Originally Posted by
crackerdog
Good idea about the suspension, I'll try that. I've already taken the spring out and put in hard rubber but I'll put in some hard plastic to lock it in place, don't like the bouncy feeling anyway. I will also get someone to sit on the bike when I tighten the axle. My disappointment level is extremely high so maybe I was over the top with never buying a product from SA again but it would have to have overwhelmingly good reviews. So you think Downtube is able to buy reject hubs from SA? That would make SA suck even more in my opinion.
The first design of this hub wasn't the best. IIRC it was designed by the old ownership, but not manufactured until new ownership took over.
After that I suspect the story went something like this: When new ownership saw the product wasn't up to snuff, they put the "slightly imperfect" stock on clearance and Downtube snapped them up at a deep discount...knowing the hubs had problems. I don't think Sturmey tried to hide the fact that this particular batch of hubs had issues...just that Downtube didn't care because their selling point is low cost (not necessarily high quality). That's why no other folding bike OEMs used this hub, even though it was specifically designed for folders, because Sturmey was honest about the issues and the only buyer that still wanted the hubs was Downtube.
Notice that Downtube isn't offering bikes with internal hubs anymore. I think now that Sturmey fixed the design and cleared out the imperfect stock Downtube isn't interested because the price of non-imperfect hubs is too high. So as I see it, Sturmey Archer isn't at fault here; They simply gave Downtube what Downtube wanted.
That being said, IMO this hub is
only slightly more problematic than the Alfine (ie not outright "defective" at all) and I think most of the complaints about this hub have been misguided/misunderstood due to the fact that half the hubs out there were equipped on bikes with nonunified rear triangles (ie the Downtube Mini).
IGHs are not compatible with non-unified rear triangle suspension systems. I know a guy who tried putting an Alfine on a non-URT suspension frame (not the Mini) and it was even worse than the XRF8.
You see, the problem is that a non-URT suspension alters chain tension during operation. So unless you're using a spring loaded tensioner (ie like a derailleur) the chain will keep tugging HARD on the axle (which is actually one of the internal gears in an IGH)...it's like riding with a monkey on your rack trained to continually smack the hub with a hammer. It also tugs on the gear cable and while a properly routed cable should ideally be able to take some tugging, the cabling on folders is often less than ideal and IGHs are also often less tolerant of cable misadjustment (not to mention the question of whether or not the cables are properly routed). Combine this with a hub which already has some minor issues and you have a recipe for disaster.