Shimano Nexus is a brand of bicycle components which includes products such as epicyclical gear hubs, cranksets, shifters, brake levers, hub brakes, hub dynamos, and a CPU for automatically changing gears. The series is primarily aimed at the "comfort" market such as urban commuters and tourers, and as such is not made to withstand the rigours of off-road or mountain biking. The free-wheeling Nexus internal gear hubs are compatible with Shimano's "roller brake", its version of a drum brake, [1] [2] [3] but not with the Shimano disc brakes used with the higher-end Shimano Alfine internal gear hubs.
In 1995, Shimano rolled out its Nexus line of seven- and four-speed internal hubs. These had a new rotary actuator that did away with externally protruding gear shifting elements in the rear wheel. Also, the gear units were able to be shifted under moderate pedaling loads. Shimano had manufactured three speed hubs prior to that, and these hubs were at that point re-branded Nexus. In the early 2000s the 8-speed Nexus hub gear was introduced, having two stepped planetary series mounted downstream of each other. The hub was operated with a twist shifter. By November 2006, The Nexus range came in several ranges (Inter 3, Inter 7 and Inter 8) providing 3, 7 and 8 speed models respectively.
Inter 3 - This hub has three speeds with 36% intervals and an overall gear range of 186%. It weighs 1220 grams stripped in its basic version (without built-in brake). Other versions include coaster, roller or disk brake. Starting from around 2011 Shimano offers a model with a rotary shifting mechanism similar to the one originally developed for the Inter 7 instead of the push rod/bell crank mechanism.
Auto 3 - The hub is fitted with a 3 speed automatic gear system, which utilizes a front hub dynamo to power a CPU that automatically changes the three speed internally geared hub. A similar system was built for the nexus 4. [4]
Inter 4 - Nexus Inter 4 hubs had four speeds, but the same 186% range as the Inter 3. It only geared up, so a relatively large rear sprocket was necessary to give a reasonable development when combined with a normal front sprocket. [5] It has been discontinued and spare parts have become hard to source.
Inter 5 - Apparently in 2012 Shimano has started making Nexus Inter 5 hubs. A forum discussion [6] contains a link to one [7] of two [8] parts lists at Shimano. Range reportedly 0.75 to 1.545 for a total range of 206%. A glance on the Web confirms: Pricing seems to be near Inter 3, availability in the US seems limited. The Shimano Products Line-Up Chart [9] shows For Japan market.
Inter 5E - A 5-speed hub targeted at the e-bike market, launched in 2019. Unrelated to the previous Inter 5 model. Available with a conventional twist-grip for mechanical shifting (SG-C7000-5X series), or with an automatic shifter (SG-C7050-5X series) [10] integrated with the Shimano STEPS e-bike system released in 2021. [11] Shimano claims improvements in shifting under torque and rotation durability over the C6000-series Nexus 8 hubs. The Inter 5E shares its hub shell with the Nexus 8, distinguishing itself from the earlier Inter 5.
Inter 7 - The Inter 7 comes in two versions with either a steel or aluminium shell, weighing 1860 and 1460 grams respectively, the latter more expensive yet relatively reasonably priced. The gear mechanisms are operated with a Revo Twist Shifter or a simple non-ratcheting trigger shifter and are identical in the two versions, offering a range of 244% with non-even interval percentages of 17, 14, 17, 16, 17 and 16.
Inter 8 - The Inter 8 has interval percentages between the gears of 22, 16, 14, 18, 22, 16, 14, and a total range of 307%, comparable to a road bike derailleur gear systems, but as the other Nexus products, it is designed and intended for urban commuter use. The hub comes in a variety of versions, weighing between 1550 and 2040 grams stripped. The newest high end models are internally very similar to the Alfine model. [12] The Inter 8 is more tolerant of shifting under load than the Inter 7.
The Shimano-invented "roller brake" works similarly to a drum brake, but is fitted to the side of the hub with a special adaptor ring. To provide better cooling the roller brake comes with an integrated cooling disc.
A derailleur is a variable-ratio bicycle gearing system consisting of a chain, multiple sprockets of different sizes, and a mechanism to move the chain from one sprocket to another.
A hub gear, internal-gear hub, internally geared hub or just gear hub is a gear ratio changing system commonly used on bicycles that is implemented with planetary or epicyclic gears. The gears and lubricants are sealed within the shell of the hub gear, in contrast with derailleur gears where the gears and mechanism are exposed to the elements. Changing the gear ratio was traditionally accomplished by a shift lever connected to the hub with a Bowden cable, and twist-grip style shifters have become common.
Shimano, Inc., originally Shimano Iron Works (島野鐵工所) and later Shimano Industries, Inc. (島野工業株式会社), is a Japanese multinational manufacturing company for cycling components, fishing tackle and rowing equipment, who also produced golf supplies until 2005 and snowboarding gear until 2008. Named after founder Shozaburo Shimano and headquartered in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, the company has 32 consolidated and 11 unconsolidated subsidiaries, with the primary manufacturing plants based in Kunshan (China), Malaysia and Singapore.
Campagnolo is an Italian manufacturer of high-end bicycle components with headquarters in Vicenza, Italy. The components are organised as groupsets (gruppi), and are a near-complete collection of a bicycle's mechanical parts. Campagnolo's flagship components are the Super Record, Record, and Chorus groupsets with all three representing their recent shift to 12-speed drivetrains. Super Record and Record are the top groupsets, followed by Chorus, Potenza, Centaur and Veloce. Campagnolo also produces aluminum and carbon wheels, as well as other components.
