It’s possible to upgrade non-boost wheels to mount in boost frame in mountain bikes it needs to change the previous boost hub into the non-boost hub and the major change is the insertion of the spacers, boostinators, and 6-ended Lock Nuts on right and left side of the rotor. it is usual but the difference is in their prices and riding style. also, it is difficult in mounting non-boost wheels because the size of the cassette, the size of the chain, and the distance of the largest cog teeth of the cassette and the hub distance also affect this setup, it is complex, and if you are a beginner you can upgrade this setup from the near buy mechanic store.
Non-boost wheels require Center Lock nut bolts for the rotors disc brakes, axles, and hub of both front and rear wheels, the width and length of the spacers are different for the different hub and axles but the most common length of spacers is from 3mm to5mm long.
non-boost Wheels are different in length and size from the boost frames when you are going to make this set up you need spacers to fit the non-boost wheel into the boosted frame.
What are Boost Bike Wheels?
Boost bike wheels are a new and modern discovery in wheels that are usually recommended for boost frames. larger length of hubs(15 by 110mm front hub and 148mm by 12mm rear hub) by adding spacers and boostinators is called boost wheels.
What are Un-Boost Wheels?
un-boost wheels are the old discovery of wheels that needs spacers and boostinators and re-dishing of the wheel for their installation into the frames, if you don’t want to insert spacers and re-dishing then you have to buy new boost wheels for boost frames. un-boost hubs are smaller in length(100mm front and 142mm rear).
What Are Bike Boost Frames?
Boost frames are new and modern bike frames, boost wheels are recommended for boost frames.
What Are Bike Un-Boost Frames?
Un-boost frames are old and traditional bike frames, un-boost wheels are recommended for un-boost frames and boost wheels are not inserted on un-boost bike frames.
Problems and solutions for un-boost wheels on Boost frames:
Cassette setup:
Non-boost wheel setup is totally different and you need to do changes in the cassette, you have to shift the cassette a few millimeters outside from the hub and the axle and from the wheel. there are many spacers that are inserted in the rear wheel hub and axles, the diameter of the spacers would match exactly with the hub and the axle, if it’s not matchable then it brings difference and further you have to change the hub and axle which is costly.
Axle spacers are excellent accessories for doing this kind of setup, these spacers are not used on the right cassette side, you can insert them on the other left side which is known as the non-drive side of the wheel, and increases the length of the axle and the hub to fit in the boost frames.
In normal situations the hub, axle, and the wheel are in the center line and running smoothly but for non-boost wheels when you insert the spacers from the left and right side of the wheel, you will notice the hub, axle, and the center line of the wheel are slightly moved towards the right side where the cassette is installed, now the whole setup is changed you have to re-dish the rim to remain and stay in the center, you have to change all the spokes and re-dish the wheel according to the size of the hub axle and the center line of the rim.
Hub Difference:
Hubs are of different types some have end caps and some do not. those hubs which have end caps are used for non-boost wheels and those hubs which do not have end caps are for boost wheels.
While doing this setup from the non-boost wheel to the boosted frame, you need end cap hubs which are a few millimeters long in length from the normal hubs and maintains the drive train of the wheel and cassette of the non-boost wheel.
Front and rear tire setup of non-boosted wheels to boosted frame:
Boosted frames of bikes sometimes do not have a better length and reachable hub and axle of both wheels, then using spacers also known as adapters can fix this issue accurately on both tires. front tire setup is easy because it does not have enough machinery as compared to the rear wheel.
Front-wheel setup is easy you can simply insert the spacers and adapters from the left side of the wheel and the wheel turns into a boost wheel.
but for the rear wheel, you have to maintain the cassette, drive train, cogs of the cassette, distance of the cassette from the hub and axle, chain ring, and the chain, all these things would make a complex setup in the rear wheel when you are shifting from non-boost wheel to the boost wheel.
How to adjust brake rotors of non-boost wheels?
Rotors of brakes also affect changing from non-boost wheels to boost wheels, you can buy adapters and spacers of rotor sized and insert them in the rotors to adjust the distance of the rotor from the rim.
Spacers are also used for disc brakes of both front and rear wheels when you upgrade non-boost wheels to boost the frame.
Re-dishing of the wheel from non-boost wheels to boost frame:
Re-dish is a must for this setup when you are going from non-boost wheels to boost frames, Wheel does not run smoothly and does not work if you put more than one spacers on the drive side of the front and rear wheel without re-dishing, it is not a simple process you can do re-dishing of your bike wheel from any mechanics shop.
If you insert spacers and boostinators in the front wheel without re-dishing then it’s fine but for the rear wheel, re-dishing is necessary and spacers would not work without re-dishing of the rear wheel.
Re-dishing is important for the spokes of the wheel when you are going to upgrade this setup, without re-dishing the spokes of the front and rear wheel have loose tension which further damages the wheel and rim for aggressive rides and rough terrains.
How to fit Non-Boost Wheel Spacers To Boost Frames?
Spacers are two in numbers, one is fixed on the drive side of the axle and the other on the non-drive side of the axle, these are small and rounded in shape.
There are also Lock Nuts with Six pop edges, one is installed on the right side of the rotor and the second on the left side of the rotor.
The brake rotors contain six holes for mounting the nut bolts with the six edges lock nuts. Uninstall the wheel from the frame, remove the axle from the wheel install both spacers on right and left sides of the axle, now the wheel has spaced enough due to spacers and 6-edged lock nuts, tight the QR axle screwer and the non-boost wheel is ready to install on the boosted frame.
Spacers And Boostinator for non-boost wheels:
There are different sizes of spacers and boostinators which are inserted on both drive and non-drive sides of the rear wheels for spacing the cassette and rim. spacers are usually small and the best option that skip the spacers and buy boostinators for the rear wheel after measuring the accurate size with the wheel hub.
there are different kinds of spacers kits and boostinators for different wheel sets depending on the material and size of the rim.
Boost Frames:
New modern bike with 27.5 and 29er have their specific bike tire sizes of 2.5 to 3. The boost means hub spacing, crank spacing, cassette spacing, drivetrain spacing, and axle spacing.
Boost frames can fit on boost wheels without any spacing because these are new modern bike frames as compared to un-boost bike frames.
Boost Cranks:
The main function of the boost cranks is to maintain the chain line smooth and a little bit outward from the cassette cogs and the crank set and non-boost cranks do not have this function. this setup is usually done when you are shifting from non-boost frames to boost frames.
What’s better Boost and Non-Boost wheels and frames?
Boost wheels and boost frames are expensive and more popular with bikers, used boost bikes can also have a good price range if you want to sell your used bike but non-boost bikes do not resale on enough bucks everywhere because of the old discovery.
After buying an un-boost bike their price range will fall and you will not get the same bucks you have bought from the store. but it does not happen for boost bikes, you can buy or sell used boost bikes in the average range without any loss.
Spacers of non-boost bikes have to mess with the other machinery of the rear wheel but boost bikes are firm and these do not need spacers, this is the reason that boost bikes are permanent bikes with smooth running quality but un boost bikes are constructed by adding the spacers which are must for un-boost bikes.