Gearing systems
- Thread starter deckhand1
- Start date
Internal geared hubs allow you shift into any gear whether moving or stopped. That is the main advantage for me because with my derialleur bike I was frequently forgetting to downshift before coming to a stop. That makes getting started very awkward at best, and sometimes when stopping on an uphill I would have to coast part way back down the hill to downshift. If your ebike has a throttle, that may not be as much of a concern.
Another advantage of the internal geared hub is that it simplifies the chain mechanisms and reduces the likelihood of popping off the chain. My Gazelle Arroyo has the chain completely enclosed in a plastic cover which helps keep the chain clean and dry.
A lesser advantage of the IGH is that it eliminates the clack/clatter when shifting the derailleur, but that never really bothered me.
Another advantage of the internal geared hub is that it simplifies the chain mechanisms and reduces the likelihood of popping off the chain. My Gazelle Arroyo has the chain completely enclosed in a plastic cover which helps keep the chain clean and dry.
A lesser advantage of the IGH is that it eliminates the clack/clatter when shifting the derailleur, but that never really bothered me.
indianajo
Well-Known Member
I bought an IGH, a Sturmey Archer S80 8 speed. It added about 20% to my elapsed time over my commute to my summer camp. There were 8 gearsets in there spinning all the time, that I had to power with my feet. So on an electric it might limit top speed and range.
The S80 developed a bad problem of the pawl popping off and the hub slamming into 8th gear about every mile. Making the device unrideable except downhill. I haven't seen any reports of Shimano models doing that. I was very happy with my sturmey archer 3 speed IGH, rode it for about 20 years.
I bought the S80 because the 6 speed Shimano axle (18 spd MTB) broke under my extravagant weight of 185 lb, and the 7 speed (21 spd MTB) dropped all the balls on the road because the internal race backed off. Shimano should have put a double nut in there to lock it, or made the axle out of oversized stock to make a fixed race backstop, but they didn't. Cheap garbage. Pushing a bike home with no bearings is no fun.
Apparently the 8 9 10 speed shimano products are less cost effective, and perhaps more reliable. At least the 8 speed shimano rear on the bodaboda shown left has performed okay for 17 months & ~3200 miles.
The S80 developed a bad problem of the pawl popping off and the hub slamming into 8th gear about every mile. Making the device unrideable except downhill. I haven't seen any reports of Shimano models doing that. I was very happy with my sturmey archer 3 speed IGH, rode it for about 20 years.
I bought the S80 because the 6 speed Shimano axle (18 spd MTB) broke under my extravagant weight of 185 lb, and the 7 speed (21 spd MTB) dropped all the balls on the road because the internal race backed off. Shimano should have put a double nut in there to lock it, or made the axle out of oversized stock to make a fixed race backstop, but they didn't. Cheap garbage. Pushing a bike home with no bearings is no fun.
Apparently the 8 9 10 speed shimano products are less cost effective, and perhaps more reliable. At least the 8 speed shimano rear on the bodaboda shown left has performed okay for 17 months & ~3200 miles.
Mr. Coffee
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- A Demented Corner of the North Cascades
Some internally geared hub systems aren't designed for the stresses that an electric drive puts on them, and might well fail.
In general the biggest advantages to an internally geared hub system are that you can shift when you stop, the system requires very little maintenance, and all of the fragile and expensive parts are in the hub rather than hanging off of the wheel.
The biggest disadvantages of an internally geared hub is that they are generally heavier, often more expensive, and you have to pause your pedaling briefly before you can shift.
In general the biggest advantages to an internally geared hub system are that you can shift when you stop, the system requires very little maintenance, and all of the fragile and expensive parts are in the hub rather than hanging off of the wheel.
The biggest disadvantages of an internally geared hub is that they are generally heavier, often more expensive, and you have to pause your pedaling briefly before you can shift.
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