Loud Hubs vs. Quiet Hubs: Which Is Better?

Some people really love loud hubs, others really hate them. Have you ever thought about why people’s attitudes toward hub noise are so different?

From my perspective, having spent years in the carbon fiber bike world, I think it mainly comes down to the rider’s use scenario and personal preference.

Here are the main reasons people like loud hubs:

• Safety warning – A loud hub can replace a bell or shouting to let pedestrians know you’re coming, reducing the risk of collisions.
• Symbol of quality – Some people think high‑end hubs have more ratchet teeth, faster engagement, and stronger springs, so they’re louder. They tend to believe: loud = expensive = good.
• Real performance benefit – High-engagement hubs (like 108‑point) let you start pedaling faster with less dead stroke. This really helps in MTB, BMX, etc. The noise is just a side effect.
• Simply like the sound – They think the “buzz” sounds like a race car or bees – exciting and mechanical.
• Scaring away wildlife – On remote trails, the noise can warn bears, deer, etc. before you get too close.

But from an industry perspective, these points are both right and not entirely right.

• Safety warning – It does work, but it depends on the situation. If you’re riding on mountain trails with few people, a loud hub is fine. But in places that need quiet (e.g., near schools or rest areas), riding past with a loud buzz really annoys people. Some riders themselves don’t like it either – they feel the noise spoils the peaceful enjoyment of nature.
• Loud = expensive = good – That’s too one‑sided. Whether a hub is loud or quiet has no direct link to its quality or price. If you maintain your hubs regularly, you know: less grease makes them louder, more grease makes them quieter. Different types of grease also change the sound. So you can’t judge a hub’s quality by how loud it is. Besides, many cheap hubs today are also very loud. There’s really no necessary connection between loudness, price, and quality.
• High engagement = faster start – That’s true, but from a manufacturing perspective it’s a double‑edged sword. Higher engagement means more pawls or ratchet teeth, which are more tightly packed and wear out faster. Also, the loudness differs depending on whether the hub uses a ratchet design or a pawl design.

So I think you shouldn’t worry too much about whether a hub is loud or quiet. As long as you like it, that’s what matters.