I have tried the 8sp and found it smooth as silk, the weight was noticeable on lifting the bike only, the balance is way off with one fitted, though it was on a non suspended dale.
The great thing apart from bombproof built, was the fact you can change gear at a standstill. Came in handy around town, on the beach etc.
You could be in top gear, emergency stop, knock it down, then lat off up a hill of from traffic lights.
11sp is going down well with the fatbike groups in hard areas.
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2014 surly straggler
2012 surly moonlander
14 badboy 14 carbon beargrease 13 jones spaceframe 14 straggler, 05 pugsley, 13 pugsley, 12 moonlander, 13 krampus x2, 13 fargo 2, 11 surly pugsley, 01 Volvo Cannondale, 01 dekerf limited, 98 cannondale caad2, 94 san andreas, 96 san andreas, 93 pace rc200 f3, 08 Ti moots rigormootis, 93 Ti merlin xlm, 09 Ti jeff jones spaceframe, 93 fat chance yo eddy (ex dave hemming), 11 salsa mukluk, 00 scott octane, 03 stumpjumper comp, 07 s-works fsr carbon, 08 revolution triad 2, 94 claud butler kylami, 96 cannondale m500, 93 townsend, 07 scott scale 30 carbon, 92 CR dogs bolx, 09 hooligan 1, 99 trek 6500, 10 badboy