Almost all bike manufacturers have reacted to this in the key year 2011. Is a new bike class emerging?
Alfine is not just Alfine. In the key year of 2011, Shimano is stepping on the gas: the completely redesigned Alfine 11 hub packs just as many gears into its polished hub shell, is extremely low-maintenance and quiet. At only around 1660 grams, the hub weighs roughly the same as its 8-speed sister.
The new bike is controlled by a modern Rapid Fire shifter, which shifts up or down the gears with one shift lever each, even two at once if required ("multi-release"). As is familiar from derailleur gears, the lever can be operated from both directions with either the thumb or the index finger using "two-way release". This makes 11-speed shifting significantly faster, crisper and more precise.
The 11-speed bikes in the test:
Bergamont Vitess AL 11 SL, http://www.bergamont.de
Carver Georgia, http://www.carver.de
Contoura Pasedena, http://www.contoura.de
Focus Planet 11, http://www.focus-bikes.de
Kettler Traveller 11.1, http://www.kettler-bike.de
Koga Signature, http://www.koga.com
Lapierre Sitandgo!400, http://www.lapierrebikes.com
Rose Activa Pro II, http://www.rose.de
Steppenwolf Tao Light Alfine, http://www.steppenwolf-bikes.com
Velotraum VK-7, http://www.velotraum.de
