Continuing with XTR's legacy of superior hubs known for reliability and performance, the HB-M9010 front hub is largely a cosmetic update of the standout M985 but with more options that suit today's fork designs. The new finish and overall build quality stoutly represent XTR and will even put the boutique brands on notice. Shimano's legendary labyrinth and contact seals will keep the grease clean even in the harshest conditions. The upgraded bearing system is lighter, but is still an stainless steel ball and cone design, with angular contact system offsetting torsional and centrifugal forces of a spinning wheel that is loaded on multiple axis while riding. Combine the bearing system with the seals , and add-in the 17.5mm oversized alloy axle, will roll smooth for years to come.

Shimano refers to the thru-axle design as the E-thru system, which is a Shimano only thing, but effectively is simply a 15mm thru-axle. You will see that Shimano has cone wrench flats in the thru-axle for hub disassembly. Shimano pioneered the simple, fast, and incredibly effective Center Lock spline interface for disc rotors. The system reduces weight and is incredibly clean. Center Lock rotor compatibility means you can use Shimano's Ice Tech RT99 "Freeza" rotors for the ultimate in stopping and heat dissipation.

You buy the M9010 Front Hub because you prefer to assemble your own wheels, and purists love the serviceability of the Shimano design. Of course, they also love the fact that these hubs almost never need servicing! Shimano offers the 15mm E-thru axle M9010 in 28 and 32 hole options, as well as in 100 and 110mm (Boost) widths. If love handbuilt wheels and want a smooth, light (137 gram), and completely serviceable hub with a Center Lock disc interface, there is no better hub than a Shimano XTR M9010 Front Hub. Period.