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review

Shimano Alfine 11 hub gear and shifter

8
£429.99

VERDICT:

8
10
Takes high end hub gear performance into affordable territory
Weight: 
1,744g
Contact: 
www.madison.co.uk

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We first got to try out Shimano Alfine 11 earlier this year but since then there's been much talk and an awful lot of waiting around, but we've finally managed to get a proper go on Shimano's new Alfine 11 hub. A second sample is winging its way to us from Japan so that we can ride it longer term but we're sure you're wondering what we think of it, so here goes: we think it's really good.

Unless you missed the launch of Alfine 11 earlier in the year, let's have a recap. Essentially the 11-speed hub is an entirely new beast, it doesn't really have anything in common with the eight-speed unit that shares the same name. The headline change is the bigger range of gears for a wider spread, but the most important revision is behind the scenes. The new hub is a helical system using oil bath internals, rather than greased cogs. Yes, like the Rohloff Speedhub. This should mean two things. Firstly, maintenance is massively simplified. There's an oil port on the hub body which allows you to suck the used lubricant out and replace it without having to take the whole thing to pieces. Secondly, it should extend the service life of the hub into the kind of mileage where it's unlikely to ever be an issue; Shimano told us at the launch that it should run for three times as long as the eight. The stated weight is now 1590g, which is 90g lighter than Shimano's weight for an Alfine 8 and less than a Speedhub too. However, we've now received a second boxed hub to go with our built up one and straight out of the box it tips the scales at 1744g, a fair whack heavier than list. The shifter and cabling bump the overall system weight up to a whisker under 2kg.

We didn't fit our hub to the bike as it came already fitted, so we can't comment directly on the fitting process (we will be fitting one to another bike and we will comment on the process in more detail then)  but it uses similar non-turn washers as the eight-speed unit and doesn't require any special dropouts. You'll need to keep the chain under tension, of course; our Charge Mixer had an eccentric bottom bracket for that purpose but you could use a chain tensioner if you're retrofitting to a standard frame. The control cable runs along the chainstay and up to a redesigned shifter. Anyone that's used Alfine 8 will have gone through the learning process of having to use the back-to-front thumbshifter, but now you're going to have to unlearn that, as the new unit is configured the same as derailleur units. It also has a two-ratio sweep (both up and down), and two-way release on the downshift so you can push the lever with your thumb as well as pull with your finger. The only minor downside to the shifter redesign is that a broken cable puts you in the big gear rather than the little one, but it is a minor issue.

So to riding. The first thing that became immediately obvious when riding the hub for real is that the ratios aren't all linear like we assumed. We asked Shimano for the ratio chart which backs up what our riding experience tells us: there's a big jump from first to second, and after that it's much more even. Here's the gain ratios chart in full:

1: 0.527

2: 0.681

3: 0.770

4: 0.878

5: 0.995

6: 1.134

7: 1.292

8: 1.462

9: 1.667

10: 1.888

11: 2.153

This gives an overall range of 408.5%, with a 24% jump from first to second followed by 13%-14% steps for the rest of the gears. This gives you first as a useful bail-out gear if things get too tough, and the rest of the time you're switching between ratios that are about the equivalent of a larger jump on a derailleur block, say from a 21 to a 24. They're larger gaps than you'll be used to if you're coming from a derailleur transmission but it doesn't take long to get used to.

Hub gears normally have a couple of ratios that feel more vague than the others, and this one is no exception. It's the shorter gears that feel slightly woolly, with 2nd and 3rd being the worst offenders; first is fine. That being said, there's no one gear that we ended up avoiding and it's certainly no worse than the eight speed or even the Rohloff. Once you get up into the cruising ratios the hub feels more direct.

The range is enough to give you a really good spread of gears, enough for pretty much anything. If you're fitting the hub to a tourer then you'll probably want to sacrifice some big gears for more winching ratios at the other end; the same is probably true for mountain biking whereas for an urban bike you can afford to give yourself a few more gears for speed. By way of a comparison the range available is similar to what you'd get from a compact double or a road triple; it's not quite in MTB triple or Rohloff territory but with a judicious choice of chainring and sprocket you can easily tailor the gears to the type of riding you're doing.

The shifter works very well and requires minimal adjustment. Obviously it's good to be able to shift while stationary for an easy getaway at the lights, and the two-ratio sweep is handy if you find yourself caught out by a sharp hill. The feel of the shifter isn't as consistent as a derailleur shifter; sometimes the shift is a bit industrial although it hasn't missed a shift thus far. Also, with some ratios you need to back off the power just a touch to give the gears a chance to shift, like you do with the Alfine 8. As far as actual riding is concerned this is the only downside over a Rohloff, which is indexed internally and doesn't seem to suffer from that problem. Again, it's a skill you need to learn.

