Wolf Tooth Boostinator [Rider Review]

 Our "Rider Review" article series features the honest reviews from verified purchasers of Worldwide Cyclery. They contain the photos, thoughts, feedback & overall review you are looking for. 

With changing standards, it can be hard to swap parts over from one frame to the next, especially since axles are getting wider. But, Wolf Tooth has you covered with the Boostinator. Our friend, Kevin has been using the part. See what they think!

Overview

The seemingly ever-changing standards with mountain bikes and components can be frustrating for many, especially when the changes result in little or no perceptible improvements to most mountain bikers. Whether anyone likes it or not, one change that's become established over the past several years is the Boost axle standard, with claims of a stiffer wheel which is certainly a benefit when it comes to larger 29 inch wheels. That's great, but what about the cost of replacing 'outdated' wheels to accommodate newer Boost frames? Fortunately, there is an alternative to replacement.

In my case, I had a number of parts left over after I sold my 27.5/650b non-Boost frame and built up a new wagon wheeler. I've been wanting a hard tail for some time now, and figured this was the perfect time to build one. As expected, the frame I've had my eye on was only available with Boost spacing. That's where the Wolf Tooth Boostinator came to the rescue to give my rear wheel a second life.

Installation was easy: remount the disc brake rotor with the included spacer and longer bolts, then re-dish the wheel.

Of course, it helps if you know how to dish a wheel, but even if you don't, it's hard to go wrong by following the instructions on the Wolf Tooth website. Performance-wise, the wheel may not have the stiffness of Boost wheels, but it's no different than what it was prior to the conversion (at least from what I can tell).

Final Thoughts

As someone that fully subscribes to the n+1 rule, the hard tail is a great addition and one that's a serious fun ride. Fortunately, the Boostinator made it a relatively affordable build.