Those of you reading this blog may have a slightly different perspective, but for most people in Japan, Shimano is synonymous with fishing gear manufacturers.
However, in reality, the vast majority of Shimano's sales are generated by bicycle components.
Moreover, these are not the high-end components you might be familiar with, but mostly parts for low-priced, general-use bicycles.
In this post, I would like to talk about Alfine, which sits at the pinnacle of internal gear hub systems forged by such bicycles that are put through their paces all over the world.
A common misconception—not just about Alfine, but internal gear hubs in general—is that they are "maintenance-free."
While the amount of maintenance required may be low, it is important to note that they are by no means maintenance-free.
Since the hub body is sealed, I would say that the intrusion of dirt and water is almost non-existent compared to external derailleur systems.
So, why is maintenance necessary if nothing gets inside?
It is because internal gear hubs contain many gears, and oil is essential to keep them moving smoothly.
The oil used internally, despite being synthetic, naturally degrades with use and must be replaced periodically. The interval is infrequent—about once every two years or every 5,000 km—but it is an essential task. That is precisely why maintenance is required.
So, Alfine users, is your hub in good shape?
We recently received a request at the pit for an Alfine service, so let’s take a look at it together.
The procedure is very simple and consists of just three steps:
・Drain the old oil
↓
・Flush out the remaining old oil from the hub
↓
・Inject new oil
That's it.
However, you will need to prepare specialized tools and dedicated oil, so I think it is safer and more economical to leave it to us at the bike shop. By the way, the specialized items look like this.
Let's get started.
First, set the syringe in the designated spot.
Once set, point the syringe downward and draw out the old oil.
Out comes oil that is stained dark brown.
Once the old oil stops coming out, flush the system with new oil to remove any remaining old oil.
Fresh oil is a clear, green color.
When you pass it through the hub for flushing and draw it out again, it loses that clean color and comes out cloudy.
Drain the flushing oil thoroughly, inject the final new oil, and the process is complete.
The process takes about 30 minutes.
For a task performed only once every two years or every 5,000 km, it is surprisingly simple.
Typical of Shimano’s global quality.
For bicycles used in daily life, internal gear hubs offer a significant advantage, even when considering the maintenance frequency.
With 3, 5, 8, and 11-speed options, you can choose the one that suits your riding distance and environment.
So, why not switch your commuting companion to an internal gear hub and make it trouble-free?
We are always here to help with your inquiries.