Bicycle Mechanics - Which Internal Gear Hub???

I am ramping up to build a winter bike with an internal gear hub and either a drum brake or coaster. I would like at least a 7 speed hub. I have a red band Shimano Nexus 8 which has been good and I have heard great things about the Nexus 7 also. I have never heard bad news of the Sram Spectro hubs either. Are all these hubs good and reliable or are there one I should stay away from? Is there pros/ cons on drum/ coaster brakes?

The new Shimano Alfine has just hit the market and is disc brake compatible. For a winter bike in your area, I would think disc brakes are a plus. I was looking online at the new Trek Soho 4.0 with an Alfine and disc set up. I would upgrade some of the components, but the basic premise is very interesting.

Sram S7 with Drum brake. Nothing nicer than a completely sealed-service free setup.

K6-III- Are the Nexus hubs not completely sealed? Is there more drag with a coaster brake vs. a drum?

I am ramping up to build a winter bike with an internal gear hub and either a drum brake or coaster. I would like at least a 7 speed hub. I have a red band Shimano Nexus 8 which has been good and I have heard great things about the Nexus 7 also. I have never heard bad news of the Sram Spectro hubs either. Are all these hubs good and reliable or are there one I should stay away from? Is there pros/ cons on drum/ coaster brakes?

As someone who has owned all of them - the Nexus 8 even with and without the red stripe, I would advise you against the Spectro S7, because the red plastic indexing thingy did NOT fare well in considerable (-12 C) cold, and it BROKE during shifting. The thing just isn't suitable for finnish winters, and neither it is for your winters.

Why use the Nexus 7, when you have a red band Nexus 8?

Regarding rollerbrakes: I think they are the best kind of brake for winter wheather, as they are fully sealed. So is a coaster brake, but my personal experience shows that a roller brake has much more stopping power.

Regarding rollerbrakes: I think they are the best kind of brake for winter wheather, as they are fully sealed. So is a coaster brake, but my personal experience shows that a roller brake has much more stopping power.
I think the Alfine would be better suited than internal brake systems if his frame has the possibility and within budget. Personally I'd rather leave things separated than all-in-one, just in case.

Personally I use rim brakes year long, so I use them with no brake.

Nashbar has some coaster brake three speed wheel sets for $100 right now, that includes the shifter. I was gonna build a FG winter commuter, but I'm leaning towards a second set of these wheels instead.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y64/Kemmer/P1020253.jpg

I've got the Sachs/Sram S7 on a new bike I had built and it makes a constant clicking sound while pedaling in all but the first three gears. The first three gears are silent and as soon as I shift it into fourth it starts a constant clicking. It sounds like it's freewheeling very slowly in fourth gear and increases in frequency as I shift up. Has anyone experienced the same noise and if so, what is the fix? I asked the bike maker if the sound was normal weeks ago but they haven't replied.

The shift indicator was broken when I got it, I have to back off all pressure on the pedals to change gears and there's a pretty big gap between some of the gears. This is my only experience with a geared hub and all these issues (other than the indicator) may be normal. I wouldn't recommend this hub.

I've got the Sachs/Sram S7 on a new bike I had built and it makes a constant clicking sound while pedaling in all but the first three gears. The first three gears are silent and as soon as I shift it into fourth it starts a constant clicking. It sounds like it's freewheeling very slowly in fourth gear and increases in frequency as I shift up. Has anyone experienced the same noise and if so, what is the fix? I asked the bike maker if the sound was normal weeks ago but they haven't replied.

The shift indicator was broken when I got it, I have to back off all pressure on the pedals to change gears and there's a pretty big gap between some of the gears. This is my only experience with a geared hub and all these issues (other than the indicator) may be normal. I wouldn't recommend this hub.

That sound is normal for the S7 in the higher gears. It's mechanical music.

I think the Alfine would be better suited than internal brake systems if his frame has the possibility and within budget. Personally I'd rather leave things separated than all-in-one, just in case.

Personally I use rim brakes year long, so I use them with no brake.

