Originally Posted by
slickginger
As someone with all 3, what do you think about them? I have a Shimano Nexus 7 and as someone used to derailleurs (and someone coming from the road bike world) I was surprised by how draggy my Tern D7i feels compared to my roadie, or even a touring full-size frame. I've been wondering if it was just a bad hub?
Here are my ratings below. If the Nexus 8 came in a 120 OLD, I wouldn't even have a reason to look at the other hubs. I hope that Sturmey Archer can make the 8 as efficient and as quiet as the Nexus/Alfine line some day.
Someone else mentioned that their Nexus 7 had a lot of friction as well.
Shimano Nexus 8 (SG-8R30)
- this is the one I like best overall
- least amount of friction, almost imperceptible difference from a derailleur
- shifts are nice and clean
- I don't generally have to fiddle with the adjustment on this
- 5 gear is direct drive, which has the lowest friction and is a nice near for toodling around in
- a nice wide gear range of 307% which is perfect for my commute and general usage
- while the steps in the gears aren't all even, they are even enough
- decent looking hub
- reasonable price
- adjustments are easy, you line up some lines in a window
- hub is silent
Sturmey Archer 8 (x-rf8w)
- this is my 2nd favourite
- this has noticeable friction
- shift are nice and clean if you keep it in adjustment
- I do have to adjust this one a bit more
- adjustments are easy, you line up a line into the centre of a window
- great looking hub with polished metal
- gear steps are nice and even except the lowest and the highest... which I don't mine
- wide gear range of 325%
- hub is noisy
- has a 120 OLD (Over locknut dimension) so is good for folding bike that have narrow dropouts
- direct drive is gear 1, and all gearing is up from there, so is great for smaller wheeled bikes
SRAM i-Motion 3
- only used this for a month or so
- seemed almost as efficient as the Nexus 8
- gear changes seemed a little grabby and clingy but not sure if that was the hub or the twist shifter
- just wasn't enough gears for to to maintain a good cadence, which isn't a flaw of the hub, just didn't match my riding style'
- 120 OLD
I will likely get a single speed Brompton this spring. If I'm adventurous, will widen the rear triangle and put the Nexus 8 in it. If not will certainly put a Sturmey Archer 8 in it.
Let me know if you have any questions.