I've ridden dozens of NuVinci bikes by this point (and I was the first to report on coming across one, back when there wasn't even a hint of them, lo those many pages ago). So far I've come across two with notable problems. Once had a low high gear, and another had a very stiff shifter that was hard to turn. Otherwise, the "new, new" bikes have pretty much been fine. Sometimes it feels like there's some variation in the gearing from bike to bike, but I can't be sure, as there are other variables, and any differences are minor. Nothing is perfect, but in my experience, I've only had two problems bad enough to be worth pushing the "wrench" button, and I'm happy to ride a NuVinci bike when they're available.

There was a period when you could pretty much count on the gear hubs on the "new" bikes having a problem, almost ever time. Gears would skip, or the high gear would disappear altogether. Whatever occasional problems there are now is nothing like that situation.

And I most most certainly don't want them to go to single speed. On whichever bike, I pretty much always ride in high gear. If they were to go single speed, they would choose some compromise middle gear, which for me would mean spinning like a madman. It would be like riding one of the "old" bikes, which are geared pretty low, except worse.