[RBW] Re: shimano alfine generator hubs
Just wondering if anyone has had a look at the new Shimano n80. Does it have that same poor quality seal? On Apr 2, 9:41 am, CycloFiend wrote: > on 4/2/09 7:09 AM, Seth Vidal at skvi...@gmail.com wrote: > > > > > Has anyone come across one of these, yet: > > >http://bike.shimano.com/publish/content/global_cycle/en/us/index/prod... > > fine/product.-code-WH-S500-V-3D-S.-type-.html > > > b/c they look very very shiny and I'm curious how they stand up to the > > SON's. > > There have been some threads on the iBob list and the BL list over the last > couple months. My recollection is that they seem to be decent quality, but > no one has claimed they are at the same level as the Schmidt SON hub. > > I do find it humorous that the Shimano site shows the hub built up on a 24 > spoke wheel. > > -- > Jim Edgar > cyclofi...@earthlink.net > > Cyclofiend Bicycle Photo Galleries -http://www.cyclofiend.com > Current Classics - Cross Bikes > Singlespeed - Working Bikes > > The Gallery needs your photos! Send 'em in - Here's > how:http://www.cyclofiend.com/guidelines > > "She edged in to get a better look at the bike, how it was made, the > intricacy of its brakes and shifters pulling her straight in. Beauty." > -- William Gibson, "Virtual Light" --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[RBW] Re: shimano alfine generator hubs
I have purchased at least 3 different Shimano dynamo hubs from Jim and 1 Schmidt. I had been riding year-round commuting EVERY day as well as some truly epic long rides. I've had 2 of the Shimano hubs completely fail, and a currently own a 3rd that is on its way to failing. In the case where they have failed, I have dutifully unlaced the wheel and sent the hubs back to Shimano for replacement. Their turn-around time is rather quick. The hubs that have failed have lasted as little as a couple of thousand miles to the current one that has about 6,000 miles on it. The Schmidt is still going strong with only about 5k miles. The failures begin with what sounds like "Chunk." The hubs are not "completely" serviceable, the inside component can be removed from the hub if the adjustable bearings on the one side are removed. In the hubs that I have had fail, the cause has seemed to be the magnets of the core coming in contact with the shell somehow. Once it seems to occur, the hubs disintegrate rather quickly. It's not a catastrophic failure, the wheel continues to roll (with significant increase in resistance) and makes A LOT of noise. I agree with your rationalization and justification of using the less expensive hubs on a commuter. That was my plan. After owning dynamo hubs on bikes, the likelihood of putting a bike together WITHOUT a dynamo is very slim. Having reliable lights whenever you might need them is WONDERFUL. I do a lot of errands, social riding, commuting, overnight rides, 24 hour rides, etc. I want a bike that WORKS, all the time... particularly the commuter bike. I'll admit to riding it wet, seldom cleaning, waiting until the last minute to service, etc. Unglamorous bicycle living at its worst. The equipment gets USED and used hard. When something goes wrong, it disrupts the cycle. Coordinating a front hub replacement as a repair is a rather undesirable repair in my book, even though I ENJOY building wheels. My new commuter will be built with a Schmidt disk up front. When the bike is done and ridden a complete year with normal abuse, I hope to use my experience with it's reliability to decide whether to put one on an off-road bike. Might be just the ticket for 24-hour mountain bike racing. On Apr 2, 11:40 am, Larry Powers wrote: > Jim, > > Can you quantify this any better? > > I run a Son hub on my brevet bike and a Shimano n71 on my commuter. I put > way more miles in all types of weather on my commuter and the Shimano hub is > still going strong. I have ridden it through 3 New England winters. I > bought it because it was cheaper and a failure on a commute is not as > critical to me as a failure on a brevet. > > In your experience how many seasons of year round riding does the average > Shimano n70/71/72 make it through before needing to be replaced? How many > years for the SON before being replaced or needing a rebuild? > > Since I was considering having a new set of Brevet wheels built and was > thinking about using a shimano hub this information will be quite helpful. > > Thanks. > > Larry Powers > > "just when you think that you've been gyped the bearded lady comes and does a > double back flip" - John Hiatt > > > > > Date: Thu, 2 Apr 2009 09:05:55 -0700 > > Subject: [RBW] Re: shimano alfine generator hubs > > From: thill@gmail.com > > To: rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com > > > The Alfine is one of the higher-end Shimano dynamo hubs. I have no > > experience