Versa VRS-11 for Alfine 11.... - Bike Forum

Re: Versa VRS-11 for Alfine 11....

pistonbroke — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 16:50:25 +0000

You're right, it does benefit from a light touch but the jumping can occur anything around 30 seconds after the gear change. I've only done about 150 light miles but am going to get an oil change if only to see what debris comes out.

Re: Versa VRS-11 for Alfine 11....

bristolbiker — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 16:46:00 +0000

Hmmmm - that doesn't sound good. Without preaching to the converted, it does shift smoother if you back off the power just before shifting and for the next half a crank revolution. Also the hub instructions say the hub should have its first oil change after (IIRC) 1000km (1000 km is only 4/5 weeks for me...) and then every 5000km after that - have you done enough milage/need an oil change?

Overall longevity is something I do worry about - more because it's a complete black-box, with no external mechanism that can be fettled, rather than any experience to suggest it'll be unreliable.....

Re: Versa VRS-11 for Alfine 11....

pistonbroke — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 16:37:32 +0000

Yes that makes perfect sense, it looks exactly how I wanted mine to be but given that I am running a 32t chainring on an FSA external BB crankset, I've had to get a dished sprocket to get the chain line somewhere near, this leaves less space for the cassette joint arm to fit. I positioned the cable nut exactly the distance as stated in the fitting instructions and lined up the yellow lines but I'm getting a worrying snatching in 3rd, it is about 1/4 of a pedal stroke and goodness knows what internal damage it is doing. I'm waiting for some feedback via 18bikes and will be dropping it in soon for them to pull apart to see how many bits of aluminium fall out. :cry:

Re: Versa VRS-11 for Alfine 11....

bristolbiker — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 16:07:14 +0000

Yep, appears to be running ok - it has skipped a few times, but not consistently in any gear and I think it's more to do with me having to get used to the shifter. The Versa is no Shimano offering - the lever throw for the downshifts is way looooonnnnnggggg and the lever follows a slightly odd arc (to my mind) and is a teeny bit flexy in itself and at the pivot in the lever.

Yep, using the green/blue washers - the joint arm pops up just behind the seat stay (NB: in the photo, spotted I've wrapped the shifter cable around the seat stay in my haste fitting the wheel. Have sorted that now so it runs direct from the upper cable cable guide straight to the casette joint). As I say, the only issue doing this was that the 'lumpy bit' (technical term) on the cassette joint by the cable nut hole fouled with the joint of the dropout/chain stay/seat stay unless the hub was right back in the dropouts..... just cut off must of the 'lumpy bit', leaving enough of a divot to wind back the cable with my thumb when taking the cable off for getting the wheel out. Fits a treat now, even right forward in the dropouts - plus it's lighter ;-) (does any of that make any sense?!?!?!?) I did dither about this arrangement for a good few days as it didn't look quite like the pics of the straight bar build on the On-One website, but in practise it's been fine.

Re: Versa VRS-11 for Alfine 11....

pistonbroke — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 15:42:53 +0000

I have done the same thing with a slotted dropout Scandal which looks very similar about the back end, getting the shifter arm to run up the seatstay but in front of it was a real palarva, I had to fashion my own no turn washer setup from a chain tug. Bristolbiker, is it running ok, not jumping in 3rd and 4th gear? Did you use the supplied green and blue no turn washers? If so how? I'm using the supplied rapidfire shifter but it should be the same setup.

Re: Versa VRS-11 for Alfine 11....

bristolbiker — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 16:14:52 +0000

Cost - The frame, hub (F+R), shifters and a few other odds and ends were full retail/through-the-nose price. The rest came from either sales, but new, or s/h off the classified and ebay. Total cost was a smidge under £1500 - all the Alfine gubbins was ~£600/650 of that.

shuhockey - email me to the addy above ^^^ and I'll send you a pic of the hub area. I had to, er, modify the cassette joint with a hacksaw and stanley knife to make it all fit neatly inside the droputs with cassette joint pointing up the seat stay on that size frame....

Re: Versa VRS-11 for Alfine 11....

shuhockey — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 16:06:48 +0000

Hi
Could you post some close up shots of the hub setup and the inside of the shifter. Mine arrived from US, so done over with the customs plus parcel force charging £14 fee. Just awaiting my hub.
Bike looks great by the way.

Re: Versa VRS-11 for Alfine 11....

hungrymonkey — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 15:52:25 +0000

that almost makes me want a job i have to commute to (as opposed to roll out of bed at half 9 straight onto my desk chair...).

thats lovely! what was the cost (if you don't mind me asking?)

Re: Versa VRS-11 for Alfine 11....

bristolbiker — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 15:26:27 +0000

OK, thanks to the very kind Mister P, below should be some pics of the new bike on a dull day, parked next to an industrial unit somwhere North of Bristol (i.e. - weeds, dirt, litter etc in shot are not my responsibility!! ;-) )

http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss177/misterp13/SNV30301.jpg

http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss177/misterp13/SNV30302.jpg

EDIT: Blimey - it worked first time!

Re: Versa VRS-11 for Alfine 11....

bristolbiker — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 14:40:35 +0000

Very kind MrP - email me direct on gshort AT eatec DOT co DOT uk and i'll send you some pics back. Is that easiest?