At that time, The aircraft grade aluminium 7075 T6 was commonplace, but we offered an alloy that was unusual, rare and expensive, but without the disadvantages of the 7075 grade, namely, the stress corrosion, cracking and brittleness. Furthermore, despite the ridiculously thin 0.7mm hub body wall thickness, according to our testing machines, our hubs handle more torque than an average engine puts down on the road.
We are able to build much lighter hubs, and we’ve done this occasionally, but predominantly we want to offer to all our customers, the best combination of lightweight and safety. Naturally, we want to continue to be revolutionaries, and the fact that we receive government funding for our latest hub project speaks to the innovation behind it. Would you believe that currently nine different freewheels, all with the trademark Tune sound.
We’ve considered axles a lot in the past, when a high bearing clearance was needed, because fundamentally, it was still a 15-mm axle. Increasing the wall thicknesses, yielded a slight weight increase primarily, and a slight rigidity increase. Even expensive carbon axles were not the best solution. Only an increase in the diameter to 17mm helped, because the stiffness increases to the power of 3 in relation to the diameter. It is particularly important for the external bearings as the stiffness also decreases to the power of 3 in relation to the increasing protruding axle length.
In terms of bearings, we have achieved the optimum mix of durability and serviceability. While the hub bodies are equipped with bearings that we used to build into bottom brackets, particularly the heavily loaded inside. For the freewheel bearing, we rely on a particular example, that we call the four-point bearing. But don’t worry: If this bearing fails you in the middle of some highway, or any other pit stop, regular deep groove bearings fit just fine - they just don’t last as long as ours.
All bearings used by Tune are designed and made especially for us. Of particular note is the quality and quantity of grease we use, which is pivotal, especially considering axle deflection.
The Freewheel is the real heart of the hub. Tune was able to make this component out of aluminium very early on. However, our first freewheels were made in two parts, titanium, and aluminium. Now, others have come close, sometimes with the help of splines.
Our special aluminium alloy does not need hard anodising, (Hard anodising can be brittle), and the surface does not require compression by shot peening. Thanks to years of research, our materials have repeatedly proven themselves. We still depend on the tried and tested pawl system, so that even our oldest hubs can still be repaired and changed from a 9x to a 10x, or 11x to 12x system cost effectively.
CHOOSE YOUR BEARINGS!
Different riding styles put different demands on your hubs. Which type of rider are you? The all-rounder, the winter-warrior, or the speed-hunter?
All-rounder: As an all-rounder you can rely on Tunes tried and tested ‘STANDARD’ precision bearing option. Proven by Tune for over 25 years, these bearings offer the best price/performance ratio most suited to moderate road racing, MTB or cross use. These accurate steel ball bearings use standard nylon seals & special bearing grease to insure reliability & durability in most weather conditions.
Winter-warrior: As a winter warrior you love the rain, mud and snow just as much as the summer sun, and often require a high pressure jet wash to remove layers of grime from your bike. For this application we recommend our brand-new double-sealed ‘ENDURANCE’ ball bearings. A solid lubricant surrounding the balls prevents moisture from penetrating the core of the bearing & rust forming, making regular maintenance a thing of the past. Simply install and ride! ENDURANCE equipped rear hubs are also supplied as standard (excluding Campagnolo) with our new Endurance reinforced freehub body! (Replaces both bearings in a front hub, and a single left-side bearing in rear hubs).
Speed-hunter: Our ‘CERAMIC’ hybrid ball bearings are the first choice for gram chasers and speed freaks. Tolerances within the bearing are less than 0.25 microns to achieve maximum transfer of every watt. There’s no lighter or more efficient bearing option available. Ideal for time trials, triathlons and anyone who wants to get the most out of themselves and their bike. (Replaces both bearings in a front hub, and a single left-side bearing in rear hubs).
Which bearing suits you best? You choose!
TUNE HUBS 2020 AS INDIVIDUAL AS YOU ARE
The year 2020 will go down in the product philosophy of Tune as a year steeped in history. The past has shown that our strengths lie in expressing the individuality of each individual. And just as only a tailor-made suit fits correctly, our modular system 2020 adapts exactly to your requirements. Configure your hub to match your bike. Tough Enduro use in Canada, kilometers eat on Mallorca or give everything in racing use. Our hubs adapt perfectly to you and your needs. Without compromise!
1. CHOOSE YOUR HUB
Our hub bodies are the basis for your personal hub tuning! Rim brake or disc brake, mountain bike, race bike, Gravel or E-BIke? Choose your components yourself. Affordable hub body for classic J-bend spokes, or straight hubs for straight-pull spokes. Now you can also decide for yourself, which freewheel, which bearings and which end caps to choose. The compatibility of all components gives you the possibility to modify your hubs in the future. Like tailor-made.
2. CHOOSE YOUR BEARINGS
Different riding styles put different demands on your hubs. Which type of rider are you? The all-rounder, the winter-warrior, or the speed-hunter?
All-rounder: As an all-rounder you can rely on Tunes tried and tested ‘STANDARD’ precision bearing option. Proven by Tune for over 25 years, these bearings offer the best price/performance ratio most suited to moderate road racing, MTB or cross use. These accurate steel ball bearings use standard nylon seals & special bearing grease to insure reliability & durability in most weather conditions.
Winter-warrior: As a winter warrior you love the rain, mud and snow just as much as the summer sun, and often require a high pressure jet wash to remove layers of grime from your bike. For this application we recommend our brand-new double-sealed ‘ENDURANCE’ ball bearings. A solid lubricant surrounding the balls prevents moisture from penetrating the core of the bearing & rust forming, making regular maintenance a thing of the past. Simply install and ride! ENDURANCE equipped rear hubs are also supplied as standard (excluding Campagnolo) with our new Endurance reinforced freehub body! (Repl
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