Originally Posted by bjkeen
I think one cost advantage to an internal gear hub is that when your chain and/or steel sprocket are worn out, replacing them is all of $20 or so. This is likely going to happen less often than you'll need to replace an 8 or 9 speed chain and a whole cluster or a few gears out of the middle of it..
If I understand you right, then you claim that chain riding the same sprocket all the time causes less wear than a chain riding in several (+4-5) sprockets? You can't be serious then.
Of course you need change the single sprocket more often than you need change a cassette. Personally I don't find it a significant disadvantage against internal gear hubs that it is so; you need to change moving parts from time to time, so sometimes when you do a chain change, do a sprocket change too. Same goes with cassettes. I can buy nice nickle-chrome coated cassettes for $30 at my LBS, and I have a hard time believing that such a cassette wouldn't outlast a single sprocket at least 3 times.
Originally Posted by bjkeen
The other cost issue is that in terms of shifting smoothness, etc, the comparison has been made with a brifter system. Well, you're looking at considerably more money to brift than to be internally geared, and you have to have a front derailer to match the gearing range of the hub - that doesn't make the weight a wash, but it's close. (maybe there are 11-34 cassettes, I suppose, but I'd personally feel wary about parking an uber long cage derailer where it might get kicked)
The way I see it, it costs about $225 bike-store retail to have a 8-speed hub and shifter. Decent rear hub + 8-speedcassette/chain + rear derailer + friction shifter is cheaper, but if you go to 9-speed bar-ends and a front derailer and the extra money for double or triple crank over a single you're probably spending about the same money. I would furthermore guess that with low-end brifters the increment in cost is approaching twice as much.
Lots of issues here. But let me start to mention, that brifters aren't even an option for an internal gear hub. I have mentionend elsewere the superior amount of shifting technologies that exist for derailleurs; trigger shifters, grip shifters, bar end shifters, thumb shifters, brifters and even down tube shifters. All available for the derailleur user, enabling one to choose from a wide variety riding styles and bars; road bike bars (ergo, track, normal or randonneur style) , flat bars, riser bars, cow horns, moustache bars, TT-bars etc.
But lets compare;
You say a single front shifter (grip) for a Nexus 8 hub costs $25.
I say, get a Shimano or Sram grip shifter for derailleurs, it only costs $20 dollars on
www.nashbar.com
Front shifter pricing doesn't play a role in this comparison, except your mentioning of it gives me a chance to gloat about the many wonderfull shifting options that exists for derailleur systems, but doesn't exists for internal gear hubs.
Same with cranks; You can use a single chain ring in front on both gearing systems, - end of story, except of course that it gives yet another chance to gloat about, that things like front derailleurs and trippel cranks are actual options for derailleur systems. Internal gear hub users doesn't even have the opppertunity to pay extra for the advantages these things give.
I really do think that I have demonstrated, that only derailleur+hub+cassette price plays a role in comparison. (mentioning other parts like front derailleurs, shifters or cranks, just show how limited options that exists for internal gear hubs). So lets look at prices and products (one should really do this for one self at your favorite LBS, but here we are
)
Prices are from
http://www.nashbar.com/
Shimano 105 RD-5600 SS 10-Speed Short $67.99
Shimano Ultgera 6600 10 speed Rear Hub $79.99
Shimano 105 HG70 9spd Cassette $29.99
Total=$177.97
(Sheldon)
Shimano Nexus 8 $200
Total= $200
The savings are $22, perhaps a little less if one desires another cassette.
There exists other combinations, one should check out SRAMs X-7 /X-9 series. Or perhaps one wants a 9-speed Dura-Ace Titanium hub with a Tiagra derailleur+cassette, for only slightly more.
Is the aboved priced derailleur system cheaper? yes.
Is it lighter? yes, probably, I don't bother to check it up.
Does it run with a lower friction? yes.
Is it more durable? Yes says I. Feel free to disagree, but one would have a hard time arguing that these high end components are less durable than a Nexus 8.
Does it require less maintenance? Yes says I, feel free to disagree, but one would have a hard time arguing that these high end components requires more maintenance than a Nexus 8.
Originally Posted by bjkeen
Just this weekend I'm building up a Karate Monkey with an 8-speed hub. We'll see how it goes! If I like the bike I might make it my late fall commuter.
Best of luck with your bike project, I think you are going to like it very much.
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Regards