Shimano Alfine 11-Speed Disc Hub without Fittings
4.6
5
8
8
Not perfect, but pretty darn good
I upgraded my Surly Pugsley fatbike from an Alfine 8 to the Alfine 11 about 3 months ago and have used the bike on average 3-4 times per week since. I waited a while to write this review because i wanted to put the hub to a proper test first. Sorry for the long review, but it's not a cheap item, is it?
I'm running a 33t chainring with an 18t cog, which suits the riding i do on this bike (including tight singletrack and the occasional beach run - maybe some snow come winter). The extra spread - especially the bigger step down to the lowest gear - makes it seem like there are more than just 3 extra gears in that hub. Even running a 33:18 ratio, I rarely get into the top gear.
Sharper shifting and the same orientation as regular (non rapid-rise) Shimano shifters is a big improvement on the 8. However, what hasn't changed is the way the hub 'hangs up' when you shift down under pedaling pressure. At times you have to remove almost all pressure before it changes down. Otherwise it either won't change down or will do so with a huge 'clunk'. I doubt the hub would stand up to much of that punishment, so I either shift early or struggle through in a higher than optimum gear, until I can back off and change down. I might have dropped the rating by 1/2 a star because of this, but it seems you can only give whole-star ratings.
I do think the internal gear set-up is a good option in certain applications, because it's great not having all those exposed external bits - especially on the beach runs. Plus I like the clean chain-line (almost single-speed look). Fitting and setting up was straight-forward and, despite the sometimes hard conditions this hub has faced, I've had no mechanical problems. I haven't had to adjust the gears at all since the hub was fitted.
Overall, it has definitely been worth the upgrade from the Alfine 8. Not exactly cheap, but even the Alfine 11 is about 1/3 the price of another well-known IGH system, and I don't see the justification for paying triple. Highly recommended.
Here's a tip - get a Surly tuggnut or similar adjuster - makes getting the right chain tension much easier.
Oh, and get yourself a fatbike. Survival of the fattest! :-)
20 May 2013
A Solution to an Old Guy's Problems
I have a problem. At 75 years old and a stroke victim survivor I was having problems operating Grip Shift Gear Changers. I still ride regularly using a Bile Friday Pocket Expedition Mountain Bile for on road touring.
I decided to in stall the Alfine 11 speed internally geared hub (IGH)with all its additional items.
Installing the hub into a small BMX sized wheel used by the Bike Friday was OK but Shimano's recommended 3 cross lacing pattern is too much and and I used the a 2 cross pattern.
Installing the additional components which include the Cassette Joint, Sprocket, Rapid Fire Shifter, chainset and chain tensioner was reasonably straight forward except for the snap ring fixing the sprocket to the hub. I recommend that one looks at the following video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCmTRVgDjO8
which applies to both the Alfine 8 and 11.
Riding a bike fitted with a modern 11 speed IGH was a revelation. The changes are almost instantaneous and can be made while both stationery or pedalling although I try to avoid changing down to a lower gear under full pressure.
The gear range is given as 409% and using an 18 tooth sprocket coupled with a 39 tooth chainring gives a good touring range 22 to 90.
After a month of use I am sols on the as a solution to my problems.
30 January 2012
A great step up from the 8 speed
Just upgraded from the 8 speed on my canondale Bad boy.
Huge improvement.
Much, much bigger range - so I don't feel like i'm permananently running out of gears.
Faster, smoother changes, up and down even when keeping pressure on.
The odd clunk and click around 6/7 but very, very happy.
The new shifter is much better (the same as MTB shifters finally) and adjustment is a doddle.
The downside is the price. Hefty and requires the fitting kit and in a year's time the oil change kit.
29 January 2012
Shimano's New Geared Hub
I fitted this 11 speed hub to my Duster 8 replacing an 8 speed hub. I use this bike for commuting along back roads and on farm tracks through a forest. I also use it more generally for cross country riding if the weather is poor and ride is over moderate tracks.
The eight speed hub was smooth and worked perfectly for 1,000 miles. I changed to the eleven speed hub to give me a greater gear range and smaller steps between each gear. The 11 speed hub is smooth and quiet and suited to mountain biking across country. It is slightly heavy but replaces two deraileurs and requires very little maintenance. The chain line is constant between the gears (it is not force to move at an angle between the front and back detraileurs) and as a result lasts a lot longer (I got 1,000 miles out of the original chain).
The build quality seems to be first class.
Would I use this hub on my primary mountain bike? No, but for less demanding tracks, when riding over sandy trails, commuting every day, building up the miles and general riding when a full XTR set up is an expensive overkill, it is a genuine alternative and pleasant to use.
31 October 2011
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