I've got a versa VRS-8 brifter and an Alfine 8 speed hub. Works fine, comfortable hoods. The upshift throw is rather long. Most of that is the huge amount of cable htat's pulled, but some is the dead motion before it starts pulling. shifting is sort of slow, but that's mostly the hub. The brakes on the bike are bb7 roads, and also work fine with the levers.