So then, who's going to be in the queue to get one? Urban riders, for sure. It's no coincidence that our first Alfine 11 test rig was an urban bike because it ticks the boxes for city riding: low maintenance, clean lines. Alfine 8 has had a small but dedicated following in MTB circles too and the new hub will certainly broaden that appeal; the extended range and hardier internals will mean more off-road converts; the extra wheel mass is not so much of an issue on the rough stuff.

For now the fact that it's a flat bar shifter narrows the appeal for roadies, but assuming that issue gets addressed – Jtek are no doubt working on their bar end shifter right now, and someone will have an STI-style lever in the pipeline – is it a viable option for a road bike? Well, it depends. If you're into your touring then the Alfine 11 makes a whole lot of sense; a good range of enclosed, maintenance-free gears that you can fit to a standard frame. At an RRP of  £430 for hub and shifter it's well below Rohloff prices, and a quick search online shows that you can expect to get another £100 off that when they finally land at the shops.

Move from touring up to faster Audax riding and it's a maybe. Our hub came bolted to a Charge Mixer that's fairly swift but not designed for prolonged journeys; the limiting factor for ride length was on-bike comfort rather than the hub itself. At over 1700g it's still a lot of rotating mass to add to a bike though, so until we've had a go with one built into a lightweight wheel and set in a lightweight frame it's hard to judge whether the benefits outweigh the penalites. Our gut feeling is that the longer the ride, the more sense the Alfine 11 would make.

And road riding and sportives? Probably not. While the system itself isn't any heavier than derailleur gears we can't see it really making any inroads into lightweight road bikes because of the rotating mass issue, and the not-efficient-enough stigma will remain, even though the differences are fairly marginal these days. Were the concept of enclosed gears applied to the frame rather than the rear hub, that might be a different story...

Verdict

Alfine 11 sets the bar higher for affordable hub gears, but it's not quite ready for the switch to fast road riding

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Shimano Alfine 11 hub gear and shifter

Size tested: Silver

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

# The Alfine 11-speed internal gear hub runs on needle bearings for increased durability and high drive efficiency

# Helical internal sprockets increase durability, perform better with high torque loading and provide a constant engagement for a smooth and quiet operation

# Oil bath lubrication system increases durability and reduces friction in the hub, while Labyrinth seals improve sealing performance both resulting in extending service life

# Silent clutch engagement also gives a smoother quieter shift

# Shimano's precise manufacturing abilities have enabled them to construct the Alfine 11-speed internal hub to be there most efficient yet

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10

Very well made and all the development work is toward a much more reliable and low-maintenance unit

Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10

Great range of gears, good feel, precise shifting. A couple of ratios are a bit vague, a few shifts are a bit industrial

Rate the product for durability:
 
9/10

Should last for ages, no problems with our test unit

Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
7/10

Lighter than the eight, and lighter than the Rohloff, but still a big rotating mass

Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
7/10

Easy to use, reliable and ergonomic shifter

Rate the product for value:
 
8/10

Not cheap, but the extra money is worth it for the better build

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Very well, a great enclosed gear system

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The range of gears, the improved shifter, the ease of maintenance

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Still a couple of vague ratios, shifter feel a bit incosistent

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? On the right bike, yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Anything further to say about the product in conclusion?

The Alfine 11 is a definite step forward and should be applauded. It's not perfect, but it will have wide-ranging appeal.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 38  Height: 190cm  Weight: 98kg

I usually ride: whatever I'm testing...  My best bike is: Genesis Equilibrium with SRAM Apex

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, cyclo cross, commuting, sportives, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, mtb, Mountain Bike Bog Snorkelling, track

Dave is a founding father of road.cc, having previously worked on Cycling Plus and What Mountain Bike magazines back in the day. He also writes about e-bikes for our sister publication ebiketips. He's won three mountain bike bog snorkelling World Championships, and races at the back of the third cats.

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21 comments

Avatar
IanGlasgow | 5 years ago
0 likes

Any idea where I might find a list of bikes equipped with this hub?

ATM I've found several bikes with the 8 speed version, but the only model I can find with the 11 speed (the Cube Editor) adds over £400 to the cost. This seems odd as Evnas Cycles will sell me the 11 speed hub for £300.
(for a £100  saving I could swap the hubs and keep the 8 speed as a spare in case of failure or sell it on eBaY!)

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zul | 8 years ago
0 likes

I think the lower gears should in general have larger gaps. If it was easy to produce I wish the gaps were as follow: 25%, 22%, 20%, 18%, 17%, 16%, 15%, 14%, 14%, 14%. That is overall 500% range. Then I would set it on a touring / urban bike at 24-120 gear inches.

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Robin Thorn | 8 years ago
0 likes
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m0rjc | 9 years ago
0 likes

Angular momentum is related to square of distance. This would apply both for acceleration about the wheel's axis (riding) and acceleration around other axis (gyroscope effect in turning). So it would take a fair amount of extra mass at hub distance to match a small increase of mass at rim or tyre. Not all of the mass in one of these hubs is moving the same way or at the same speed.

