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Recently bought a wheelset with an Alfine 8spd hub, just tried fitting it to my 2004 Kona Explosif.
The Kona has vertical dropouts that slide back and forth for singlespeed nonsense. At this point I should mention that the correct coloured spacers for my frame (7L/Black & 7R/Gray, or possibly 5L/Yellow & 5R/Brown) are missing from the box so I tried a test fit using the silver and white spacers, expecting the gear cable bracket to just point the wrong way.
This is where I ran into problems...the dropouts on the Kona are short and widen quite suddenly, so the spacers can rotate and the hub has about 20 degrees of free play. I tried the Green and Blue spacers and they seem to eliminate most of the play, but do not seat snugly into the dropout. The tab on the back of the Green and Blue spacers extends right up to the axle whereas on the Blue and Silver, the tab stops short of the axle.
So, will the correct coloured spacers be designed to fit shorter vertical dropouts? Anyone fitted an Alfine to an Explosif with the slidey dropouts?
I ran an alfine in my Kona Unit with the same slidey dropouts as yours.
It was a little while ago but I think it was the blue and green non turn spacers i used. This set the alfine cable guide horizontal. The washers fit on the outside of the dropout with the tag pointing to the floor and as far as I can remember I had no issues with the locating of these.
Keep trying, it can be done.
Thanks...I have just been having another go after failing to find the Black/Grey/Yellow/Brown spacers for sale anywhere.
I've realised that by rotating the spacers by 180 degrees the cable hanger is roughly pointing in the right direction (just above the chainstay which I think will work) and with some considerable wiggling of the axle, managed to get the spacers seated into the dropouts and tightened up.
Sorted 🙂
I've done it on my Kona 29er which I use as a road bike.
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If you click through on the photo you can see the larger version on Flickr. The bike is in the attic for winter, but I can check which washers were used if necessary.