While the Hydra2 hubs from Industry Nine are completely updated, the real story is in fixing past problems.
Josh Weinberg, action photos by Jared Nelson
The Torch hubs were Industry Nine’s first go at launching a high-performance product back in 2013. Boasting 120 points of engagement (POE), Torch nearly doubled that of competitors at the time. Then, in 2019 the Asheville, NC-based brand massively upped the ante when Hydra replaced Torch with an overhauled design and a whopping 690 POE. During the years since, there have been exciting developments in hub technology that have led some riders to expect near to instant engagement as a given rather than a luxury. In a competitive space that’s often occupied by OEM options from major brands, it’s not uncommon to see Hydra hubs specced on complete bikes and as upgrades for riders looking to add some extra bling to their bespoked builds.
But along with their popularity, Hydras have faced a fair share of issues. If you’re a regular mountain biker, or even dabble in reading internet forums about such tech-related things, you’ve probably heard riders complain about contemporary Industry Nine hubs. Maybe you had a friend break an axle, or witnessed your shop mechanic fret about how often they need to replace bearings in Hydra-equipped wheelsets. Well, those cases have occurred enough to warrant exploring a revised hub design. And that’s just what Industry Nine have done with today’s launch of Hydra2, which feature 870 POE, weigh 50 grams less than their predecessor, and have completely new internals components.
Lows: It’s still too early to know how the hubs will perform against the test of time, but Industry Nine will have an uphill battle to win back customers jaded by negative experiences with the previous generation Hydra product.
Expanded views of front and rear Hydra2 courtesy of Industry Nine
Overview
The fundamental design of Hydra (and now Hydra2) hubs utilizes a system of six independent pawls that sit inside the freehub interior. As the freehub moves with pedaling rotations, the teeth of the pawls engage the drivering. Unlike other pawl-based hubs, this happens individually rather than simultaneously, giving the Hydra its characteristically high points of engagement. The design then uses a tiny amount of intended flex in the aluminum axle to help each pawl to engage rather than just a single one taking the brunt of torque applied from pedaling.
Below, I’ll take you on a deep dive (much of it member-only) into the revised hub internals comprising the new Hydra2 hubs that Industry Nine has developed to make their flagship model lighter, more robust, reliable, and with a bit of a performance increase.
But first, I’ll offer some context. I’ve owned and ridden multiple sets of Industry Nine hubs. I was an early adopter, attracted to the promises of fast engagement, and stayed with the brand for their vast array of models, commitment to high performance, color options to personalize my bikes, and domestic US manufacturing practices. I still have a set of Torch rolling on an old single speed, have used Hydra and 1/1 hubs on multiple review bikes and personal builds, and my commuter has been setup with Solix wheelset in singlespeed and geared configurations.
And living in the desert, I put gear like hubs and wheels through the wringer both in terms of abusive steep and rocky terrain and the environment itself that pushes fine dust particles into every nook and cranny. Fortunately, aside from occasional services that include cleaning, greasing and one case of bearing replacement, I have not experienced failures with internal hub components. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for other riders.
Now, let’s take a quick look at the brand’s current product landscape. Solix and Hydra2 are the premium offerings with the 1/1 hub range being a more budget-focused version. Solix, only compatible with Centerlock rotors, can be paired with multiple rim options that cater to road, gravel, and cross-country riders. The high end hubs are available in eleven anodized colors with a rainbow of aluminum straight-pull spokes for various hole patterns, a variety of axle widths, and four driver options.
The Hydra2 are primarily for mountain bikes – from trail to downhill and even e-bikes – and feature the same color options as Solix, but are available for alloy straight-pull or standard steel J-bend spokes, in 28- or 32-hole configurations, three driver options, and either Centerlock or 6-bolt rotor mounts. Solix and Hydra2 are each US$700 per set, where Solix come in road (12×100/12×142 mm) and Boost mountain (15×110/12×148 mm) axle widths, while Hydra2 can accommodate Boost (12×148 mm) and Superboost rear axle spacing (12×157 mm).
Meanwhile, the 1/1 hubs slot in just below and shave US$250 for a total of $450 per set. They only come in black with j-bend spokes and are slightly heavier with lower engagement (90 POE). And while a more in-depth survey of Industry Nine’s wheel lineup would certainly be worth talking about, there is a lot going on with the just-launched Hydra2, so let’s hone in there.
Industry Nine has a number of options for both complete wheels and standalone hubs, which are explained in the chart above. System MTN wheels are built with the brand’s proprietary aluminum straight pull spokes and S-Series MTN are paired with traditional steel j-bend spokes. As reviewed, the wheels are priced at US$1,395 and US$2,295 for alloy and carbon rims, respectively.
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