I took delivery of my 2009 Downtube Mini one week ago today, and so far I've put over 200kms on it. The overall quality certainly isn't in the same league as our Dahon Curve SL, but then again, neither was the price.

My main frustration and disappointment is with the Sturmey Archer XRF8 hub. I've been fiddling with it constantly for the past week and 200 kilometres, and still can't get it to work properly. The problem concerns mainly 3rd and 7th gears. If I adjust the cable tension so that it shifts in and out of 3rd OK, then it won't shift in and out of 7th. If I set it up so that 7th works, then I have the same problem shifting in and out of 3rd. As an example, when I set it up so that 3rd works fine, it will shift OK from 6th to 7th, but then when I shift from 8th to 7th, it slips or misses altogether. Adjust it so the 6-7-8 shifts work OK, and then 3rd slips or misses altogether. Sometimes I'll think I've found the "sweet spot" and be riding for 15-20 minutes, then 7th will slip about half a crank rotation for no reason at all, without even a gear change.

So far, I have done the following:

1.) Adjusted the cable tension so that the yellow triangle is between the 2 lines, and played with that setting, both up and down toward each side. I have been doing this constantly, using the barrel adjuster under the shifter while riding. Still can't find the "sweet spot". (And yes, I do stop pedaling when I shift gears.)

2.) Lubricated the cable and housing with LPS Magnum Teflon Lubricant.

3.) Lubricated inside the shifter mechanism with LPS Silicon spray lube.

4.) Made sure the right hand grip was not pressing too tightly against the rotating shifter mechanism.

5.) Removed the rear wheel, adjusted the cones so that they weren't too tight or loose, and made sure the interface between the fulcrum lever and hub was well greased.

6.) Adjusted chain tension so that it was neither too tight or loose.

I've pretty much run out of ideas, and would like to hear of your experiences with your Downtube + Sturmey Archer XRF8 hub. How well does yours work? Flawlessly, hit or miss most of the time, or somewhere in between? If you did have problems initially and corrected them, what did you do?

I'm really getting frustrated with this, and am beginning to regret not buying another Dahon Curve SL. Ours works perfectly, and has never required any adjustment, ever. I love the looks of the Downtube Mini, and really want to get it sorted out, but it's beginning to give me a bad case of buyer's remorse.