with it. But experience with other Shimano dynamos is that > > they are functionally comparable to a SON in everything but > > durability. Winter filth around here kills them, and they are not > > serviceable. > > Jim Thill > > Minneapolis, MN > > > On Apr 2, 10:09 am, Seth Vidal wrote: > > > Has anyone come across one of these, yet: > > > >http://bike.shimano.com/publish/content/global_cycle/en/us/index/prod... > > > > b/c they look very very shiny and I'm curious how they stand up to the > > > SON's. > > > > -sv > > _ > Rediscover Hotmail®: Now available on your iPhone or > BlackBerryhttp://windowslive.com/RediscoverHotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Redisco... --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[RBW] Re: shimano alfine generator hubs
I am one of Jim's customers who has killed a Shimano Dynohub after two winters of riding. At the end mine would put still put out electricity, the wheel just barely moved. The replacement so far lasted through one winter. With the first hub, I often stored the bike inside so I don't know if theytemperature changes played a role. This winter I kept the bike in the garage. Only time will tell if that makes a difference. Dan Abelson St. Paul, MN On Thu, Apr 2, 2009 at 11:40 AM, Larry Powers wrote: > Jim, > > Can you quantify this any better? > > I run a Son hub on my brevet bike and a Shimano n71 on my commuter. I put > way more miles in all types of weather on my commuter and the Shimano hub is > still going strong. I have ridden it through 3 New England winters. I > bought it because it was cheaper and a failure on a commute is not as > critical to me as a failure on a brevet. > > In your experience how many seasons of year round riding does the average > Shimano n70/71/72 make it through before needing to be replaced? How many > years for the SON before being replaced or needing a rebuild? > > Since I was considering having a new set of Brevet wheels built and was > thinking about using a shimano hub this information will be quite helpful. > > Thanks. > > Larry Powers > > --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[RBW] Re: shimano alfine generator hubs
Sorry, I have no better quantification beyond anecdotal evidence. Ken Y up there has some experience with Shimano dynamo hub failures that he may wish to share. Besides his experiences, I have had at least 2-3 returned after less than one winter of commuting. I often buy them as prebuilt wheels, so warranty is usually not feasible unless I want to disassemble and rebuild a wheel for free. The main problem is that the electrical system is sealed with a substance that resembles plumber's putty. This seal deteriorates and crumbles, I assume as a result of the salt and other ice melting chemicals they use on roads and paths around here, combined perhaps with getting brittle in the cold. I still think the Shimano hubs are a good value, but I now try to discourage folks from using them much in the winter slop. On Apr 2, 11:40 am, Larry Powers wrote: > Jim, > > Can you quantify this any better? > > I run a Son hub on my brevet bike and a Shimano n71 on my commuter. I put > way more miles in all types of weather on my commuter and the Shimano hub is > still going strong. I have ridden it through 3 New England winters. I > bought it because it was cheaper and a failure on a commute is not as > critical to me as a failure on a brevet. > > In your experience how many seasons of year round riding does the average > Shimano n70/71/72 make it through before needing to be replaced? How many > years for the SON before being replaced or needing a rebuild? > > Since I was considering having a new set of Brevet wheels built and was > thinking about using a shimano hub this information will be quite helpful. > > Thanks. > > Larry Powers > > "just when you think that you've been gyped the bearded lady comes and does a > double back flip" - John Hiatt > > > > > Date: Thu, 2 Apr 2009 09:05:55 -0700 > > Subject: [RBW] Re: shimano alfine generator hubs > > From: thill@gmail.com > > To: rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com > > > The Alfine is one of the higher-end Shimano dynamo hubs. I have no > > experience with it. But experience with other Shimano dynamos is that > > they are functionally comparable to a SON in everything but > > durability. Winter filth around here kills them, and they are not > > serviceable. > > Jim Thill > > Minneapolis, MN > > > On Apr 2, 10:09 am, Seth Vidal wrote: > > > Has anyone come across one of these, yet: > > > >http://bike.shimano.com/publish/content/global_cycle/en/us/index/prod... > > > > b/c they look very very shiny and I'm curious how they stand up to the > > > SON's. > > > > -sv > > _ > Rediscover Hotmail®: Now available on your iPhone or > BlackBerryhttp://windowslive.com/RediscoverHotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Redisco... --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[RBW] Re: shimano alfine generator hubs
