Shimano Nexus geared hubs?

Not long term "extensive" experience, but my Trek Soho DLX has the 8 Speed Nexus IGH along with the Gates Carbon Belt Drive.

Observations on mine: The Trek dealer I bought my Soho from had adjusted the belt too tight, causing a knocking noise in the rear hub. Since it was under warranty, I took the bike to a nearby Trek bike shop, who diagnosed the issue and simply loosened the belt. There were no knocking problems since.......... Prior to any upshifting or downshifting under load (aka you are applying pressure on the crank arms) you MUST momentarily stop pedaling the bike as you shift. This takes out any chance of shock loading those delicate planetary gears inside the hub. I suspect failure to shift in that style is the main killer of any IGH hub. On my Haibike Full FatSix, that shifting style carried over and with it, it helps reduce any shock loading within the mid drive motor as well as saving the rear gear cluster and chain.

I've had no reason to disassemble, clean and re-lube the gear set within the hub as the miles I have on the bike do not merit that kind of service, yet.

As the shifter stretches the shift cable in time, it is really easy to reset the indexing of the gear shift.

You Tube has alot of videos on how to index the shifter as well as opening up the hub to clean and regrease the gears.

I would be leery of using a high watt motor unless one was super diligent in shifting at all times under zero load.

Finally, after so many miles on the bike, dirt would build up on the belt, causing an annoying squeaking sound while pedaling. Just a matter of cleaning the belt teeth with Simple Green and your good to go for another hundred miles or so....
 
Thanks Mike that is good input! The bike I had in mind uses a chain with the Nexus 8. My guess is most people never do any maintenance on these at all and I wonder what kind of longevity they end up getting.
 
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steve mercier said:
Thanks Mike that is good input! The bike I had in mind uses a chain with the Nexus 8. My guess is most people never do any maintenance on these at all and I wonder what kind of longevity they end up getting.
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Steve, you're welcome! The MTBR site has an Internal Gear Hubs forum within their forum threads and it's certainly worth checking out to read about real life experiences with IGH hubs. I picked up alot of info on the Bike Forums site as well, in particular within the Commuter forum threads as many commuter bikers really love the internal gear hub to commute in.
 
steve mercier said:
I would love to hear input from anyone who has extended experience with one of these.
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steve mercier said:
I would love to hear input from anyone who has extended experience with one of these.
Click to expand...
I have owned two bikes with a Shimano Nexus rear hub. One was on a Breezer Uptown with a 750 watt front hub motor. I bought it used and put 2500 miles on it. It acted flawlessly and never had an issue shifting. I have one on my 2019 Electra Townie Commute Go 8i. It is an 8 speed internal rear hub. The motor is a mid drive Bosch Performance 250 watt motor. I am careful when I shift, usually pause, not to stress the hub. I have close to 1000 miles on it. I like that I can shift to a lower gear, while standing at a traffic light. It has not been great. I seem to have two issues. When shifting it is slow to shift into gear. Second, no matter how many times I or my LBS work on it, when in 5th gear, it will inevitably skip. I was told it was finicky and had to be adjusted just right. After numerous times, I asked if I could have the rear hub replaced, under warranty, I was told Trek wouldn’t authorize it. I will eventually replace it.
 
A friend has an Electra Townie from the days they were made in WI. With a Nexus 7 speed. I think the bike was sold to him in 1999-2002. He isn't clear. Last year he had a rim fail and the hub was reused and certified no issues by our local LBS.

The only issue running a mid-drive and Nexus is shifting under load. A shift sensor solves that issue with higher-powered Bafang mid motors.
 
Tourista829 said:
I have owned two bikes with a Shimano Nexus rear hub. One was on a Breezer Uptown with a 750 watt front hub motor. I bought it used and put 2500 miles on it. It acted flawlessly and never had an issue shifting. I have one on my 2019 Electra Townie Commute Go 8i. It is an 8 speed internal rear hub. The motor is a mid drive Bosch Performance 250 watt motor. I am careful when I shift, usually pause, not to stress the hub. I have close to 1000 miles on it. I like that I can shift to a lower gear, while standing at a traffic light. It has not been great. I seem to have two issues. When shifting it is slow to shift into gear. Second, no matter how many times I or my LBS work on it, when in 5th gear, it will inevitably skip. I was told it was finicky and had to be adjusted just right. After numerous times, I asked if I could have the rear hub replaced, under warranty, I was told Trek wouldn’t authorize it. I will eventually replace it.
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Thank you for you input. Do you think the front hub motor is easier on the Nexus then?
 
