Seeking 8-speed hub + disc brakes for £300-£400

Donimo

Hi folks,

I seek a reasonably lightweight urban/hybrid/commuter/whatever bike with both 8-speed internal hub and disc brakes, up to around £400. I've found the following which are all interesting but don't fit all the requirements. Some have hubs, some discs, some more expensive. The Trek Soho would be ideal but for the price.

halfords carrera subway 8
halfords carrera gryphon
specialized globe
cannondale bad boy 8
giant escape M8
saracen pylon 8
trek soho 4.0

The Subway 8 has roller brakes. I believe these feel spongier, are heavier and make wheel-changing awkward. Do y'all agree?

Any other suggestions?

Thanks,
Donimo

lardboy

I've been looking at the Saracen Pylon on ebay for a few days myself: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SARACEN-PYLON-8-S ... 0001r28196

My major issue with it is that it's probably very heavy, and not really a step up from my Kona Smoke, which is a heavyweight hybrid. On the positive side, the alfine hub and the disc brakes would both fit onto a suitable frame if I decided to build my own at a later date.

I'm not sure whether it could be fitted with a rack and guards, which are a priority on a commuter, for me at least.

Donimo

Cheers. Yeah, I saw the Pylon, I am concerned about the weight also. Looks like a fairly chunky beast. The colour is a bit "rob me" too!

So, I've discovered the Diamondback XRK8. Nice carbon forks, decent discs. Sturmey Archer XRK8 hub though. Last time I rode a Sturmey Archer was on a Raleigh Grifter and I busted my nuts when I encounteded 'slip gear'...

So, how does the XRK8 hub stack up these days?

Donimo

Donimo

Hmmm... Maybe not. Shame. The Diamondback looks nice. I wonder if it would be worth getting an Alfine hub/wheel fitted...

Donimo


"David H

September 16, 2008 at 2:30 am

I’ve found this site to be very useful - but one thing is missing from the review - reliability.

Based on the information here, I purchased a Sturmey Archer 8 speed hub. The ratios are really just what I was looking for - and the first few miles of the ride were euphoric.

HOWEVER…

The hub quickly deteriorated. VERY QUICKLY. Within 20 miles, the hub worked itself out of alignment and wouldn’t hold any gear but first, which is direct drive. Any significant torque would snap the gear out of drive - not only producing a sickening noise, but damaging the hub and making it unusable.

Despite being a great looking hub and the least expensive disc break option - DO NOT BUY THE STURMEY ARCHER HUB!!! Even with frequent and meticulous adjustment, it refuses to stay in gear.

To my knowledge, all the other hubs can be shifted under load - this one cannot. The pedals must be still or the hub will be damaged.

Sturmey Archer = not worth it."

lardboy

Reports on this very site are poor as well: http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=15239534

Keiron Curtis

Do not get a Carrera Subway 8, I did and had 15 months of hell, until Halfords changed it for a Subway 1. At the end Halfords admitted they could not support the Subway 8, because their staff weren't trained, even though they sold me a 3 year maintenance agreement at the time, and get this, are stil selling the Subway 8. To cut a long story short the Subway 1 has been revelation, and I'd never go for an internal hub gear set-up again.It's much lighter, and with 14 gears helps me here in South Wales to cope with the hills, and I now commute 40 miles roundtrip a day, often think about buying/upgrading the bike, but have done over 3,500 miles now in 8 months, and am so happy with the Subway 1, discount the idea quickly. I've no idea about the other bikes you mention, but say no to a Subway 8.

Donimo

Thanks! I actually went for the Subway 2 in the end. The roller brakes on the Subway 8 certainly felt crap. As lots of other folk have mentioned, while holding the front brake and rocking the bike, it feels like the headset is loose. They felt really spongy also. Hub gears might have been nice, but nothing wrong with a decent derailleur!

Donimo

Matt_westmids

I'm also looking for similar I've been looking at the Giant Escape and the Carrera Subway 2.

The Saracen Pylon looks a bit heavy to me.

How are you finding the Subway 2?

Donimo

I only bought it today, so I'll let you know after I assemble it sometime during the week.

Another nice chap from the forum weighed his Pylon, and reckoned it was 13-14kg. The Subway 2 lists as 12.7kg on the side of the box. I was slightly put off by the fact that Saracen seem to have disbanded recently, and I read a couple of reports of the M485 brakes sometimes leaking hydraulic flud and being recalled. Still, it does look like a bargain with Alfine hub and hydraulic brakes.

Donimo

Matt_westmids

Donimo wrote:

I only bought it today, so I'll let you know after I assemble it sometime during the week.

Ok mate no problem I thought the lovely weather might of tempted you today lol

Didn't trust Halfords then?

Donimo

Wasn't sunny here in Dublin... p!ssed rain all afternoon.

Nope, didn't trust halfords. Perfectly happy putting it together myself.

Matt_westmids

Donimo wrote:

Wasn't sunny here in Dublin... p!ssed rain all afternoon.

Nope, didn't trust halfords. Perfectly happy putting it together myself.

That's a bugger don't blame you on halfords.