Bicycle Mechanics - sturmey archer 8 speed x-rf8(w) reliability

any verdict on this one?
i'm really interested in this hub (much more even gear ratio than the nexus/alfine 8), but i don't want a hub that fails unexpected within 3~5 years.

Seems I read this question before, from others ,
did you seek out other archives of this FA question?

It will be quite some time before a verdict is in on this one, at least I hope it will. I'm using one in one of my bikes with 700c wheels, and with about 400 km on it, so far so good.
I've been pulling a utility trailer with it on occasion, most recently this morning, and it's performing flawlessly.
There has been all kinds of discussion about how gearing it low enough for a full size wheel would over tourque the hub, so the contrarian in me just had to find out for myself if that is true.
I think I'm proving them wrong.

Excess torque is more of an issue with reduction gear hubs , as I understand.
X-RF8 is all over drive gears, the lowest one is the direct gear
In that .. Sprocket and Shell are 1:1

Rohloff is 3 overdrive ratios , 11 is 1:1 , the others are reduction gears ,
1st thru 7 are double reduction gears , as low range gears down the top 7.

Excess torque is more of an issue with reduction gear hubs , as I understand.
X-RF8 is all over drive gears, the lowest one is the direct gear
In that .. Sprocket and Shell are 1:1

Rohloff is 3 overdrive ratios , 11 is 1:1 , the others are reduction gears ,
1st thru 7 are double reduction gears , as low range gears down the top 7.
I'm sure the direct low gear makes it more tolerant to input torque. According to this handy dandy gear calculator, the high torque warning does not appear until the input ratio drops below 1 to 1.
http://www.gear-calculator.com/#
I'm running mine at 1.2 to 1 (30/25) yielding approximately a 32" low gear. According to the calculator, I could safely go down to 25/25 which would give about a 26" low and an 86" high.

Seems I read this question before, from others ,
did you seek out other archives of this FA question?
Yes, I have searched through the forums many times. The reviews were mixed. I'm hoping to get more sa8 w owners to share their experience.

It will be quite some time before a verdict is in on this one, at least I hope it will. I'm using one in one of my bikes with 700c wheels, and with about 400 km on it, so far so good.
I've been pulling a utility trailer with it on occasion, most recently this morning, and it's performing flawlessly.
There has been all kinds of discussion about how gearing it low enough for a full size wheel would over tourque the hub, so the contrarian in me just had to find out for myself if that is true.
I think I'm proving them wrong.
Thanks, Dan. Xrf8w seems like such a wonderful hub if working properly.
I've read a couple of cases of gear slipping, I hope sturmey archer has already corrected the problem.

I'm hoping to get more sa8 w owners to share their experience.

add to the sites: go to Hubstripping on blogspot too.

Thanks, Dan. Xrf8w seems like such a wonderful hub if working properly.
I've read a couple of cases of gear slipping, I hope sturmey archer has already corrected the problem.
There were issues with breaking pawls in the older version.
One caution, don't buy this hub if you are expecting it to be silent. First gear is silent because it's direct, but from there on up, you get rather noticeable ratcheting sounds so rapid, it's more of a buzzing sound. Not at all like the tick tick tick you get out of a 3 or 5 speed.

any verdict on this one?... i don't want a hub that fails unexpected within 3~5 years.

The XR*8(W) hub has been out two years now, so I'll get back to you in three more. As an interum data point, 1000+ miles on mine with no problems.

The XR*8(W) hub has been out two years now, so I'll get back to you in three more. As an interum data point, 1000+ miles on mine with no problems.
i remember reading your posts from the archives that you had a SA 8 speed wide range hub failing on you. i think it's the pawls Dan mentioned. i wonder if they managed to fix the issue.

i remember reading your posts from the archives that you had a SA 8 speed wide range hub failing on you. i think it's the pawls Dan mentioned. i wonder if they managed to fix the issue.

The first one, yes, purchased within a month of hitting the market. The second one, a 1000+ miles on it now, has been solid.

Thanks, guys. I ordered one today. Hopefully it's a good one.