The rollerbrake is separate from the hub. I can show you pics of a couple of Shimano Nexave rollerbrakes (compatible with all Nexus hubs, including FREEHUB! hubs - yeah, the ones that take a cassette).

Nashbar has some coaster brake three speed wheel sets for $100 right now, that includes the shifter. I was gonna build a FG winter commuter, but I'm leaning towards a second set of these wheels instead.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y64/Kemmer/P1020253.jpg

No pedals, but an anal probe instead of a saddle - shonky!

Nashbar has some coaster brake three speed wheel sets for $100 right now, that includes the shifter. I was gonna build a FG winter commuter, but I'm leaning towards a second set of these wheels instead.

This is the set (http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=6000126&subcategory=60001200&brand=&sku=19232&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=Shop%20by%20Subcat%3A%20MTB%20Wheels%20%2D%20Pairs) I found on Nashbar. Is it possible to remove/disable the coaster brake from the Nexus 3-speed?

That sound is normal for the S7 in the higher gears. It's mechanical music.

Thanks Dan. Now that I know the sound is normal I'm relieved that I don't have to send it back but also a little unhappy that I have to live with the noise! It's pretty loud on a quiet street.

Thanks Dan. Now that I know the sound is normal I'm relieved that I don't have to send it back but also a little unhappy that I have to live with the noise! It's pretty loud on a quiet street.
If you ever have the opportunity to ride a Sturmey archer 5 speed, the sound you will hear in 4th and 5th will make your Sachs seem silent in comparison. I have examples of just about every internal gear hub on the planet, including Sachs, Shimano, Rohloff and Sturmey archer, and the only one that is completely silent in every gear is the Shimano Alfine.
I you don't like the sound it makes, I guess you never put your sport's hero's cards in your spokes as a kid, huh?:D

What is the pricing going to be in the states for the Alfine hub? With the Alfine coming soon I would think the Nexus models will be costing less and less to reduce stock and gear up for the Alfine intro??

There's the solution, I'll go out and get some cards and some clothes pins right now! :D

What is the pricing going to be in the states for the Alfine hub? With the Alfine coming soon I would think the Nexus models will be costing less and less to reduce stock and gear up for the Alfine intro??
Wadaya mean, reduce stock? The nexus is still not readily available from our distributors. You gotta get em early in the season, cause the few that are made available get snapped up quick.
Shimano tells me that Alfine will be on the aftermarket in Canada next year, although they did let a few out this year, I was not able to get any. The ones I have came on new bikes.
I'm having the same issues with Sram and their i motion 9 speed. I can get all the S7 hubs I want, but there isn't much call for those any more.
Bottom line is, Sram and Shimano both do not take the North American market seriously when it comes to getting their gearhubs out there. If you don't believe me, just place a phone call to the customer support number of either company and try to engage someone in a conversation about gearhubs. You won't get more than two questions out before you will be asked what your objection to derailleur systems is.
Last winter, I attended the Sram technical training at their product development centre in Colorado Springs, and around there, the mere mention of gearhubs will make you personna non grata.

No pedals, but an anal probe instead of a saddle - shonky!

That's just how I roll.


This is the set (http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=6000126&subcategory=60001200&brand=&sku=19232&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=Shop%20by%20Subcat%3A%20MTB%20Wheels%20%2D%20Pairs) I found on Nashbar. Is it possible to remove/disable the coaster brake from the Nexus 3-speed?


That's the set, looks like the price jumped back up a bit with the introduction of the 15% off coupon. That's a nasty little trick but you'll still end up with a $100 wheelset.

I've also had a couple PMs about those white tires, they were $13 on Nashbar last week.

I ended up with a Nexus 8 by way of Sram S-7. I originally bought a Sram Spectro 7 off of ebay but it was incomplete and the seller refunded my money. A friend who had recently bought, mounted and disliked the Nexus on his recumbent sold me his hub. Now I need to consider if I should get the roller brake for it. Seems like a good idea for winter but I wonder if there will be increased drag due to the roller brake.

The Nexus 8 is supposed to be a big improvement over the Nexus 7, but I like the Nexus 7's shifter better. I just don't like grip shifters.