writergrrl11

Hi,
I just bought a new Gazelle Chamonix with a Nexus 3 hub with rollerbrakes. So far this is enough for my commuting needs but I may be headed to a hillier area in the next year.

Can you wonderfully knowledgeable people help me out? How much and how difficult would it be to swap that Nexus 3 for a 7 or 8? Job for a professional or can I do it with some help?

I'd ask at my LBS but, like the car dealers, either never seem to listen to what I want or try and overcharge me. Unfortunately, i don't have much choice in where I go either I'd like to be well-informed when I walk in.

Thanks very much!

LarDasse74

All you need to replace is the rear hub and shifter, but it would probably be easier to replace the whole wheel rather than build a new rim and spokes onto the new hub. I am not sure if the rollerbrake (hand lever operated, right???) that fits on the 3 sp hub is the same that fits on the 7/8 speed hub. But if is is then the whole thing can be swapped over.

The whole job should not be too complicated... the hardest part would be swapping the brake over, I bet. And even that is not brain science.

Mr IGH

Biggest issue is the width of your bike's rear dropouts. The Nexus 8 speed roller brake hub's width is 132mm, the Nexus 7 speed roller brake hub's width 130mm, the Nexus 3 speed roller brake hub's width is either 120mm or 127mm. Your Gazelle Chamonix appears to have an aluminum frame. If that's the case AND your Nexus 3 speed roller brake hub's width is 120mm then it's not going to be easy to change the hub to a 7 or 8 speed. If you have the 127mm 3 speed hub, then you could easily change to the Nexus 7 speed roller brake hub (with width 130mm). The if the frame is aluminum, the Nexus 8 speed is not going to fit no matter what the existing hub's width is. Alumninum frame's rear dropouts cannot be reset, they have to stay as the factory set them at. If the frame is steel, then a good LBS should be able to reset the frame's rear dropout width to accomodate any of the Nexus 7/8 speed hubs.

writergrrl11

Thanks for the info. I have a silly question: how do I know which width of hub I have? I looked at it and tried to measure the spacing of the dropouts but couldn't really tell since it's a ***** to take the back wheel off. Any advice? Thanks!

tatfiend 

No accurate way to measure w/o removing the rear wheel. I realize it is a bit of a PITA but you need to learn how to do it BEFORE you have your first flat tire while on a ride. Doing so at home will also show you what tools you should have on the bike to do the wheel removal and reinstallation. Flats are something you WILL have to deal with if you ride much.