BoulderBiker77

I've been riding single speed for a number of years now due to my frustration with derailleur brifter systems failing from high mileage usage in year round riding here in Boulder CO.

I've been, like many, drooling over Rohloff's during all that time, but alas I'm still not any closer to coughing up the $ as the exchange rate's only almost doubled their price in the last 7 years.

So that leads me to my current question. I'm wanting to go geared again as I often tow heavier loads around regularly including my 1 and soon to be 2 kids, but I don't want to revisit the high maintenance and lack of reliability that I had with derailleur based systems (and before anyone jumps to conclusions I had XT, Ultegra, and Campy Chorus systems and generally cleaned my whole drive train after every mucky ride).

I've been going back and forth between the Sturmey 3 speed, which obviously has the durability I want, and the Nexus red band 8 which has the gear range I'd prefer, but unknown durability.

I currently ride between 7 and 9 thousand miles a year rain, snow or shine. Anybody know how the premium nexus 8 holds up to higher mileage?

I-Like-To-Bike

I don't know about the Nexus red band 8, but in the last five years I've put over 25,000 miles on a Sachs Spectro 7 with coaster hub, in rain, snow, etc. Haven't spent a cent on maintenance of the hub, and no more than an hour total maintenance time (replacing a few worn $5 chains). Bike still has the original front brake pads since I hardly ever use them due to the adequacy of the allweather coaster brake for commuting.

Think compromise. Do you really need the latest and greatest (til next year) from Shimano?

fender1

I only have 3000+ on my Nexus 8. They are all primarily winter/bad weather miles. All I have had to do is adjust the shifter cable once or twice. I hope that helps. I did have the 7 speed version previously and I think the 8 speed runs smoother and shiftser better. Strictly opinion though. I did not do any "scientific" testing of the two hubs side by side. I got the hub, shifter, cog and wahsers, bolts etc on ebay for about $150 new. I had a local shop build the wheel for me.

BoulderBiker77

Reason I'm thinking red band 8 is cause it supposedly has better sealing and bearings than most of the other options out there and has won high praise from Sheldon B. who knows more about the inner workings of bikes and their parts than I ever will, that and so far I actually haven't heard a single first hand account of a problem that wasn't just due to needing an adjustment.

I'm glad to hear about the durability of the spectro 7, I have considered that hub, but was hoping for either a roller brake or drum brake for the rear instead of a coaster break since this is on a tight geometry road frame and there's a little toe overlap.

climbhoser

FWIW I haven't ridden one, but the resounding response is that they're great. I know a guy who actually mountain bikes with one and swears by it. I would say get the premium one, too. You can get it at aebike for $150 without shifter.

As soon as I can I'm getting one myself for my commuting/kid towing in South Denver. I highly suggest seeking out an Alfine rapid fire shifter for it instead of the grip shifter.

I'm in the same boat as you, too...never liked derailleurs and I've ridden the best.

Hey, if you find a smoking deal on the Redband, even through an LBS, drop me a line and let me know where and I'll bring them my business, too.

BTW, you know where to find a nice 'cross geometry bike with quality parts for cheap?

BoulderBiker77

I eat my words, I guess I'd looked at the SRAM 3, 5 and generally didn't see a drum brake option in the US, but lo and behold the S7 does come with a drum brake option.

In fact even Harris sells the Spectro 7 with drum brake for 150. Not bad...

unkchunk

I don't know how to respond to this after recent experience responding to a tire post. But just supposing I had a red band one. This is just all hypothetical mind you, but maybe I'd be riding over 5,000 miles/year for the last two years and say... oh... have had about no problems at all with the hub. I'm not making any claims here, but would this be of help to you without having any negative consequences for me later on?*

*This post is not to be interpreted as a claim of no malfunctions or maintenance issues with respect to bicycles, bicycle tires and/or bicycle components what so ever. There, I should be safe now.

wahoonc

With a one notable exception (333) Shimano IGH are top quality hubs and should be able to be ridden thousands if not tens of thousands of miles with little or no problems. And even the 333 is not a total garbage but once it goes south there is nothing to be done, parts are not available. I have yet to see a bad report on the Nexus 8 and would not hesitate to purchase one.

Aaron

tcs

Thank you for the encouraging report. Several internet posters have reported 10,000 miles to be an average lifetime for the Nexus 7 hub. The 8 seems to be better in all respects, but I think yours is the highest mileage I've read about to date.

For reference: Heinz Stucke rode his F&S three speed hub 335,000 miles between 1962 and 2005. Tommy Godwin rode his Sturmey four speed 100,000 miles in 499 days back in 1939-40. Both gentlemen have appeared in various editions of the Guiness Book of World Records.

TCS

tcs

Fun fact: Shimano built their first three speed hub in 1957, making 2007 their golden anniversary year for IGH.

You'd think they'd issue a gold anodized Alfine to celebrate!

TCS

BoulderBiker77

Yeah, I have NO doubts about the durability of the 3 speed hubs, considering SRAM, Shimano basically copied Sturmey's 1912 design, but for my intended purposes the added range is enough to lure me away, if something else has the potential to at least hold up for 4 years or so before needing a replacement. Maybe then I'd be able to replace it with a rohloff anyway

I've heard another claim of a spectro 7 over 20,000miles as well.