I'm eyeing up the the Rohloff for my next touring bike, but something like this costing far less looks tempting. I'd need that bar end shifter though. How much is that extra total mass in comparison with a 3x9 derailleur system?

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peasantpigfarmer | 13 years ago
0 likes

ppf. Those who would like to try the hub in a racing frame could probably use a campagnolo 11sp ergo type lever. It might require a ratio converter. just a thought! Having bikes with 7 and 8 speed nexus hubs and a rohloff. I may be a bit bias! My racers still have derailleurs tho! My fave bike is an enigma mtb with the rohloff which i use on and off road.I would be keen to try the new alfine as a comparison.
Those of you whom whince at the price should look at the long term value. It's much cheaper to replace a single speed chain and sprocket than a multi speed chain and cassette. I.e. a single speed chain is a max of £15 (last one was £5.99!) single sprocket £8-£15.
10sp chain £20-£50+, 10sp cassette £40-£200+.
Its not brain surgery to see the value for money a hub system makes! £430 starts to look cheap! (even the rohloff at up to £900ish looks good!)

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Rich_Enduro | 13 years ago
0 likes

does anyone know if the alfine 11 shifter pulls the same amount of cable as the 8 speed version? i'd love to fit a shifter to my alfine 8 that operates in the same direction as my derallier bike

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dave atkinson | 13 years ago
1 like

UPDATED: we've had a second, boxed hub in now so we've had a chance to weigh it, and here's what the scales of truth say:

Hub: 1744g
Shifter + cable: 239g

Total system weight: 1983g

So the hub's not as light as Shimano were aiming for. And it's a bit heavier than a Speedhub.

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mickdann | 13 years ago
0 likes

OK, no direct drive but then how much is energy is lost in a derailleur setup with those two extra cogs and the chain doubling back ? Just a thought.  39

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othello | 13 years ago
0 likes

I could imagine this would be pretty well suited to a Downhill bike; weight not an issue, no mechs to get twanged etc.

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dave atkinson | 13 years ago
1 like

granted adding 1.3kg of mass to the hub is not nearly as much of an issue as adding it to the rim would be, but it's not true to say it has no effect. The mass isn't *at* the axle, it's just not as far from it.

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Cabbagetown | 13 years ago
0 likes

Rotating mass is completely not an issue, because the mass is at the axle. A greater distance from the axis would have a big impact, but not when the mass is right there in the center. Non issue.

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dave atkinson | 13 years ago
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Quote:

It is an unfair comparison when just using the manufacturers published figures

we had the hub supplied built into a bike, so short of removing it from the bike, dismantling the wheel, removing the switchgear, weighing it and re-assembling there's no way for us to get the exact weight. we're receiving another hub soon in kit form, when we get that we'll weigh it and let you know. thanks for the info re: the weight of the Rohloff though

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KES | 13 years ago
1 like

Does this hub require a special cog, or is it interchangeable with, say, the 8 spd? Thanks

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estutjaweh | 13 years ago
0 likes

The weight given by Shimano chaps is unfortunately only the raw hub.
The weight given for the Rohloff hub is for the entire kit.

It is an unfair comparison when just using the manufacturers published figures. I feel its a shame that such misleading info is repeatedly used as the gospel truth. Such simple mistakes cause me to review how honest I read an entire article.

Otherwise...Thanks for the Info. I've been waiting a long time to hear an in-depth user review.

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KEN89 replied to estutjaweh | 13 years ago
0 likes

The weight of the Rohloff is not for the entire kit. The hub itself weighs 1700-1825 depending on configuration + cables, shifter, external mech, dogbone etc

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TheOldCog | 13 years ago
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can you fit it to a frame that is a SS only with no rear cable mounts? eg upgrade a Genesis IO frame?  39

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dave atkinson replied to TheOldCog | 13 years ago
0 likes
Mountain-Nic wrote:

can you fit it to a frame that is a SS only with no rear cable mounts? eg upgrade a Genesis IO frame?  39

don't see why not. the hub has an integral cable mount so you don't need one on the frame. you just need the right washers for the hz dropout, which IIRC is the grey ones.

Genesis already sell the IO as an Alfine 8 and fitting is broadly similiar

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jezzzer | 13 years ago
1 like

rotating mass is obviously a bad thing. but rotating mass at a pretty small radius is not really that much of a big deal. i'd have one if they weren't so pricey.

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STATO | 13 years ago
0 likes

Im pretty sure the Alfine/Nexus 8 dosnt have a direct drive either, despite having a 1.0 ratio.

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dave atkinson | 13 years ago
0 likes

no, there's no direct drive according to the ratio sheet. It's not the first time Shimano have done that, Nexus Inter-7 had no direct drive either

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cat1commuter | 13 years ago
0 likes

So none of the gears is direct drive?

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