Due to the bad reviews of the Nexus 8 speed gearbox here I'd like to share my rather positive experience with this circuit: I drive the Nexus 8-speed hub - but with freewheel, not with coaster brake - Since July 2010 my second bike, ie daily, all year round and in all weather conditions to work but rarely on longer trips. Because I lead exactly book I can even call the current mileage: exactly 12,857 kilometers. Problems with this circuit I had despite "zero maintenance" not yet. I've been to about 8,000 km by swapped chain and sprockets, but cleaned, greased or oiled I am inside the hub nothing. Let's see how long the hub still hold out, but overall I'm with the durability and function already fully satisfied. The biggest drawbacks of 8-speed shifting exist in my opinion in too large a ratio change from the 5th to the 6th gear (because often one wishes for a transition exactly in between), and in total relatively low ratio range of only 305 percent. A Rohloff 18 speed hub for example, has 525 per cent, which corresponds to about a bike with 27-speed derailleur. But it also costs more than 900 euros and plays for this reason in a completely different league. Nevertheless, more often one wishes at the Nexus 8-speed especially in mountainous terrain at least a shorter translated 1st gear uphill and a longer translated transition above the 8 transfer to ordinary pure kicking down what the Nexus 8-speed automatic transmission for longer tours can seem rather unsuitable. On balance, I think the Shimano Nexus 8-speed hub but for a useful circuit. You probably will not reach the quality of visually very similar but much more expensive Shimano Alfine 8-speed hub, but has definitely very good value for money and probably for most "average cyclist" fully sufficient.
