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What is the real experience difference with Rohloff vs like a nexus/alfine? Just way more gears? Or the maintenance component?
young_gun-
I have no experience but just yesterday watched a YouTube concerning this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qf9tFJFXV5o
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The build quality of the two is night and day. A Rohloff hub will likely outlive whatever bike you put it on. Shimano IGHs also tend to get sloppy as they age, even if you're diligent about dipping them.
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My experience is limited really to only have enviolo to compare it to. Was looking after a fleet of Urban Arrow XL with enviolo (10-15 bikes) . Problems almost every day (with freewheel, cables, shifter etc). , a hub would have to be stripped and warrantied every other week almost. There’s no repairing the hubs when they break inside either, warranty process and replacement every time. Long asf. We ditched the enviolo in favour of Rohloff at that point and gradually expanded the fleet to 70+ (while I was there). It would have been completely overwhelming if it was a fleet of enviolo for me and + another mech to stay on top of.
In use, the Rohloff is many many times more reliable. It rolls better and the actual useable gear range is much better, like you can run v low gear inches (there are still limits, outlined in Rohloff manual) to get up those steep asf hills fully loaded without breaking the hub (for me this is one of the key differences, they can handle higher torque / low GI than cheaper IGH).
When you’re actually doing maintenance it’s much nicer and more user friendly- (removing gear box for puncture repairs etc). Much easier to train people to use it as well. Just good quality and reliable and nice to use.
Hard to go into it in loads of detail but the money is worth it, it’s just a lot more expensib so if you can get away with a cheaper hub then 🙌... one of the biggest complaints on the urban arrow groups I’m on are hub failures. Powerful mid drive motors, heavy bikes, hills and cheap IGH are not a reliable and long lasting mix.
Sorry for the tldr ;)
withered_preacher
JVBulman
MCamb
I like urban arrow too. Personally I would invest the money saved in upgrading a cheaper bike (ie UA) with Rohloff or something rather than buying a premium bike with enviolo.