If you intend on using Shimano's M9100 XTR or the recently released M8100 XT and M7100 SLX groupsets, then you might be aware that they require a special Micro Spline freehub body for their 12-speed cassettes. However, Shimano is only licensing it to selected partners, so where can you find a wheel or hub that'll work?
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[Note: with the widespread acceptance of the Micro Spline standard, we have stopped updating this guide as of 27th August 2020 but you may find the information below still useful when making a choice]
We've emailed brands and manufacturers to find out just where you can find a complete Micro Spline wheelset or compatible hub and we've listed them all below. Unlike SRAM's XD freehub format, it's not an open standard and you have to license the design from Shimano - that's why not every hub brand offers a Micro Spline.
While Micro Spline was first introduced with the 12-speed M9100 XTR groupset, it's now trickled down to the new 12-speed M8100 XT and M7100 SLX groupsets and we expect to see it on even more groupsets in the future.
Shimano announced it would be relaxing the licensing restrictions on Micro Spline, so we expect to see more brands offering compatible hubs and wheelsets in the first months of 2020.
Shimano
Shimano Micro Spline wheelsets
Shimano offers complete Micro Spline wheelsets at M8100 XT level in both 650b and 29" sizes, both with Boost spacing and 15mm front and 12mm rear through axles.
The M8100 wheels are designed for cross-country, with a 24mm wide internal rim and 28 spokes. Claimed weight for the 650b wheelset is 1,746g and 1,840g for the 29".
The M8120 wheels are made for enduro, with a 30mm internal width and have 28 spokes too. Weights are claimed as 1,846g for the 650b wheelset and 1,932g for 29".
There is also a wheel and hub lineup at the M7100 SLX level, again with 650b and 29" options, called MT620. Both wheelsets get Boost spacing and 15mm front and 12mm rear through axles, with a 30mm rim width and tubeless compatibility.
Shimano Micro Spline hubs
The FH-M9111-BS is an XTR level straight pull spoke hub that's available only in a 28H drilling, Centrelock disc mount and 148mm Boost width with 12mm axle, retailing at £245.
The FH-M9111-B (£235) is the same hub with traditional flanges, available in 28H and 32H drillings, 12x148mm Boost spacing and Centrelock disc mount and the FH-M9111 is the same hub in a 142mm spacing.
There are also a pair of more affordable non-XTR-series hubs, with the FH-MT901-BS (£150) being a 148mm Boost spaced straight pull spoke hub in 28H and the FH-MT901-B (£140) being the conventionally flanged version, available in 28H and 32H drillings. Both have Centrelock disc mounts and there is no non-series, non-Boost hub.
The M8100 Shimano XT group serves up four rear hubs. The FH-M8130-B has Super Boost 157x12mm spacing with 28H and 32H drillings. The FH-M8110-BS gets Boost 148x12mm spacing and uses 28 straight-pull spokes. The FH-M8110-B is Boost 148x12mm spacing while the FH-M8110 is 142x12mm but both use conventional J-bend spokes and come in 28H, 32H and 36H drillings.
At Shimano M7100 SLX level, there is a trio of rear hubs on offer, all using the Centrelock disc mount. The FH-M7130-B uses Super Boost spacing of 157x12mm and comes in 28H and 32H versions. The FH-M7110-B has Boost 148x12mm spacing while the FH-M7110 is 142x12mm. Both come in 28H, 32H and 36H versions.
Chris King
Chris King recently announced on social media that they will be releasing Micro Spline compatible hubs on the 31st January, stating: "We’re ramping up production for a release on January 31, 2020. With a new axle and driveshell bearing design, these will be our lightest ISO B and ISO DH Superboost hubs yet. Available as complete hubs or conversion kits with our made-in-house stainless steel or ceramic bearings."
DT Swiss
DT Swiss has a large number of wheelsets that can either come with a Micro Spline freehub installed or can have one retrofitted. The following wheelsets are either available with a Micro Spline freehub direct from the factory or can be converted to Micro Spline compatible with a separately available freehub body. It's worth noting that almost all of these use DT's Ratchet Drive style freehub, which is found on higher-end wheels in the range.
- XRC 1200 SPLINE
- XR 1501 SPLINE ONE
- X 1700 SPLINE
- X 1900 SPLINE
- XMC 1200 SPLINE
- XM 1501 SPLINE ONE
- M 1700 SPLINE
- EX 1501 SPLINE ONE
- E 1700 SPLINE
- FR 1950 CLASSIC
As many other brand's wheelsets use DT Swiss internals, including ENVE, Bontrager, Syncros and many more, it's likely that this list is even bigger if you're willing to mix and match parts.
