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Hi, anyone have any experience with alfine hubs, are they up to serious mountain biking?
I used one for 2 and bit years, no bother at all. (an 8 speed one).
My 8 speed has performed admirably all winter
My 11 has been less reliable than my 8.
8 speed here.
It gets no love.
Works well.
I would have another.
8 speed good / 11 speed bad.
My 11 has been fine. I'm currently running it well outside Shimanos recommended gearing range in a 2x11 configuration. Rear mech icing problems are a thing of the past 🙂
[url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8519/8571412877_6794e63453_z.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/druidh2000/8571412877/ ]Untitled[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/druidh2000/ ]ScotRoutes[/url], on Flickr
2x11 Alfine is interesting. What's the overall set-up then?
I've been running an 11 on a charge duster for 18 months, love it! So quiet. Occasional clicks but otherwise fine so far : )
If I could get a refund on my 11 speed I would and I'd go 1 x 10.
It's been back once and it's still not perfect and out of warranty. The occasional gear slippage/nut's/stem interface stops the bike coming out as much as it should.
Go 1 x 10, 8 speed Alfine or invest in Rohloff but avoid 11 speed get's my vote
[quote=grtdkad ]2x11 Alfine is interesting. What's the overall set-up then?
Cranks are Raceface - 22T and 32T. Rear sprocket is 18T. I have a Alfine chain tensioner to take up the slack. On a standard 26" wheel that would give me a range of 16.7 to 99.5 Gear Inches. With the added diameter of the fat tyres, both of these figures are be a bit higher but I've never worked it out.
Oh - clean cables with good routing are a must.
My 11 speed developed an oil leak. Repaired under warranty. Yet to put it back on the inbred as I'm managing as a single speed.
It was good in the mud at sits though 😀
my 8 was faultless, didnt have any issue with the 11 either.
8 speed worked well for me. Proper mtb, several immersions on the Kielder 100, was faultless. BUT when it failed it was catastrophic at the start of a family holiday. A 'normal' derallieur system could have been fixed or bodged but with the Alfine nothing could be done apart from a new hub/wheel which wasn't available. No system will never fail but some are more easily fixed when they do.
Thanks Scotroutes, very impressive.
I have a second hand Alfine 8 which has been very robust.
And a from new Alfine 11 which has been ok but feels slightly less robust, with not so precise gear engagement.
Also run Rohloffs, one coming up to 10 years old bombproof but at a cost.
I run an 8 speed on my winter bike, runs very well very little maintainance. Run an 18 x 44 set up ant it's just about ok. If riding in a group can run out of revs at the top end when the pace increases.
8 speed it is then, always fancied a rohloff but could never justify the cost, good to hear they are reliable, planning on building a fat belt drive.
Awaiting a Genesis io id 8 speed. I'm sure it will be as reliable as my previous Alfine 8 speed Airnimal Rhino. Never had an issue off road.
Cheers scotroutes, i remember the nuvinci hub from a couple of years back and liked the look of it then, but new and untested for mountain bikes. I used to have a Daf 44 that my grandad gave me, it had variable transmission too. Cut the top off it and welded up the doors for summer vehicle!
You guys with the Alfine-8's, do you have any delay/trouble when changing down? Mine always seems to have a delay, you have to ease off, and often you also get a clicking noise. Is this normal?
UrbanHiker - Member
You guys with the Alfine-8's, do you have any delay/trouble when changing down? Mine always seems to have a delay, you have to ease off, and often you also get a clicking noise. Is this normal?
Sounds like sticky cables or cable in too tight a curve and check that your adjustment is correct to the mark (don't tweak it by ear).
You should always ease off slightly to change gear with a hubgear.
epicycle +1, a small downside of the Alfine is indexing at the shifter.