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which nexus 8 speed hub bike: Blade8, CRXcity, TrekS500?
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which nexus 8 speed hub bike: Blade8, CRXcity, TrekS500?
Postby chains » Wed Sep 27, 2006 10:36 pm
What are the strengths & weaknesses of the following nexus 8 speed hub bikes? Value for money? Quality? Suitability for my purposes?
Pls rate: Avanti Blade 8, Giant CRX City, Trek S500
(any other comparable bikes I've missed?)
Thanks in advance!
- sogood
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Postby sogood » Thu Sep 28, 2006 6:27 am
In other words, for people who don't have hills to tackle, these internal geared hubs are just perfect for commuters.

RK wrote:And that is Wikipedia - I can write my own definition.
- Bnej
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Postby Bnej » Thu Sep 28, 2006 8:07 am
The S500 has 26" tyres, which you can get by on or off road with. They have presta valves and take a higher pressure than most MTB tyres. The drum brakes are less hassle than other types, because they won't rub on the rim and they are pretty much enclosed. You do however need to pull harder on the brake - but this can actually be good on the road, you get smoother braking.
The CRX City is $300 cheaper. It's got 700c wheels so it'd probably roll a bit better on road and be a bit quicker, and it has linear pull brakes like an MTB. Probably not much fun off road.
Haven't seen the Avanti at all.
- AUbicycles
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Postby AUbicycles » Thu Sep 28, 2006 8:09 am
Cheers
Christopher
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Postby Hotdog » Thu Sep 28, 2006 11:17 am
- flyingant
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Postby flyingant » Thu Sep 28, 2006 1:40 pm
Orbea also have a flat bar roadie with the nexus8 which also features the dynamo hub.
sogood wrote:In other words, for people who don't have hills to tackle, these internal geared hubs are just perfect for commuters.
Don't see your point here Sogood


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Postby Hotdog » Thu Sep 28, 2006 1:59 pm
The Orbea Derio (seem to be the one you mean, flyingant?) has the lower grade 8R20 hub rather than the 8R25 premium part (better seals and bearings, allegedly better reliability and efficiency), which seems a bit disappointing given that bike isn't that cheap. Which version does the Giant CRX City use? The Avanti Blade 8 seems to have the 8R25 (I've spotted the tell-tale red stripe).
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Postby flyingant » Thu Sep 28, 2006 2:39 pm
Like I said, the Giant is good value for money. Actually, a salesman at one of the bikeshops I visited that didn't sell Giant said that I wouldn't find better value for money.
I didn't look at the Avanti but it seems much the same in spec as the CRX.
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Re: which nexus 8 speed hub bike: Blade8, CRXcity, TrekS500?
Postby flyingant » Thu Sep 28, 2006 3:04 pm
chains wrote:What are the strengths & weaknesses of the following nexus 8 speed hub bikes? Value for money? Quality? Suitability for my purposes?
I think the only weakness that a reasonable person could find in the Nexus 8 is that it only has 8 gears. I don't find this a problem as I only ever used the middle chainring on my old 21spd (ie 7spds) so I've gained one. The fact that you can change heaps quicker is a huge bonus when climbing. If you where keen, you could put a double chainring on the front and have 16spds or get the Rohloff Speedhub 14 Spd (but you'd have to morgage your house

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Re: which nexus 8 speed hub bike: Blade8, CRXcity, TrekS500?
Postby Bnej » Thu Sep 28, 2006 3:29 pm
flyingant wrote:I think the only weakness that a reasonable person could find in the Nexus 8 is that it only has 8 gears. I don't find this a problem as I only ever used the middle chainring on my old 21spd (ie 7spds) so I've gained one. The fact that you can change heaps quicker is a huge bonus when climbing. If you where keen, you could put a double chainring on the front and have 16spds or get the Rohloff Speedhub 14 Spd (but you'd have to morgage your house)
The gaps between gears are bigger, so you've gained more range than that. If you wanted a double chainring you'd need to fit a front deraileur and also an idler or uncabled rear deraileur to keep the chain tension. Better option would be a Shlumpf Dual-drive in the bottom bracket, then it's a one-hand and one-foot shift - but that's like $700.
Disadvantages: They're heavier, you don't get as much total range, the gaps are bigger so changes aren't as smooth, there's an efficiency disadvantage so you wouldn't take it racing...
S500 definitely has rack attachment points, I have one fitted.
There's also the Trek S300, which is cheaper with 700c wheels, 7 speed Nexus and a V-brake on the front instead of the hub brake.
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Postby heavymetal » Thu Sep 28, 2006 6:27 pm
I would have ticked I don't know in the poll as well.
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