Thomas Jaszewski said:
A friend has an Electra Townie from the days they were made in WI. With a Nexus 7 speed. I think the bike was sold to him in 1999-2002. He isn't clear. Last year he had a rim fail and the hub was reused and certified no issues by our local LBS.

The only issue running a mid-drive and Nexus is shifting under load. A shift sensor solves that issue with higher-powered Bafang mid motors.
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What do you guys think about this bike?
 
Thomas Jaszewski said:
A friend has an Electra Townie from the days they were made in WI. With a Nexus 7 speed. I think the bike was sold to him in 1999-2002. He isn't clear. Last year he had a rim fail and the hub was reused and certified no issues by our local LBS.

The only issue running a mid-drive and Nexus is shifting under load. A shift sensor solves that issue with higher-powered Bafang mid motors.
Click to expand...
Cool.
 
steve mercier said:
What do you guys think about this bike?
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Steve, not bad. But looking at the price, converted to US, I see a Haibike with a Yamaha drive and 500 wh battery, with more desirable hydraulic disc brakes, coming in at like 5-600 dollars cheaper at the Crazy Lenny site. (Just using that site as an example) On the same site, for a little bit more money then the Gepida, there is a Bulls Lacuba, belt drive, Brose motor and a much bigger 650 wh battery for a few hundred dollars more. That's not counting shipping costs and to be honest, I'm not sure if they ship to Canada.

Everything is at a price point and you see it in the rim brakes and the 400wh battery as well as the steering stem on that Gepida. Having said all that, you can't go wrong with the Bosch drive and it looks like it's a perfect match for the IGH.

Btw: Nice bike review and I especially like the two hands riding, unlike what Court does with his single handed riding! :) (always made me nervous, especially when he's going down hill on an mtb review in the California dirt track hills!
 
Tourista829 said:
I have owned two bikes with a Shimano Nexus rear hub. One was on a Breezer Uptown with a 750 watt front hub motor. I bought it used and put 2500 miles on it. It acted flawlessly and never had an issue shifting. I have one on my 2019 Electra Townie Commute Go 8i. It is an 8 speed internal rear hub. The motor is a mid drive Bosch Performance 250 watt motor. I am careful when I shift, usually pause, not to stress the hub. I have close to 1000 miles on it. I like that I can shift to a lower gear, while standing at a traffic light. It has not been great. I seem to have two issues. When shifting it is slow to shift into gear. Second, no matter how many times I or my LBS work on it, when in 5th gear, it will inevitably skip. I was told it was finicky and had to be adjusted just right. After numerous times, I asked if I could have the rear hub replaced, under warranty, I was told Trek wouldn’t authorize it. I will eventually replace it.
Click to expand...
What may I ask are you planning on replacing it with ?
 
steve mercier said:
What may I ask are you planning on replacing it with ?
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That’s a good question, I am not sure, because I have a lot invested in batteries and accessories. I might want a lighter Class 3 e-bike with better handling. With the Class 1 top speed restriction, especially the way Bosch approaches it, you don’t need the top gears. In the meantime, I will try to replace the internal hub with a new one or look into a derailleur and cassette combo. I might research taking one of my bikes and converting it to an e-bike. It won’t be pedal assist but it won’t have the annoying top speed restriction. I can still use the gears and pedal. (More powerful hub motor, twist throttle, new controller, and higher wattage battery).... to be continued.
 
Tourista829 said:
That’s a good question, I am not sure, because I have a lot invested in batteries and accessories. I might want a lighter Class 3 e-bike with better handling. With the Class 1 top speed restriction, especially the way Bosch approaches it, you don’t need the top gears. In the meantime, I will try to replace the internal hub with a new one or look into a derailleur and cassette combo. I might research taking one of my bikes and converting it to an e-bike. It won’t be pedal assist but it won’t have the annoying top speed restriction. I can still use the gears and pedal. (More powerful hub motor, twist throttle, new controller, and higher wattage battery).... to be continued.
Click to expand...
You could buy a delimiter for your Bosch such as the Bikespeed RS. I agree with you about the limits
 
FWIW, front hub motors get a bad rap. My 1000w MXUS is a favoured ride. Regen braking is great. Next a front MAC 10t with CA3 and ebikes.ca controller.
 
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