Stateside SRAM iMotion-9 sighting
06-23-07, 03:18 AM
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Stateside SRAM iMotion-9 sighting
https://www.sheldonbrown.org/bass/index.html
As usual, Sheldon is the firstest with the mostest. Sheldon (hoping you catch this)... any comments about weight, shifting, comparison to Red Band? And yes, that shifter cable routing is funky. Or maybe funcy (with a hard c), since it is functional.
I'm going to swap out the SRAM Spectro 7 on my Swift for one of these. The Red Bands are very tempting... but it's too much work for just one more gear.
As usual, Sheldon is the firstest with the mostest. Sheldon (hoping you catch this)... any comments about weight, shifting, comparison to Red Band? And yes, that shifter cable routing is funky. Or maybe funcy (with a hard c), since it is functional.
I'm going to swap out the SRAM Spectro 7 on my Swift for one of these. The Red Bands are very tempting... but it's too much work for just one more gear.
Last edited by maunakea; 06-23-07 at 01:29 PM.
06-23-07, 03:33 AM
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The SRAM i-Motion 9 is a lot more expensive than the new Shimano Alfine hub, although the Alfine in only an 8 speed it should provide wide enough gearing for normal use.
The SRAM is 247 EUR while the Shimano is 146.50 EUR. For those of you who think in dollars, that's about a $130 difference.
https://bike-components.de/catalog/Ci...da481ee0948c8e
https://bike-components.de/catalog/Ci...da481ee0948c8e
The SRAM is 247 EUR while the Shimano is 146.50 EUR. For those of you who think in dollars, that's about a $130 difference.
https://bike-components.de/catalog/Ci...da481ee0948c8e
https://bike-components.de/catalog/Ci...da481ee0948c8e
06-23-07, 04:38 AM
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For cost/benefit, durability, efficiency and ease of service, my favorite is still the SRAM S7. I'm waiting to see if the i9 or Alfine can change my mind.
BTW, that's a good price on an Alfine. Here in the USA, Harris' price on a Red Band + shifter is $255.
In addition to an extra gear and a wider range, the iMotion9 has very even ratio steps. The Shimano 8 speed hubs are all over the place, with some ratio steps 60% of others. Some riders don't notice; it drives others crazy.
Anyway, I understand the Alfine has some additional roller bearings and less drag than the Red Band. I haven't seen a real Alfine or i9 here in the USA yet.
TCS
BTW, that's a good price on an Alfine. Here in the USA, Harris' price on a Red Band + shifter is $255.
In addition to an extra gear and a wider range, the iMotion9 has very even ratio steps. The Shimano 8 speed hubs are all over the place, with some ratio steps 60% of others. Some riders don't notice; it drives others crazy.
Anyway, I understand the Alfine has some additional roller bearings and less drag than the Red Band. I haven't seen a real Alfine or i9 here in the USA yet.
TCS
06-23-07, 07:58 AM
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Originally Posted by tcs
Here in the USA, Harris' price on a Red Band + shifter is $255.
Originally Posted by tcs
In addition to an extra gear and a wider range, the iMotion9 has very even ratio steps. The Shimano 8 speed hubs are all over the place, with some ratio steps 60% of others. Some riders don't notice; it drives others crazy.
Originally Posted by tcs
Anyway, I understand the Alfine has some additional roller bearings and less drag than the Red Band.
Jack
06-23-07, 11:45 AM
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Originally Posted by JackJ
First time I've heard this--most of what I've read is speculation that the Alfine internals are identical to Red Band. Where did you get a different impression?
https://cycle.shimano-eu.com/publish/...or_sporty.html
"Furthermore, this 8-speed hub has a high driving efficiency by using needle bearings ..."
Anyway, no need to speculate. Shimano's exploded diagram of the Alfine delineates a number of components that are different from and non-interchangeable with the Red Band:
https://techdocs.shimano.com/media/te...9830609194.pdf
Best,
TCS
06-23-07, 06:42 PM
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Originally Posted by maunakea
https://www.sheldonbrown.org/bass/index.html
As usual, Sheldon is the firstest with the mostest. Sheldon (hoping you catch this)... any comments about weight, shifting, comparison to Red Band? And yes, that shifter cable routing is funky. Or maybe funcy (with a hard c), since it is functional.
I'm going to swap out the SRAM Spectro 7 on my Swift for one of these. The Red Bands are very tempting... but it's too much work for just one more gear.
As usual, Sheldon is the firstest with the mostest. Sheldon (hoping you catch this)... any comments about weight, shifting, comparison to Red Band? And yes, that shifter cable routing is funky. Or maybe funcy (with a hard c), since it is functional.
I'm going to swap out the SRAM Spectro 7 on my Swift for one of these. The Red Bands are very tempting... but it's too much work for just one more gear.
06-23-07, 07:45 PM
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Both the Alfine 8 and the iMotion 9 are on production bikes in Germany and other EU nations. On www.google.de, search on either "alfine" or "imotion 9" and you'll get a ton of results, such as
https://www.dk-content.de/trekkingbik...Top-Raeder.pdf
a test of commuter/touring bikes equipped with a variety of drive trains. In that test, in all but one case, the ratings were directly proportional to price (they loved a 3000 Euro bike with Rohloff). The exception was the 1000 Euro Strassenfeger, with an Alfine 8, double chainring, and a chain tensioner, that equalled the score ("super") of the 3000 Euro bike. A 700 Euro bike had an iMotion 9, which they liked, but the overall score of that bike was a lowly "gut" on a gut, sehr gut, super scale.
https://www.dk-content.de/trekkingbik...Top-Raeder.pdf
a test of commuter/touring bikes equipped with a variety of drive trains. In that test, in all but one case, the ratings were directly proportional to price (they loved a 3000 Euro bike with Rohloff). The exception was the 1000 Euro Strassenfeger, with an Alfine 8, double chainring, and a chain tensioner, that equalled the score ("super") of the 3000 Euro bike. A 700 Euro bike had an iMotion 9, which they liked, but the overall score of that bike was a lowly "gut" on a gut, sehr gut, super scale.
Last edited by maunakea; 06-23-07 at 08:03 PM.
06-23-07, 08:53 PM
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SRAM claims they can make around 200,000 i9 hubs a year. Apparently all of them in this first year of production have been absorbed by the European market; Sheldon's and the one at Interbike are the only ones I've seen in N.A.
I'm waiting for the carbon shell/no brake version.
https://www.sram-imotion.com/pdf/news/snn7_en.pdf
TCS
I'm waiting for the carbon shell/no brake version.
https://www.sram-imotion.com/pdf/news/snn7_en.pdf
TCS
