Industry Nine Hydra2 Hubs
Stated Weight:
- 6-bolt Hubset: 449 g
- Centerlock Hubset: 416 g
Configurations Available:
- 28 or 32 hole options available for all Boost and SuperBoost spacing options; 32 hole only for non-Boost
- Front hub available in 15x110mm Boost, 20x110mm / 15x100mm non-Boost, and 20x110mm Boost spacing (15 mm conversion kit available)
- Rear hub available in 10x135mm bolt-on singlespeed, 12x142mm, Boost 12x148mm and 12x141mm, and SuperBoost 12x157mm spacing
- 6-bolt or Centerlock rotor mounts available
Drive System: Six pawl driver with 0.41° engagement
MSRP:
- Hub set: $700 USD
- Alloy wheelsets starting at $995 USD
- Carbon wheelsets starting at $1,850 USD
Intro
Asheville, NC-based Industry Nine released the Hydra hubs back in 2019, and since then they’ve proven to be one of the more popular high-end options on the market. Much of that stems from its outrageously quick 0.52° engagement, which feels near-instantaneous in practice. Of course, nothing is perfect the first time around, and between some rough edges on the original version and the rising popularity of eMTBs, it was time for Industry Nine to make some updates.
The new Hydra2 is the product of their efforts. Promising higher strength materials, better bearing durability, and even faster engagement, the new Hydra2 looks on paper like it will be a worthy successor to the Hydra. While we haven’t yet gotten a chance to ride them (though we will soon), let’s walk through the details to see what the new Hydra2 is all about.
Design & Options
The design language has shifted a bit with the Hydra2. Where the original Hydra had a thicker mid-section and a more angular overall aesthetic, the Hydra2 adopts a new scalloped design around the spoke holes (on the J-bend version) and a more svelte-looking, contoured shape overall.
As with the prior Hydra, the Hydra2 comes in plenty of configurations. Traditional J-bend spoke versions are available in 28- and 32-hole drilling, as are both 6-bolt and Centerlock brake mounts. The hub set is approved for full power Class 1 eMTBs, and the design changes should mean it’s even more resilient to the demands of high-output motors and heavy bikes.
There are myriad options in terms of spacing and the way that other details come together for Boost and non-Boost spacing options. Those details are in the chart below:
The Hydra2 hub is also going to be featured on Industry Nine’s complete wheels, which includes their S-Series MTN wheelsets (built around J-bend spokes) as well as their aluminum spoke-equipped System MTN wheels.
Freehub Mechanism
The freehub mechanism follows the same core design as the original Hydra, which means it uses a series of six multi-toothed pawls which each engage independently to deliver the Hydra2’s ridiculously quick 0.41° engagement. For folks counting clicks, that is 870 points of engagement.
Despite that engagement being faster than the 0.52° engagement (690 points of engagement) of the prior Hydra, Industry Nine claims that the system is more robust, with larger pawl pockets to improve force dissipation when engaged. The drive ring is also made of a new stronger material, and each pawl also gets an additional tooth to increase surface contact while engaged. Even with those changes, Industry Nine claims a 60% reduction in coasting drag.
Axles, Bearings, and Seals
With the Hydra2, Industry Nine has kept the core elements of the original Hydra while beefing up the design in nearly every way. First, Industry Nine added a 65% thicker axle for better strength and stress dissipation. That burlier axle is mated to larger 6903 bearings, a new labyrinth channel on the freehub seal, and full contact lip seals on the endcaps to increase bearing durability and better keep the water and grit at bay.
Industry Nine also revised the bearing preload system to keep preload more consistent regardless of how tight the frame axle is, which should further protect the bearings from undue stress.
Some Questions / Things We’re Curious About
(1) The original Hydra was wildly popular, but some riders did run into durability issues. Has Industry Nine’s focus on durability with the Hydra2 paid off in practice?
(2) As pedal kickback management devices (e.g., O-Chain) continue to see popularity, Industry Nine pushed even farther in the other direction, with the Hydra2 now boasting 0.41° engagement. Does that feel discernably quicker than the old Hydra, and what are the upsides and downsides?
(3) The old Hydra was quite noisy, which some loved and others hated. Does the increased engagement mean the new one is louder, or does the reduced freehub drag mean it has gotten more stealthy?
(4) And just how noticeable is that reduced freehub drag? The original Hydra was notably slow rolling, so has Industry Nine addressed that drawback effectively?
Bottom Line (For Now)
The original Hydra has been incredibly popular for both high-end complete wheels and custom builds, and the Hydra2 seems well-positioned to build on that legacy by shoring up the hub’s durability and reducing drag. The question remains as to how the various improvements play out in practice, and we will get our hands on a Hydra2 hubset soon to see for ourselves.