This seems a matter for debate. I have recently bought several Helicomatic hubs, as I consider the stories highly exagerated. I don't see anything in the design which would make it even close to as prone to spoke breakage as modern 10 speed rear hubs. I think spoke breakage is more a matter of riding style and rider weight than of minor differences in hub design. The heavy riders who rode roughshod through potholes and broke spokes on Helicomatics probably broke spokes on lots of other hubs too.
Regards,
Jerry Moos
Thomas Adams wrote:
> I can't recall exactly where or from whom I heard it, but the reuptation of
> the Helico's is that they break spokes of the freewheel side of the rear hub
> with alarming regularity. Something about the hub flange being too far
> inboard and wrongly shaped. I can't say from my own knowledge as my only
> Helico experience was with the wheels on a Trek 720. The rear wheel had 40
> spokes and never gave me trouble. I only stopped riding it because the rear
> cogs wore out and replacements were unobtainable.
>
> Tom Adams, knees aching after a windy ride in KC
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: c crocoll <canon6@hotmail.com>
> To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
> Date: Saturday, September 30, 2000 3:22 PM
> Subject: [Classicrendezvous] Maillard Helicomatic question
>
> >Dear List Members:
> > I have heard scattered references to failure of Maillard Helicomatic
> >hubs. I would like to ask:
> > 1) How do they fail?
> > 2) Are there any warning signs that this is about to happen or has
> >begun to happen?
> > Thank you in advance for any information you may have on this.
> >
> > -c. crocoll
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