Originally Posted by
Mr IGH
Shimano 8 speeds have a 25% step between 5th and 6th gear. That translates to going from 95rpm to 70 rpm when I shift from 5th to 6th, I find it very irritating on the road. I'm not comfortable with a cadence less than 80rpm or more than 95rpm when I'm pushing, it puts a hole in my pace speed.
This my biggest gripe about the Alfine 8, as I spend the majority of my time in 6th gear, and use 5th for smaller grades or brisk headwinds (4th for ripping headwinds). This is a design oversight that it appears the 11 speed has eliminated, with its dead even spacing. I'm going to wait it out a year or so to let Shimano work out the bugs before I move towards a wholesale replacement of my current Alfine 8 setup.