Kinlin Wheels with Hope Hubs

What Kinlin rims and Hope hubs each bring

• KLM41 alloy. Kinlin developed this aluminum alloy with manganese and niobium, and lists the XR-31, TL-23 and TL-29 in it. Kinlin says it offers twice the elongation of conventional alloys, so the metal stretches further before it fails.
• T-10 process. Kinlin cold works each rim once it is round, rolling it twice on a patented machine, and only then heat treats it for 8 hours. It rates that higher in total strength and steadier in durability than the T-6 process it compares against.
• Steps kept in house. Kinlin says it runs the T-10 courses in house, including cold working, heat treatment, surface treating, drilling and finishing, and that T-6 makers outsource most of theirs. One factory stays responsible for the rim from start to finish.
• Made under one factory roof. Hope designs, tests and makes virtually all of its products in Barnoldswick, England, from CNC machining through anodizing to hand assembly. Hope says that gives it full control of quality and delivery.
• Offset pawls on the Pro 5. Setting the freehub's six pawls out of step raises engagement from 44 points to 108, and the single speed hub reaches 108 with four. Hope cuts the pawls from high strength steel and says the new pawl and spring design adds load capacity and service life.
• Drag cut at the seal and the ratchet. Hope says the Pro 5's labyrinth seal keeps dirt out with zero drag. On the road, the RS4 rear goes a different way, with a reduced-drag two-pawl ratchet at 44 points, or 8 degrees.