The 8-speed alfine rear hubs are brilliant, my ridgeback nemesis has one. Almost silent in operation and very easy to adjust. No more ticktickniknikclickclickclicktickticknikniktingtingting as you ride down the road in gear number 3.5
I must say I have gone right off the wisper frame
. When I first got my 2006/07 905 I loved the unique curves in the tubes, but not so much now. Just personal taste, you can't please all of them all of the time.
I wish there was a way to have less visible cabling in the handlebar area on electric bikes, but that's the nature of the beast.
What I would REALLY like to see is a 806/906 hybrid, ie have the 806 battery arrangement on the 906. This would shorten the 906 wheelbase (I struggle to get my 906 through some of our local bike gates), and make it look a lot more like a regular bike. Of course, this would require some frame re-engineering, with shorter seatstays and chainstays, but I think the bike would look a whole lot better for it. The fact that you would also end up with a smaller capacity battery is worth it I think.
But, having said that, I'm sure these bikes will be best sellers, and rightly so.
Chris.