Hub gears v derailleur on an E bike.

[Gringo]

Yet another vote for the alfine8.
3000 miles of living with a 9speed derailleur that almost but not quite worked perfectly on my Bosch powered cube.
About 300 miles ago I changed my rear wheel to include an alfine 8 and I haven't looked back, excluding my rear view mirror
My next bike will come with hub gears or have them fitted from day one.

 

[tommie]

Out of curiosity what sprocket are you using on the hub?

i started with a 20t, changed to a 18t but i reckon i could go down to a 16t to get a bit more top end speed,

just don`t want to loose that climbing ability.

 

[D8ve]

I'm running the 16 t to get top end. Still haven't tried climbing a hill in first without power yet. Never needed to use less than 3rd with power so far .

 

[Artstu]

I'm running a 16 too, 1st is low enough for any hill here with the motor, I'd be walking with a flat battery though.

 

[Gringo]

unless we are all running the same front sprocket, the size of the rear will effect the gearing for each of us differently. Personally a 20t rear & 7th gear sits nicely around 15 - 16 mph cutoff, in 8th I'm on my own power & spinning out much over 22 mph. I can live with this as I'm not in a rush to get anywhere and I can manage most hills in 1st without power, should the need arise

 

[anotherkiwi]

unless we are all running the same front sprocket, the size of the rear will effect the gearing for each of us differently. Personally a 20t rear & 7th gear sits nicely around 15 - 16 mph cutoff, in 8th I'm on my own power & spinning out much over 22 mph. I can live with this as I'm not in a rush to get anywhere and I can manage most hills in 1st without power, should the need arise

35 km/h is a bit slow for me, I like having something under foot up to 45 - 50 km/h. 46:11derailleur I am still pedalling at 55 kph.

From what I understand a nexus 8 with 46:18 should be about right for me.

 

[D8ve]

Nexus 8 48:16. 25 kph in 5th easy. Still going at 50 kph spun out around 60 kph ish

 

[anotherkiwi]

26" rear wheel vs 28" rear wheel. And I have to keep the motor happy in climbs that are almost always over 1 km long is my reasoning for 46:18.

 

[Gringo]

I've just copied this from a previous thread, it may be beneficial working out your ratios.

With a 20-tooth sprocket on hub, this approximately imitates the gears on a 12-38-tooth cassette.
Here's the full review
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/components/hubs/product/review-shimano-alfine-disc-hub-31670/

 

[Trevormonty]

I've just copied this from a previous thread, it may be beneficial working out your ratios.

With a 20-tooth sprocket on hub, this approximately imitates the gears on a 12-38-tooth cassette.
Here's the full review
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/components/hubs/product/review-shimano-alfine-disc-hub-31670/

There is also option to upgrade the hub to Di2 system later. Allows faster shifting plus possible automatic shifting depending on mid drive system.

 

[Weldinpatt]

Ok I'm showing my ignorance. Why do some hub gears have that little derailleur type arm. ?? Is it to square off the chain? To adjust the tension? Should they be fitted to all hub gears?

It is a chain tensioner and needs fitting on vertical dropouts . Excellent low maintenance and a correct chain tension at all times. A drop of oil weekly if I remember . At 2000 miles it’s like new.
My horizontal dropouts use spindle tugs , easy but another tedious task . However it’s easier to keep eye on chain wear because I tension it as it wears but the vertical tensions its self. I use a chain wear indicator tool.
A shorter better chainline than derailleur gears are capable of , results in longer chain life and less sprocket wear . Sprockets are cheap when it’s replacement time. I use e bike grade chain, a left over from my motorcycling days of cheap chains and break downs .

 

[Ocsid]

The facilitating the use of a Gates Carbon belt, is one of the big pluses of using hub gearing; no mess in car, in house or on clothes, no real need in many thousands of miles to make any adjustments; but at some considerable expense.
Much the same I expect could come with a fully enclosed chain, but I really like our Gates belt bike, and can now afford what I like.

 

[guerney]

The facilitating the use of a Gates Carbon belt, is one of the big pluses of using hub gearing; no mess in car, in house or on clothes, no real need in many thousands of miles to make any adjustments; but at some considerable expense.
Much the same I expect could come with a fully enclosed chain, but I really like our Gates belt bike, and can now afford what I like.

Having just finished truing a wheel and adjusting V-brakes, it's Swarfega time again... or WD40, which works ok too...