Nexus and Rohloff hubs with the Panasonic drive
My experience with the Nexus 8 speed hub gear has all been good, but it has all been gained with the final redband version that Shimano developed (SG-8R36), just after the launch of the Alfine 8 speed.
There is very little difference between the Nexus 8R36 and the 8 speed Alfine, other than the Alfine is equipped to take a disk brake.
As Flecc says, a pause on the pedals during the gear change pays dividends in achieving a good life.
The 8R36 was original equipment on the Kalkhoff Tasman which my son and daughter-in-law have used for the past 2 years, usually with a child on board. Still changes beautifully, and has needed no maintenance on the hub.
I used an 8R36 on the Kalkhoff ProConnect for approx 3000 miles with the lever shifter, and have done approx 1000 miles with one on an Agattu, this time with the rotary shifter.
None have been any trouble.
Other members of the forum have reported some shifting difficulty when the ambient temperature reaches -4 degC. I have no experience at these low temperatures at which the Shimano hub gear grease becomes a little sticky.
(The Shimano shifter operates on a single cable, relying on the spring loaded cassette at the hub to pull the cable back when changing down)
Rohloff
Before Shimano announced the 11 speed Alfine, I was interested to try the Rohloff on the ProConnect to take advantage of the wide range.
Uisng the standard Panasonic 41 tooth chainwheel and the 15 tooth Rohloff sprocket (and 700C x 38 tyres), this gives a range in gear inches of 20.8 to 109.5 with the 14 gears.
This range of gearing can only be achieved on the 8 speed nexus by fitting a 23 T sprocket for the low range, or a 16 T sprocket for the high range.
The ProConnect dropout slots are nearly horizontal, so not ideal for a powerful cyclist. I use the "nutted" version of the Rohloff and the long torque arm; I would think that the "quick release" version of the hub would be likely to move in the slots.
An 1/8" chain is required for the Panasonic chainwheel and this has proved to be OK on the narrower Rohloff sprocket, which is designed for 3/32".
I am not a powerful cyclist, but with this wonderful range of gearing and the standard panasonic motor (and original 9T motor sprocket), I can cycle in mountainous areas without ever needing to dismount.
James