Best option for road and light trail use?

eddieo

Banned
Jul 7, 2008
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These are the options whats best..I favor XT as I'm used to it, but there may well be better options

Dual Drive 24-Gg. Disc 446 €

Alivio 27-Gg. Disc 446 €

Nu Vinci, infinitely variable disc 446 €

Rohloff 14-Gg. Disc 595 €

Deore 27-Gg. Disc 595 €
 

flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
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I'm guessing you mean with a front hub motor Eddie, since you mention the Alivio and Deore setups. Of course the DualDrive will give all it's gears with crank drive.

On an unpowered bike I'd personally avoid the two hub gears from an efficiency point of view, but with good e-power that isn't an issue. They'd certainly cut down on the maintenance work.
 

103Alex1

Esteemed Pedelecer
Sep 29, 2012
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I'm guessing you mean with a front hub motor Eddie, since you mention the Alivio and Deore setups.
Won't the 9-speed setups pair with a CST rear hub drive motor ?
 

KirstinS

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Apr 5, 2011
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The efficiency arguement against hubs is much discussed across other MTB forums. I'm not sure I quite agree with flecc here (*gulp* did i just say that ! :)

in lab conditions then yes, old school mech is more efficient. In the real world where mud, grit, water and other crud gets into the gears then much of the efficiency gain is erroded away. My opinion is that the difference in real world conditions is so small as to be unimportant to all but the most sporty/racer/competitive types. However this is based on my experience with the Alfine hubs (8 and 11). I'm not sure about the rollhoff as never had a go on one.

And I completely agree with flecc on the nu vinci. Again I have not personally tested but much others have and the evidence points to variables being significantly less efficient than geared hubs. I'll try to dig out some links

I love the low maintenance of hubs - a huge gain versus teeney tiny efficiency losses

What can I say - I love da hub (no the daahub obviously cos I cant buy one of the blinking things!:)
 

flecc

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Oct 25, 2006
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Won't the 9-speed setups pair with a CST rear hub drive motor ?
Yes, I'll have to that used to that being available now. Been so used to being stuck with limited multi-sprocket freewheel choices previously!
 

eddieo

Banned
Jul 7, 2008
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absolutely no interest in hubs, but duel drive gets good reviews so would consider...

Sorry should have said..its a MPF centre drive bike, 50 Nm so wear an issue I guess.....I'm only a leisure/exercise user so light use really (except for my weight:eek:)

Speed on the flat main requirement?
 
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flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
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Any of them would suit those requirements then, but for the attraction of minimum maintenance the Rohloff would be good. The single control for all the gears makes life simple. Much depends on what you like using best though, derailleur or hub gear.
 

oigoi

Esteemed Pedelecer
Apr 14, 2011
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I haven't tried many hub gears lately so cannot compare their efficiency but the idea derailleur systems need a lot of maintenance is in my opinion not true.
My bike has a mixture of deore and xt and in the last year has needed no adjustment or maintenance, other than oiling the chain and it is ridden in all weathers and feels to me like it is very efficient compared to the hub gears I have used
 

103Alex1

Esteemed Pedelecer
Sep 29, 2012
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I'm a confirmed hub gear fan. One shifter for one function and no cassette for chains to be jumping around. Not to mention 2 shifters for one function. Makes complete sense to me - more concentration available for other things like bike control, brake control and enjoying your surroundings.

I'd go for the Rohloff at that price - it's a steal. Best part of a grand here most places (£). The 14-speed is all you could ever want for the riding you're doing.

My new (old) bike has 9-speed Deore XT (unconverted). It's a great bike but so far I don't like it because the gears are totally confusing and I don't like chains jumping around cassette wheels. I bought it so I might be able to convert and don't want a front wheel motor but not sure I'll ever really like a bike with derailleurs. Maybe my attitude will change with more use, but at the moment it's like trying to drive a manual car when you are only used to automatics.

If there was any way to have a centre drive crank with the oomph of a powerful rear hub combined with hub gears I'd choose it any day.
 
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eddieo

Banned
Jul 7, 2008
5,070
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I'm a confirmed hub gear fan. One shifter for one function and no cassette for chains to be jumping around. Not to mention 2 shifters for one function. Makes complete sense to me - more concentration available for other things like bike control, brake control and enjoying your surroundings.

I'd go for the Rohloff at that price - it's a steal. Best part of a grand here most places (£). The 14-speed is all you could ever want for the riding you're doing.

well it seems to be used on a lot of S class bikes so it must be robust? Maybe the pricing wrong.....
 

103Alex1

Esteemed Pedelecer
Sep 29, 2012
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well it seems to be used on a lot of S class bikes so it must be robust? Maybe the pricing wrong.....
It's the best and most reliable hub gears you can get. Gear changing is via twist grip rather than via shifter levers. As you don't have any throttle issues to worry about this should be perfect.
 
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