Make Fixed Gear
Make Fixed Gear
how much is a fixed gear hub?
Im working on making a fixed gear out of an old track bike. Im not trying to spend a lot of money but it looks like this is the only part i will have to buy besides the chain, cog and lock ring. Will i also need to buy a new rim or will I be able to interchange it with the current hub on the rear wheel?
Thanks to all those who took the time to give a thoughtful answer 
Most of the fixed gears you see on the street have Formula hubs (or a rebranded variation, such as those offered by Surly and Harris). These run $40-65 each. They have high flanges, are available for different spoke counts, have cartridge bearings, and you can get different finishes if you're trying to color coordinate your bike.
Boutique hubs are offered by Phil, Hope, and King. These are nicely machined and finished, and they use slightly better bearings. At $300-400 for a set, they're a bit expensive. If you want bling, this is where you go and what you pay.
For great performance on and off the track, Shimano D/A is an option. These have loose bearings and come in both high and low flange variations. They'll require a bit more attention than the cartridge bearing hubs, especially if you ride in the rain. Around $250 for a set, and I believe most sellers only offer them as a set.
Back to your wheels. Not every wheelbuilder will rebuild your wheel using your old rim. The thinking is that once a rim has been built into a wheel, the nipple openings in the rim have been stressed in a way that is specific to the original hub and lacing pattern.
If you do rebuild your wheels using your old rims, you'll still need to buy spokes. If you're not building them yourself, you'll also need to pay for labor. Unless you have expensive rims, you won't be looking at saving much money in the end. New prebuilt wheelsets can be had quite reasonably.
US $134.00