Bicycle Mechanics - reliability? Sturmey-Archer vs. Shimano

Does anyone here have any knowledge about how reliable the Shimano multi-speed hubs (7-, 8-speed) are.
I consider the Sturmey-Archer 3-speed to be very reliable - I've never had one fail. How do the Shimanos compare?
mriley

If a sturmeyt ever breaks, you can go inside it and fix it relatively easily. Same can't be said for nexus.

If a sturmeyt ever breaks, you can go inside it and fix it relatively easily. Same can't be said for nexus.

Ditto on this. From what I've been learning the S-A hubs are tough as nails. And if they do break, the parts are available either from reputable bike shops or on line.

Does anyone here have any knowledge about how reliable the Shimano multi-speed hubs (7-, 8-speed) are.
I consider the Sturmey-Archer 3-speed to be very reliable - I've never had one fail. How do the Shimanos compare?
mriley

3 speeds:

If it has a coaster brake, Shimano is better.

If it does not have a coaster brake, Sturmey-Archer is better.

The older English Sturmey-Archer hubs are much better than the later ones. The new Taiwanese ones also look quite nice (definitely better than the later English stuff.)

8 speeds:

I own two bikes with the Shimano 8-speed and just love this hub.

http://sheldonbrown.com/raleigh-international

http://sheldonbrown.com/iro

I have recently been trying out a Sturmey-Archer 8-speed, but so far I'm pretty disappointed in it. Shifting is much fussier than the Shimano (The Shimano Nexus 8 shifts better than any other bicycle gear system I've ever tried.)

Also, the Sturmey-Archer 8-speed gearing is kinda weird. Direct drive is the lowest gear, all of the other gears are step-ups. Only two sprockets are available for it, 23 teeth or 25 teeth. Thus, if you want decent low gearing you need a teensy-weensy chainring, or a small rear wheel. I've installed mine on a Raleigh Twenty. I think the Sturmey is best suited for folding bikes for this reason.

For detailed info on gearing, see my online Gear Calculator for Internal Gear Hubs:

http://sheldonbrown.com/gears/internal.html

Sheldon "Epicyclic" Brown

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Sheldon
Thanks very much for your answer, helpful as always. It would appear to me that your (shop's) 8- speed Bianchi San Jose or a similar Quickbeam would be a good light touring bike.
mriley