Not too worried about the ratio thing but how much am I likely to notice the weight on the back wheel. Hopping loggs/fallen trees and using the bike at the skate park kind of thing, are hub gears simply not suitable for this kind of treatment?? I ride Single speed at the moment.
You will notice it.
This Winter I went and got an Alfine 8 and now the mud is here, and will probably for here for the next 3 months, I do appreciate having internal hub gears and a silentish drivetrain for slogging it out on XC routes. However, I doubt I'll ever get completely use to having the weight at the back for jumps/drops etc and the Alfine's slowish pick up; I'll be back to standard mechs in the drier months but that was the plan really: Alfine for the Winter slog.
I would think for that sort of use you will notice it but even I who is really not much of a jumper can bunnyhop my alfined bike so its not that bad
I love my Alfine 8. Been using it for nearly 2 years and it gets more use than my 'regular' bike now! Works fine on the odd jump, haven't had to worry about it at all. I'm no expert but jumping if fun on it.
Same as Nuke really, I do some drops and try to jump the Alfine (you will notice the weight at the back 😯 ) - it's on a HT bike with big fat tyres so this helps a bit with the bouncy-ness - mainly though it's for getting the miles in over winter and keeping things running through the mud
I use mine on the road, i am tempted to get the 11 speed for off raod, but i am slogging it out xc and not really doing jumps. Still an Alfine on a light HT frame will probably weight less on the rear than a full suss.
You notice at first, you get used to it, then you hate the thought of going back to "proper" gears. At least that's how it is for me.
Same for me Mackem - you'll notice it at first, for maybe the first 2 or 3 rides, then it becomes normal, and the thought of going back to a rear mech will make you shudder.....
gives me chills just thinking about it, euerrrggghh....
Stick some heavier forks, such as coil Lyriks, on the front to balance it out.
The centre of mass will return to the "traditional" position.
Then use the extra gears to carry a little more speed into your jumps to compensate for the extra weight.
😉
Took me a couple of rides to adapt but then fine.