These are custom machined parts with very strict tolerances; there are no distributors who have the skills or equipment necessary to service them.
Also from Europe all defective hubs need to be returned to Switzerland. Of course distances are shorter and shipping costs are lower. But in most cases the major part of waiting time is not caused by any carriers.
That’s why they would need proper training, which Florian could most likely provide, via instructional video tapes, or internet, and set them up with the tools and parts needed for any necessary repairs. I’m sure that one day, hopefully in the near future, this will become a reality.
Will he also send each distributor a million dollars worth of machine shop tools?
I don’t think Bronson would be “building” these hubs from scratch, like Florian. But for instances where someone has lost a “c-clip”, a seized bearing, or something internal that would basically require a replacement part, he could very likely learn the “tricks of Florian’s trade” to effect such repairs. The necessary tools for opening the hub and adjusting/removing/replacing defective parts. Don’t need a million $$ of machine shop/tools for that, lol. I’m an optimist, so I think US-based hub repairs will become commonplace; it just might not happen for a while yet, but it believe it will. 
Don’t repairs sent to Florian require the hub to be sent off the wheel?
Or maybe it’s just costs too much to send the whole wheel?
So maybe having US-based repairs would not require the wheel to be disassembled. That would be another benefit.
Very rough poll from the schlumpf hub reference discussion page shows about 1 in 3 hubs are in north America
So conversely most are not
I think it’s not very likely someone will be sanctioned to do warranty repairs. Although I’d be very happy if mr schlumpf set one up in south east Asia too, I’m not holding my breath
Another reason you may want to sell it sooner rather than later is that the warranty will expire…just a thought as that’s one of the main reasons I bought mine brand new instead of trying to find a used one…
OK, so now that I am part of the Schlumpf hub community, I wanted to say hi and tell you that I just got my 26 X 2.4 Maxxis Ardent Tire today and was able to complete my KH Sclhumpf MUni!!! VERY VERY HAPPY AND EXCITED!!!
I took it for a test ride/shift on the street and was very surprised to find that I upshifted and downshifted on my very first attempts! Thought I was just lucky but after 20 shifts I only fell off once. Hells ya! I do have big feet, Five Ten Karver shoes, been unicycling for 23 years and am a level 10 rider which all probably help. Now to test it out in the wild later today…
Just got back from my first proper muni ride and I had so much fun. Really wish I would have gotten one a few years ago. Makes me a bit mad that I’ve waited so long. But on the other hand I am so stoked and happy I did finally get one. Did I say how much I love it?!!!
Hey Jamey,
Glad to hear you had a good time out on the Gmuni! It really is such a game changer for the type of riding we like to do. Look forward to riding with you some time in the future! How did you like the set up? Did you end up using the 150mm cranks or the 137s?
mark
Mark, when you build up your 26, which cranks are you planning on using?
mark was using 125s at unicon. I was up until unicon, but after the heli-muni ride we did in NZ I switched to 150s and stuck with those.
corbin
@ Corbin- actually I was still using 150s up until that point (even though I had the dual hole cranks). I swapped to the 125 option (and haven’t gone back) once I got back to Australia after the event. I was really impressed by how the top few riders in the XC race did it on 125s and managed to cope on the hills just fine.
When I built my hub into a 26er I also swapped the cranks out to the 137s that I took off my trials uni. I haven’t had a chance to test it out yet as i’m still waiting on my frame and some other components to turn up. I think that with the slightly larger wheel, the 137s on the 26 should be about the same ratio as the 125s were on my 24"
Mark
I also have the dual 125/150s and had my doubts about the shorter length especially for technical riding in high gear, but they’re awesome when you get used to them.
And of course, as “captain obvious” would say, crank length is a personal preference, and there are many factors that go into determining what works best for a particular rider. And just because someone may prefer a shorter length crank obviously doesn’t make them any less or more skilled of a rider than someone who prefers longer cranks. Total personal preference, or as they say, one size does not fit all.
Oh that’s right! I remember us having a conversation about it.
I haven’t been riding much at all the past 6 months. I’m just starting to get back into coker riding for unicon, and it is tough. I’m slow and slightly overweight (meaning, over my normal weight).
Chuck just started up riding again with me too. He just got his new hub into a 36’er. We are both training for Unicon, but starting a bit late…
corbin
I ran 125s on my 24 guni for awhile. It was not as hard as I anticipated, but I did have a lot of accidental downshifts, which lead to some nasty UPDs. I am back to the 150s, and I am happy to have the extra control that allows me to stay in high gear for more uphills and technical spots.
I have been contemplating switching my hub to a 26 for the lighter wheel. The 24x3 with a Schlumpf is pretty heavy, but the cushy ride at speed over rough terrain is nice. I am anxious to hear what Mark thinks about his switch to the 26.
Yes. I don’t know if you could get that 56" into most minivans, even.
This has been the case for quite some time. I believe the reason for this is the irregular availability of the product. So they can’t offer it for sale with even a rough idea of when the next batch will become available, since there is no regular production schedule. Same reason they were not able to sell much from Tommy Miller (The Unicycle Factory). UDC prefers to be predictable to customers, and tries to keep things in stock or with realistic arrival dates.
As I and others have learned! In many cases, it appears you must wait until the next batch is produced, and all existing orders are filled (or whichever comes first). This may take many months.
Though to Florian’s credit, he did not give me any warranty hassles. My hub was proably a year or more old before it was ever built into a wheel (I bought it from someone else). Then I had been riding it for almost a year when it broke.
Up to now warranty is not an issue, as the hubs are available for less than 5 years (which is the warranty period). So there’s no point in checking for expired warranty. Any hub out there is within warranty period. The first ISIS hubs were shipped early 2008. So from 2013 that situation may change.
In addition there’s an ongoing recall for all hubs with serial 199 and below, which are all hubs shipped before 2010. That means, warranty finally will become a topic by 2015.
Availability in terms of the time lag from order to delivery and for warranty repairs.
It’s a big ticket item, no one at UDC USA rides one, the hubs would need to be available when ordered, so UDC would have to have some in stock which would mean buying a product that could sit on the shelf for months.