IGH Battle - Rohloff vs Shimano Alfine 11

[RonK]

I am currently building my TD "redemption rig" I have most of the parts, just haven't decided upon which frame yet. I am either going with Spot Ti or a Vassago Ti.

I have a Rohloff in a Ti frame. I suspect the thin, resonant Ti tubes amplify the noise emanating from the Rohloff in the lower  gears.
It's extremely annoying - and embarrassing when other cyclists comment.

And no, it hasn't gone away after the first oil change either...

I wouldn't go Rohloff again.

[Wingnut]

I personally love my Rohloff which is fitted on my Troll...reliable, quiet, easy to use and no problems for me so far...

I'm considering getting the frame split in the future to go to belt drive but it's really a want...not a need at this stage...

[bmike-vt]

Gates belts can have issues with dirt and mud. You need the scrubber or tension attachment. Chains are pretty reliable, and likely available in any bike shop, and some hardware stores, Kmarts, walmarts, etc.

Daytriker - I'm not at all interested in running a dérailleur. Seems to be an over complication.

I've had a bike with nexus 8 and a friend has killed an affine 11 bikepacking.

I don't doubt that folks run them out of range. Personally I don't know what I would do with 9 gear inches.

And, I've run front setups with way more tooth change than 12t. Currently running a 30-46 on my brevet bike.

I also don't see what wheel size has to do with torque applied at the hub. The gear inches change - which is the distance traveled by the wheel certainly affects how much effort is required to cover the same distance - if there was this issue Rohloff would tell you not to climb certain grades in certain chainring to cog combos. The hub only cares about the ratio of the ring to cog, and maybe at an extreme the length of the cranks.

I'm not interested in running s 1500$ hub out of spec when the are really good about their warranty. And for my uses I don't know what I'd do with gears that low.

[Daytriker]

I would agree with the previous posts that the Rohloffs may have been designed with off road or hill climbing in mind. Their first 4 gear ratios seem to bear that out. I would suggest plugging your specs into a Gear Inch calculator before choosing any hub to see which one gives the best ratios suited to your own use. My own use with the Nexus hubs has been positive but your riding conditions, style elephant legs might break that same hub. Your weight is also a factor since many Americans are big guys these days quite possibly non of the Internal Gear Hubs will be suitable. We make it a point to tell customers that there is a weight limit of 275lbs. That's what our trikes are designed for & I don't want to test the hubs to see at what weight they fail.

Regarding the front derailleur- it is actually very easy to use with the Nexus Hubs. Shimano sells a chain tensioner designed for the IGH & it doesn't cause any complications at all. I didn't even have to change my chain length to install it. Cost was about $20. I would never go back to a derailleur system. It's like driving a car without a synchromesh transmission!

[bakerjw]

I have no experience with IGHs but suffice to say that Rohloff not offering a 142x12mm thru-axle hub is a big downer for me. I sure hope that they come out with one sometime soon.

[Dillon]

I have both IGH hubs, in fact two Rohloffs.  Things just work out that way.  The Alfine is fantastic on a road bike, in town, centuries and unloaded rides.  I used the Rohloff on the TD with no problems.  Recognize that it is heavy and lifting it over trees and through snow is a bit more work.  The peace of mind is worth it.
 
 C

[bmike-vt]

IMG_4022 by mbeganyi, on Flickr

[bmike-vt]

Loving mine so far.

[JoePavlik]

What multi tool do you use instead of carrying a 15mm wrench to take the wheel off your frame?

[bmike-vt]

I carry a stubby craftsman 15mm wrench. Have had it since I built up a fixed gear CrossCheck, and then a Soma Juice SS / FG. Used bolt on hubs for both.
I could get something lighter, or more 'bike' specific, like the PDW one, etc.
But this works.

[markglover]

Hi, thinking of going Rohloff as fed up with all the mechanics involved with the usual dérailleur setups.  But I use Rotor Q-Rings, can you use Q-Rings with a Rohloff?

[bmike-vt]

You could probably make that work but you'd need a chain tensioner. You could likely use a Paul Melvin or Rohloff's own:

http://www.rohloff.de/en/products/speedhub/chain_tensioner/

[markglover]

Yes I think that would work. Will look into it.
Thank you!

[bmike-vt]

They say it can handle 10 links - so that should be plenty for the rings.

[markglover]

I sorry for my ignorance but what can handle ten links, and where?

[bmike-vt]

The Rohloff tensioner?

The Rohloff Chain tensioner is easy to install, it simply mounts to the existing derailleur hanger of the frame. Spacers are used for lateral adjustability. For the quick wheel removal the Rohloff Chain tensioner swings back when pulling the wheel out of the dropouts. The Rohloff Chain tensioner has a tensioning capacity of 10 chain links which is sufficiant even for long travel rear suspensions.

Read that link I posted.

[markglover]

Just read through it, not going to be a problem I think, as there are so many combinations.
Thank you.

[Farawayvisions]

Ask this question to someone who runs a Rohloff or an alfine 11
How is the hub gear?
Answers:
Rohloff owner - Awesome!
Alfine owner - Where do I start? Oil leaks, skipping gears, returned, replaced, blah blah blah.

Get a rohloff. Do it once and do it right.   

[Daytriker]

I guess you have never owned a Shimano IGH & are basing your comment on the few early reports of having problems.
Yes, it is true the early Alfine 11's had a few problems but this was partly due to quality control & partly due to user error.
So, sure go ahead & ask any Shimano IGH Owner that's not beating the crap out of his equipment & you are likely
to get the awesome response too. Oh, & at half the cost of the Rohloff. Hope you enjoy your 6 gear inch ratio.

[Farawayvisions]

I guess you have never owned a Shimano IGH & are basing your comment on the few early reports of having problems.
Yes, it is true the early Alfine 11's had a few problems but this was partly due to quality control & partly due to user error.
So, sure go ahead & ask any Shimano IGH Owner that's not beating the crap out of his equipment & you are likely
to get the awesome response too. Oh, & at half the cost of the Rohloff. Hope you enjoy your 6 gear inch ratio.

If this is aimed at my response, my comment is based on my partner's personal experience of the alfine 11. It has been fixed, came back leaking from Shimano, returned again, replaced and is already slipping and up to the original tricks again. I have only spoken to alfine and rohloff owners who have responded as reported in my earlier posts.