You can view the complete DT Swiss mountain wheel range here:
Halo Wheels
Halo has offers two wheelsets that share the same hub with a Micro Spline driver body that's made in conjunction with sister brand Identiti. Called the Halo X Identiti MTC Supadrive Boost Hub, it gets a 120 point engagement and Centrelock disc mount and, as the name suggests, it's only available in 148x12mm Boost spacing and costs £180.
The Halo X Identiti Vapour 35 Micro Spline Wheelset only comes in a 650b size with Boost spacing and gets a 30mm internal width rim that's designed for trail riding. The Halo X Identiti Vortex Micro Spline Wheelset is similarly restricted to a Boost spacing and 650b diameter, with a wider 33mm internal width that's pitched at enduro riding and racing.
Hunt Bike Wheels
Hunt has released Microspline compatible hubs for their Trail Wide and Enduro Wide wheelsets and claims to have XC and gravel options following soon.
Hope Technology
While Hope was initially upset about Shimano restricting the license in what they felt was an unfair fashion, but like many other brands, they have come to an agreement with Shimano and have a Micro Spline freehub option available on the following Pro 4 rear hubs.
- Pro 4 150mm rear hub
- Pro 4 142mm and 135mm rear hub
- Pro 4 Super Boost rear hub
- Pro 4 Straight Pull 142mm and 135mm rear hub
We're not sure if the road hub range shares the same freehub body and will, therefore, be interchangeable, but we've asked Hope if this is the case.
Industry Nine
Industry Nine is one of very few worldwide and the only North American hub and wheel manufacturer to have licensed the design from Shimano. They currently offer it as an option on all of their complete mountain bike wheelsets, as listed below.
- Grade 300
- Enduro 310C
- Enduro 305
- Trail 270
- Ultralite 240C
- Ultralite 235
- Back Country 360
- Back Country 360C
- Back Country 450
- Trail S Hydra
- Enduro S Hydra
It's also possible to have a Micro Spline freehub as an option on the following Industry Nine hubs. The naming format should be fairly obvious; 6B stands for a six-bolt disc mount and CL for Centrelock.
- Hydra Classic Boost 6B Rear
- Hydra Classic Boost CL Rear
- Hydra Classic Non-Boost 6B Rear
- Hydra Classic Non-Boost CL Rear
- Hydra Classic DH150/157 6B Rear
- 101 Classic Boost 6B Rear
- 101 Classic Boost CL Rear
- 101 Classic Non-Boost 6B Rear
- 101 Classic Non-Boost CL Rear
You can also buy a Micro Spline freehub as a service component for any of their existing series of Torch hubs. You can check out the full range below.
Mavic
French wheel brand Mavic has a huge variety of Micro Spline compatible wheelsets at a broad range of prices. We've listed them all below.
- XA 35
- XA
- XA ELITE
- XA PRO
- XA ELITE CARBON
- XA PRO CARBON 35
- CROSSMAX
- CROSSMAX ELITE
- CROSSMAX PRO
- CROSSMAX ELITE CARBON
- CROSSMAX PRO CARBON
- DEEMAX DH
- DEEMAX ELITE
- DEEMAX PRO
They also have a number of e-bike specific versions of the above. For more information, head to their site.
Newmen
German brand Newmen might be, well, fairly new to the world of bike components, but they have a number of mountain bike wheelsets using a hub that has Micro Spline compatibility. We've listed them all below; the number after the name indicates the internal rim width in centimetres.
- EVOLUTION X.A.25
- EVOLUTION A.30
- EVOLUTION A.35
All these wheels use the same Evolution Straightpull hub which uses a six-bolt brake mount plus 28H straight-pull spokes and is available in 12x148mm and 12x142mm widths.
Fulcrum
Fulcrum is another of the few aftermarket manufacturers to have a license to produce Micro Spline compatible freehubs. Their mountain bike range covers everything from cross-country to enduro and we've put all their Micro Spline wheelsets below:
- RED METAL 5 29
- RED FIRE 5 27,5
- RED ZONE 5 29
- RED ZONE 7 29
Fulcrum also has a range of e-bike specific wheelsets, with the following being Micro Spline compatible:
- E-METAL 3 29
- E-METAL 3 27,5
- E-FIRE 3 27,5
- E-FIRE 5 27,5
- E-METAL 5 29
- E-METAL 5 29
Race Face
We've asked Race Face if they plan to offer a Micro Spline hub and we'll update as and when we hear back from them.
White Industries
White Industries doesn't have a Micro Spline license, but they do offer a Micro Spline compatible freehub body for their XMR hubsets.
We'll keep this article updated as new licensees are announced.