A bicycle chain is a roller chain that transfers power from the pedals to the drive-wheel of a bicycle, thus propelling it. Most bicycle chains are made from plain carbon or alloy steel, but some are nickel-plated to prevent rust, or simply for aesthetics.
Sturmey-Archer was a manufacturing company originally from Nottingham, England. It primarily produced bicycle hub gears, brakes and a great many other sundry bicycle components, most prominently during its heyday as a subsidiary of the Raleigh Bicycle Company. In the past, it also manufactured motorcycle hubs, gearboxes and engines.
The Birdy is a folding bicycle designed by Riese und Müller in Germany and produced by Pacific Cycles in Taiwan. As of 2010 over 100,000 had been sold. Three distinct models have been marketed, in addition to some specialist variations, with the third (Mk3) introduced in July 2015.
SRAM LLC is a privately owned bicycle component manufacturer based in Chicago, Illinois, United States, founded in 1987. SRAM is an acronym comprising the names of its founders, Scott, Ray, sAM,. The company produces a range of internally developed cycling components, including Grip Shift, separate gravel, road, and mountain drivetrains from 7 to 12 speed. SRAM developed the Eagle line of mountain bike specific drivetrain components intended to improve shifting performance. SRAM was also the first to release a dedicated "one by" drivetrain with a single front chain-ring.
A shaft-driven bicycle is a bicycle that uses a drive shaft instead of a chain to transmit power from the pedals to the wheel. Shaft drives were introduced in the 1880s, but were mostly supplanted by chain-driven bicycles due to the gear ranges possible with sprockets and derailleurs. Around the 2000s, due to advancements in internal gear technology, a small number of modern shaft-driven bicycles have been introduced.
SR Suntour is a Taiwanese manufacturer of bicycle components, formed in 1988 when Osaka based SunTour (Maeda) went bankrupt and was purchased by Sakae Ringyo Company, a major Japanese maker of aluminum parts, particularly cranks and seat posts. SunTour's sales and commercial success peaked from the late 1970s to the mid-1980s.
On a bicycle, the cassette or cluster is the set of multiple sprockets that attaches to the hub on the rear wheel. A cogset works with a rear derailleur to provide multiple gear ratios to the rider. Cassettes come in two varieties, freewheels or cassettes, of which cassettes are a newer development. Although cassettes and freewheels perform the same function and look almost the same when installed, they have important mechanical differences and are not interchangeable.
The Rohloff Speedhub is an epicyclic internal hub gear for bicycles, developed and patented by Rohloff AG. It has been manufactured and marketed by that company since 1998. The Speedhub 500/14 has 14 equally spaced, sequential, non-overlapping gear ratios operated by a single twistgrip. The overall gear range is 526%, meaning the highest gear is 5.26 times as high as the lowest gear. Individual gear shifts when shifting up give an increase of about 13.6%.
Bicycle gearing is the aspect of a bicycle drivetrain that determines the relation between the cadence, the rate at which the rider pedals, and the rate at which the drive wheel turns.
Kronan bicycles are marketed by Kronan Trademark AB, also known as Kronan AB. Kronan AB was established in June 1997 by three former-students, John Wahlbäck and the Avander brothers, Henry and Martin. In autumn 2003 the company was bought by the Brunstedt family with Mary Brunstedt as the company's current CEO.
The Swiss Army Bicycle has been utilized by the Swiss Army beginning in 1905. There have been three models, the MO-5, MO-93, and the MO-12. The Swiss Army disbanded its elite bicycle infantry units in 2003, but still uses bicycles for training, and many army bicycles remain in private use. The most famous Swiss bicycle infantryman is Federal Councillor Ueli Maurer, who commanded a bicycle infantry battalion until 1994 and still uses his army bicycle. In 2012, the Department of Defence, Civil Defence, and Sport purchased 4100 of the new, lighter MO-12 or Fahrrad 12, which are also available for private purchase.
An electronic gear-shifting system is a method of changing gears on a bicycle, which enables riders to shift with electronic switches instead of using conventional control levers and mechanical cables. The switches are connected by wire or wirelessly to a battery pack and to a small electric motor that drives the derailleur, switching the chain from cog to cog. An electronic system can switch gears faster and, because the system does not use Bowden cables and can calibrate itself, it may require less maintenance.
Alfine is the name of a comfort and urban oriented product series by Shimano. It is mainly known for internally geared hubs, but includes also hydraulic disc brakes and levers, chain tensioners, dynamo hubs, cranksets, shift levers, and complete wheels.
The SRAM i-Motion series of products is a sport, urban, and trekking oriented product series developed and manufactured by SRAM Corporation. Branded i-Motion are internally geared hubs, shift levers, and dynamo hubs. Related to the i-Motion series are also changeable free or fixed single speed hubs, hybrid epicyclic and derailleur gear hubs, and hydraulic disc brakes. The i-Motion series of products were developed at SRAMs Schweinfurt R&D and manufacturing plant in Germany, formerly of Sachs.
SRAM G8 is an internally geared hub for bicycles developed and manufactured by the American cycling component manufacturer SRAM Corporation. It entered production in 2013.
This page is a list of internal hub gears for bicycles.