Originally Posted by
alpacalypse
Ginsoakedboy--
This is not completely true. There are two levels of Nexus 8-- the regular, and the redband or "premium" nexus 8.
This is not completely true. There have been four releases of the Nexus 8 (1) and four releases of the Nexus Premium 8 a.k.a. "Red Band" (2).
1. SG-8*20, -8*22, -8*30, -8*31
2. SG-8*25, -8*27, -8*35, -8*36
Despite having been suplanted by three subsequent, improved models, I still see the original -8*20 on large numbers of OEM bikes at the LBS and I suppect this lowest cost model is still in production along with the -8*31 and -8*36.
Some posters who have spent the extra dosh on the Alfine SG-S500S or -S501 swear that they work better than the less expensive Nexus SG-8*35 or -8*36 hubs even though Shimano's literature says they are identical internally. Sorry, but the OP asked about bang-for-buck.
HTH,
tcs