Industry Nine: hubs from Asheville, USA
Industry Nine, I9 for short, is based in Asheville in the US state of North Carolina. Since 2004, I9 has machined and anodised hubs, spokes and drivetrain parts there. The company grew out of a family machine shop in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Everything that moves inside an I9 hub is made by I9: hub shells, axles, spokes, pawls, drive rings and the anodising. According to I9, every hub can be serviced with standard tools.
Since 2025, the carbon rim brand WR1 has also been part of Industry Nine. Its rims are hand-laid in Kamloops (Canada), for example the Triad rims of our Enduro Carbon wheelset.
Three hub platforms
Hydra2: 870 points of engagement
The Hydra2 engages every 0.41°. According to I9, it has 60% less freehub drag and a 65% thicker axle than the original Hydra. It is made for trail, enduro, downhill and e-bikes. We stock the 6-bolt front hub, the Center Lock front hub, the Super Boost 12×157 rear hub and the silver hub set.
1/1: the robust entry point
90 points of engagement, six pawls, a conventional flange for J-bend spokes, black only. According to I9, you need no special tools for servicing. Choose between the 1/1 front hub and the 1/1 Boost 12×148 rear hub.
SOLiX: for road and gravel
605 points of engagement at 0.59°, a patented freehub with five pawls and Center Lock. The Solix Road rear hub comes with 24 or 28 holes, with a freehub for Shimano HG 11-speed, SRAM XDR, Micro Spline Road or Campagnolo N3W.
Wheelsets
Stems and top cap
The stems A35 for 35 mm handlebars and A318 for 31.8 mm handlebars are machined from 7075 aluminium. The name comes from the A axis of the 5-axis milling machines. The clamp wraps the bar through 180°, for alloy and carbon bars. The top cap comes in the same colours.
Spare parts and servicing
Hydra and Hydra2 parts are not the same: end caps, bearings and freehubs have their own part numbers. So check the platform in the title. You will find freehubs, end caps, bearings and axles under Hub spare parts. For servicing there is the freehub oil and the Pro X freehub grease.
Frequently asked questions about Industry Nine
What do points of engagement and engagement angle mean?
Points of engagement count how often the freehub engages per wheel revolution. The more there are, the shorter the dead travel before the drivetrain bites. The Hydra2 has 870 points of engagement and engages every 0.41°, the SOLiX has 605 (0.59°) and the 1/1 has 90 (4°).
Do Hydra spare parts fit my Hydra2 hub?
Usually not. Hydra and Hydra2 end caps, bearings and freehubs have their own part numbers. Always choose the part with your hub's platform in the title. If in doubt, write to us with a photo of your hub.
What is the difference between Classic and System?
Classic hubs have a wavy flange for standard J-bend steel spokes. With System, Industry Nine threads its own alloy spokes straight into the hub, as on the Triad CR System. The 1/1 hubs have a conventional flange for J-bend spokes.
Can I change the freehub later?
Yes. There are freehub kits for every platform, for the Hydra2 for example with Shimano HG, Micro Spline, SRAM XD or singlespeed. A complete kit includes the freehub body, bearings, seal, pawls and springs.
Which stem fits my handlebar?
That depends on your handlebar's clamp diameter: the A35 is for 35 mm, the A318 for 31.8 mm. According to Industry Nine, both suit alloy and carbon bars.
Can I service an Industry Nine hub myself?
According to Industry Nine, you can with standard workshop tools. Suitable press tools make changing the bearings easier; for the Hydra there is the 6-bolt bearing tool set and the Center Lock bearing tool set.