Jim, Can you quantify this any better? I run a Son hub on my brevet bike and a Shimano n71 on my commuter. I put way more miles in all types of weather on my commuter and the Shimano hub is still going strong. I have ridden it through 3 New England winters. I bought it because it was cheaper and a failure on a commute is not as critical to me as a failure on a brevet. In your experience how many seasons of year round riding does the average Shimano n70/71/72 make it through before needing to be replaced? How many years for the SON before being replaced or needing a rebuild? Since I was considering having a new set of Brevet wheels built and was thinking about using a shimano hub this information will be quite helpful. Thanks. Larry Powers "just when you think that you've been gyped the bearded lady comes and does a double back flip" - John Hiatt > Date: Thu, 2 Apr 2009 09:05:55 -0700 > Subject: [RBW] Re: shimano alfine generator hubs > From: thill@gmail.com > To: rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com > > > The Alfine is one of the higher-end Shimano dynamo hubs. I have no > experience with it. But experience with other Shimano dynamos is that > they are functionally comparable to a SON in everything but > durability. Winter filth around here kills them, and they are not > serviceable. > Jim Thill > Minneapolis, MN > > On Apr 2, 10:09 am, Seth Vidal wrote: > > Has anyone come across one of these, yet: > > > > http://bike.shimano.com/publish/content/global_cycle/en/us/index/prod... > > > > b/c they look very very shiny and I'm curious how they stand up to the > > SON's. > > > > -sv > > _ Rediscover Hotmail®: Now available on your iPhone or BlackBerry http://windowslive.com/RediscoverHotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Rediscover_Mobile1_042009 --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[RBW] Re: shimano alfine generator hubs
The Alfine is one of the higher-end Shimano dynamo hubs. I have no experience with it. But experience with other Shimano dynamos is that they are functionally comparable to a SON in everything but durability. Winter filth around here kills them, and they are not serviceable. Jim Thill Minneapolis, MN On Apr 2, 10:09 am, Seth Vidal wrote: > Has anyone come across one of these, yet: > > http://bike.shimano.com/publish/content/global_cycle/en/us/index/prod... > > b/c they look very very shiny and I'm curious how they stand up to the SON's. > > -sv --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[RBW] Re: shimano alfine generator hubs
It's all about "perceived value" The casual bicycle consumer (as well as many other types) have been conned into the idea that "wheel systems" are something special. Consumers see low-spoke count wheels as something that "looks high tech" and are led to believe by pushy sale-people and marketing materials that this is somehow better. -End of rant. On Apr 2, 10:47 am, mark wrote: > They're described as part of the "Comfort" range of components, which > doesn't look to me like Shimano's highest quality group. The 24 spoke > wheels strike me as a cost-cutting measure, not a weight saving > measure. --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[RBW] Re: shimano alfine generator hubs
They're described as part of the "Comfort" range of components, which doesn't look to me like Shimano's highest quality group. The 24 spoke wheels strike me as a cost-cutting measure, not a weight saving measure. --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[RBW] Re: shimano alfine generator hubs
on 4/2/09 7:09 AM, Seth Vidal at skvi...@gmail.com wrote: > > Has anyone come across one of these, yet: > > http://bike.shimano.com/publish/content/global_cycle/en/us/index/products/0/al > fine/product.-code-WH-S500-V-3D-S.-type-.html > > b/c they look very very shiny and I'm curious how they stand up to the SON's. There have been some threads on the iBob list and the BL list over the last couple months. My recollection is that they seem to be decent quality, but no one has claimed they are at the same level as the Schmidt SON hub. I do find it humorous that the Shimano site shows the hub built up on a 24 spoke wheel. -- Jim Edgar cyclofi...@earthlink.net Cyclofiend Bicycle Photo Galleries - http://www.cyclofiend.com Current Classics - Cross Bikes Singlespeed - Working Bikes The Gallery needs your photos! Send 'em in - Here's how: http://www.cyclofiend.com/guidelines "She edged in to get a better look at the bike, how it was made, the intricacy of its brakes and shifters pulling her straight in. Beauty." -- William Gibson, "Virtual Light" --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
