Surly Ultra New Disc Front Hub
This page covers the Surly Ultra New Disc Front Hub.
The Ultra New is sold here only inside a wheel we build. Choose the rim, spokes and nipples in the configurator and the finished wheel ships from Georgia laced, tensioned and trued by hand.
Design and construction
The Ultra New shell is forged rather than machined from bar, which keeps the price down without giving up strength, and it rides on sealed cartridge bearings in common sizes. Axles are bolt-on with solid nuts, which is what a track dropout wants.
Because the front Ultra New has no freehub, it is the hub that asks for the least: a spin of the axle to check the bearings once a season and nothing else. The flanges, bearings and seals are the same as the rear's, the axle converts between the front standards with end caps, and the rotor mounts the same way. Choose it to match a rear of the same model, or on its own for a fork that needs a new front wheel.
How it rides
An Ultra New wheel is simple and durable, and the Ultra New has been the default fixed-gear hub for a generation of city riders.
Front wheels on disc bikes take a beating from braking: the rotor side sees the whole braking torque and the spokes on that side run at higher tension. That is why we build the front Ultra New with the rotor-side spokes crossed and tensioned to the rim's limit, and why the hub's flange spacing matters more than its weight. Ridden on a rim-brake bike the same hub makes one of the lightest, simplest front wheels there is.
Specifications
| Position | Front |
|---|---|
| Axle options | Bolt On or QR 9x100mm Front |
| Drillings | 32h, 36h |
| Spoke head | J-bend |
| Brake | 6-bolt disc |
| Left flange diameter | 54 mm |
| Right flange diameter | 54 mm |
| Left center-to-flange | 37.5 mm |
| Right center-to-flange | 37.5 mm |
| Spoke hole diameter | 2.4 mm |
| Weight | 275g |
| Material | Aluminum |
| Finishes | black, silver |
This version
This version is the iso disc hub in Bolt On or QR 9x100mm, drilled for 32h, 36h, about 275g, in black, silver. Those are the only things that differ between the versions of the Ultra New; the shell, bearings and seals are the same.
Sizes, fit and compatibility
J-bend spokes in any gauge; we build most Ultra New wheels with DT Champion or Sapim Race spokes and brass nipples.
It pairs naturally with the Velocity Deep V and Chukker, H Plus Son Archetype and TB14, Stan's Crest and any rim in the catalog that matches its drilling.
Build a wheel around it
Offered for track and road single-speed and MTB single-speed builds in our Custom Wheel Program. Start with the Surly Ultra New Disc Front Hub and the configurator pins it for you, then checks each choice you make against it.
How Surly tests its hubs
Surly's Ultra New hubs use shells of "6061-T6 forged and machined aluminum alloy with medium-height flanges", CroMoly steel axles and fixing bolts in "10.9 stainless steel (i.e. high grade) for corrosion resistance, high strength, and good looks"; bolt caps and cone nuts are also stainless and knurled. Surly states the hubs "spin on non-adjustable 6901 model bearings" with self-adjusting hardware that sets preload when the wheel is bolted in, and that the hollow axles convert easily to quick release. Fronts are 100mm; all are 32h or 36h. Surly's FAQ states "Most of our products (including all frames and forks) are manufactured in Taiwan", and the original 1x1 hub sheet is marked "Made in Taiwan".
Surly publishes no impact, fatigue or ISO test figures for hubs. Its component warranty states products "are warranted against defects in materials and workmanship for one year from the date of retail purchase", for the original purchaser buying through an authorized dealer, with repair or replacement at Surly's option; improper assembly, modification, competition or commercial use, accidents and normal wear are excluded. The 1x1 hub sheet adds that "Broken flanges on hubs laced radially are not covered under warranty." No hub-specific rider weight limit is given.
Certifications
- Made in Taiwan — FAQ: "Most of our products (including all frames and forks) are manufactured in Taiwan"; 1x1 hub sheet: "Made in Taiwan" (source)
Sources on Surly's site:
- Ultra New Hubs
- Surly Component Warranty
- Surly FAQ
- Surly 1x1 Hubs instruction sheet (PDF)
- Surly Hubs collection
Surly publishes those results; ProWheelBuilder builds the hub into a wheel and does not test it in a lab.
Building it at ProWheelBuilder
Surly makes the Ultra New; ProWheelBuilder is an independent custom wheel builder in Georgia and not the manufacturer. Spokes are cut from the ERD we measure on the actual rim, the wheel comes up in stages on a tensiometer, and it is stress-relieved and trued before it goes in the box; tape and a valve go on if you ask.
The configurator filters to what fits, crosses out what is not made, and prices the build as you go.
Warranty
Manufacturer's warranty. Surly warrants this product against defects in materials and workmanship. The duration, conditions and claim process are set by Surly and can change without notice, so ask us and we will confirm the current terms before you buy.
ProWheelBuilder. Wheels we build around this part are covered by our own one-year warranty alongside the maker's. Within the year: broken spokes replaced regardless of cause, and the labor on the wheel - truing, re-tensioning or a complete rebuild - included. A manufacturer-covered rim or hub failure is a claim we make and manage for you; one they will not cover is answered with an eligible replacement at 25% off retail. Shipping each way is yours. Parts you supply yourself fall outside it.
Full terms are on our Policies & Warranty page.
Ultra New Disc Front Hub questions
Is the Ultra New rebuildable?
The bearings are sealed cartridges in common sizes and replaceable anywhere.
Is ProWheelBuilder the manufacturer of the Surly Ultra New Disc Front Hub?
We are not. Surly manufactures the hub; ProWheelBuilder's part is the wheel: measuring, lacing, tensioning and truing it here in Georgia.
Which axle spacing does it fit?
Bolt On or QR 9x100mm Front. Measure between the inside faces of your dropouts if you are unsure, or text us.
Does it need special spokes?
No. It takes standard J-bend spokes, which the configurator offers in every gauge and finish we stock.
How long will the wheel take?
Build time comes down to parts availability rather than bench time. The estimated ship date is shown in the configurator before you check out.
Not sure? Text or leave a voicemail on 470-253-0929 or email info@prowheelbuilder.com — you will be talking to the people who build the wheels.
