Here in the Philippines, model specific replacement parts or even something that can be adapted to fit is a total crapshoot. Rather than buying local built and over paying for iffy QC I shopped Japan surplus and bought a Bridgestone Albelt with a Shimano Nexus Inter 3 hub. My last bike was a generic 18spd MTB and I was usually in one of three gear ranges. When I started looking to change the belt ratio on the Albelt I picked up another Bridgestone with chain drive on the same hub to do trial and error before replacing expensive parts.

While the older Shimano 3 speeds have a reputation for being fragile the Nexus series seems to have corrected that. Sturmey Archer has a reputation for being more repairable. They get cranky when in need of cleaning and adjustment but can usually be brought back to full operation with a little work. Shimano on the other hand seems to be a deal where the first noticeable problem is an indication that you used to own a working hub.

What that doesn't tell me is what sort of service life I can expect from an Inter 3 with periodic cleaning and lube. Can anyone here speak from experience? I'm on the high side of sixty and do 50-75 miles a week. Will I live long enough to wear one out?