My LBS let me know that Zipp charges $250 per wheel to convert their 10 speed wheels (not all are capable of this…mine are) to 11 speed. What does this entail? Are there cheaper alternatives? Thinking Di2 or the new SRAM Wireless electronic shifting when available….but $500 to just start the process may change my plans.
well u need only to change your rear wheel
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My LBS let me know that Zipp charges $250 per wheel to convert their 10 speed wheels (not all are capable of this…mine are) to 11 speed. What does this entail? ** Are there cheaper alternatives**?
Yes, there are.
This is what we’ve done, it works great. Free, or very inexpensive. Full details are posted here.
Greg
well u need only to change your rear wheel
I have a 404 and a 808 that will need to be changed.
That’s damn pricey.
It only cost me 90 bucks for a new freehub body for my PowerTap and it swapped in 2 minutes with no tools.
Are you sure it has to go back to them for this?
My LBS let me know that Zipp charges $250 per wheel to convert their 10 speed wheels (not all are capable of this…mine are) to 11 speed. What does this entail? ** Are there cheaper alternatives**?
Yes, there are.
This is what we’ve done, it works great. Free, or very inexpensive. Full details are posted here.
I think that OP wants 11 speeds, not to run 10 speeds on an 11-speed hub as that link describes.
I think that OP wants 11 speeds, not to run 10 speeds on an 11-speed hub as that link describes.
To clarify, our post does not really say that. It’s about how to very easily make a 10/11 ‘hybrid’ cassette, and such a hybrid cassette is an entirely different beast.
Otherwise, what you write makes sense, but usually the appeal for most people is not making sure one has 11 cogs (vs., god forbid, “just”’ 10 cogs). The appeal is still having essentially perfect shifting with your sweet new 9000 or 6800 or 5800 group, but not having to buy new wheels or not having to pay $250 to convert an existing wheelset.
An option would be to find a different rear hub with a similar flange height and rebuild the wheel. It would take some research on viable option, but I would guess that there is a 100-150$ hub out there and then 50$ in labor to rebuild. I found a local shop that only charged me 50$ to swap a PowerTap into my Flo 60. They even recut all my original Sapim spokes.
Thanks for that solution, never thought of that and these conversions look like a pain in the ass. As for the brilliance of 11 speed, Ive ridden both 10 and 11 this year and if you swapped them out on me I wouldn’t have been able to tell you the difference. The Sram 11-28 10s was at no perceivable disadvantage to the 11s difference even in very undulating racing. 11 speed is a shameless cash grab! (rant over)
So you’ve ridden SRAM 10 vs 11spd? Not Shimano?
Thanks for that solution, never thought of that and these conversions look like a pain in the ass. As for the brilliance of 11 speed, Ive ridden both 10 and 11 this year and if you swapped them out on me I wouldn’t have been able to tell you the difference. The Sram 11-28 10s was at no perceivable disadvantage to the 11s difference even in very undulating racing. 11 speed is a shameless cash grab! (rant over)
if someone comes out with a wireless 10 speed version, i would be all over it. doubt they will.
I have a 2011 Zipp 808 with a v.6 (2009- pre Oct 2011), 20 spoke. I bought the hub conversion kit, and essentially just took the 11-speed freehub off the conversion kit’s axle, then re-dished the wheel. Good to go. All-in, less than $200.
Dave
How big of project was the re-dish? One beer, a six pack , or good bottle of wine?
What about putting a campy freehub body on it? Then you get 11 speed (will need a campy 11 cassette too of course), which supposedly works fine with shimano/sram 11 speed systems.
I think that OP wants 11 speeds, not to run 10 speeds on an 11-speed hub as that link describes.
To clarify, our post does not really say that.
Sorry, I did misread.
My LBS proprietor did the re-dish for $16, and totally dialled in to my frame while she was at it to ensure it was perfect. I get a 15% discount through my town’s bike club though. It would have been big bucks otherwise.
Dave
I bought the hub conversion kit, and essentially just took the 11-speed freehub off the conversion kit’s axle, then re-dished the wheel.
I was able to get This conversion kit minus labor and converted our 2012 303 FC rear wheels for $175 each. The re-dishing was barely 2.5mm and took under 15-minutes per wheel but the drive side flange on my rear hub disintegrated ~2-months later. I rebuilt the rear wheel with a new DT Swiss 240s straight pull hub, which with the cost of the Zipp conversion and new Sapim CX-Ray spokes and nipples, drove the cost up over ~$500.
I have a 2011 Zipp 808 with a v.6 (2009- pre Oct 2011), 20 spoke. I bought the hub conversion kit, and essentially just took the 11-speed freehub off the conversion kit’s axle, then re-dished the wheel. Good to go. All-in, less than $200.
Dave
Dave,
I am trying to understand this…
First, What are the components of the conversion kit that you bought? The free hub body (also known as the spline body where the cassette is attached) plus the full hub (where the spokes are attached) plus the inner aluminum axle? I think the confusing part of your post is the reference to the “freehub axle”. For me, axles are the long thin aluminum rods that the skewers slight into. I am assuming this is not what you mean.
Second, I thought this conversin kit that Zipp sells can only be used for late 2012 model type hubs, and will not work for early 2012, and older hubs? Seems like it worked for your 2009 hubs! Please clarify.
If this is the case, the. I can do this conversion myself as I know how to dish wheels as I know how to fully build wheels.
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So you’ve ridden SRAM 10 vs 11spd? Not Shimano?
All of the above. Force 22 was my favourite but only because of more crisp shifting in the fd, not the extra cog. Ultegra 11 was underwhelming and SRAM red 10 was excellent when the yaw was dialled.
I have a 2011 Zipp 808 with a v.6 (2009- pre Oct 2011), 20 spoke. I bought the hub conversion kit, and essentially just took the 11-speed freehub off the conversion kit’s axle, then re-dished the wheel. Good to go. All-in, less than $200.
Dave
Dave,
I am trying to understand this…
First, What are the components of the conversion kit that you bought? The free hub body (also known as the spline body where the cassette is attached) plus the full hub (where the spokes are attached) plus the inner aluminum axle? I think the confusing part of your post is the reference to the “freehub axle”. For me, axles are the long thin aluminum rods that the skewers slight into. I am assuming this is not what you mean.
Second, I thought this conversin kit that Zipp sells can only be used for late 2012 model type hubs, and will not work for early 2012, and older hubs? Seems like it worked for your 2009 hubs! Please clarify.
If this is the case, the. I can do this conversion myself as I know how to dish wheels as I know how to fully build wheels.
.
.
Dave, you there?
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