There's ZERO noise, too. When you all you can hear is tires ripping into turns it's truly an awesome sensation. You start to pick up on things you wouldn't otherwise notice, like the sounds of your surroundings or that floppy cable you should probably address. Just be mindful when coming up on others and give a holler because you basically come a high-speed MTB trail ninja.

The sprag clutch mechanism inside provides instant engagement with a gently damped feel instead of the slop or clunk you may be accustomed to with a pawl-style hub. In our view, this makes for an altogether better ride experience across a variety of terrain.

Onyx Racing Classic MTB Hub Highlights

• Ceramic hybrid bearings
• Patented sprag clutch mechanism
• Instant engagement and disengagement
• Silent operation
• 7075 aluminum alloy hub shell
• Heat treat hardened stainless steel driver
• Labyrinth seal between driver and hub shell
• Adjustable preload for bearings
• Titanium bolts
• Multiple anodization/powder coat color options
• 5-year limited warranty
• Weight: 473g (16.7oz, claimed) for 12x148mm rear hub with XD driver

Aside from a single easy-to-do preload adjustment, our test set has required NO maintenance during three seasons of continued use when paired with an also-impressive set of NOBL Wheels carbon rims.

Onyx recently released their new Vesper hub in a variety of sizes. This uses similar tech inside but has been slimmed down about 60g (2.1oz) in the popular Boost 12x148mm variety. It has 1.5 sprag clutch rows inside, instead of two, and a common axle design for easier and cheaper driver swaps.

What's The Bottom Line?

Priced in the mid-$400s and up for a rear hub, Onyx makes what many would consider a luxury option. We're believers in the benefits and ride quality of their sprag clutch system, and in our experience things have proven truly worthy in the long run. Here's a big thumbs up from Vital MTB!

Visit www.onyxrp.com for more details.

About The Reviewer

Brandon Turman - Age: 33 // Years Riding: 18 // Height: 5'10" (1.78m) // Weight: 170-pounds (77.1kg)

"I like to have fun, pop off the bonus lines on the sides of the trail, get aggressive when I feel in tune with a bike, and really mash on the pedals and open it up when pointed downhill." Formerly a mechanical engineer and Pro downhill racer, Brandon brings a unique perspective to the testing game as Vital MTB's resident product guy. He has on-trail familiarity with nearly every innovation in our sport from the past several years and a really good feel for what’s what.