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More Shimano electrics - including hub gears!
(9 posts)-
Posted 12 years ago #
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I actually thought a hub gear would have been their first shot with powered gears
Posted 12 years ago # -
I see electric shifting as akin to round teabags, just another 'innovation' to open your wallet, when really the tried solution is perfectly adequate!
Posted 12 years ago # -
Let's see.
Batteries need charging, and eventually replacing once they no longer hold sufficient charge. Proprietary design?
Electronic shifting mechanism and controls. More or less reliable than mechanical? Hard to say. Okay, no moving parts, but all kinds of other problems could ensue with led/lcd displays, chips, soldering, wires, etc.
Also, bang goes any hope of user-serviceable parts. Even the controls will have to just replaced in their entirety, presumably at 'premium' prices. Reminds me of the way that car engines went some time ago: anything more complex than topping up oil or water and it's in to the approved service centre to get the computer control sorted...
Will they still make a mechanical shift Alfine hub from next year I wonder?
Posted 12 years ago # -
There are other advantages to electronics. Shifter design is no longer limited to the amount of cable that has to be moved. Since this isn't the race version weight isn't a problem so battery charging could be coupled up to the dynamo, super capacitors for power storage. Silicon chips are very robust, lcd's could be omitted most group sets don't have a gear "window" any way.
Soldering coming apart is a worry as is the motor wearing out but parts wear out any way.
That said, I'm quite happy with mechanical parts and won't be in any hurry to swap.
Posted 12 years ago # -
"Shimano’s bid to spoil gear hubs"
Posted 12 years ago # -
"What if it took AA batteries? (Although in reality, it uses the same type of batteries that are in a mobile phone, so not really that uncommon – any third party could potentially sell you one)
I’m not sure I’d buy an electric hub personally, unless I could power it with my dynamo, but to be fair most people are happy enough to charge loads of batteries for their front and back lights, mobile, headcam (maybe), and so on and so forth."
Posted 12 years ago # -
@Dave
I like the idea of powered hub gear,in turn powered by the rider ia dynamoPosted 12 years ago # -
Yes, Shimano has missed a trick, given that the Nexus range also comprises dynamo hubs. It would be a 'no brainer' to link a Nexus dynamo hub to the electronic shifter.
Still, I hope they don't discontinue mechanical shift Nexus hubs...
Posted 12 years ago #
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