20 inch wheels with multi speed freewheel?

[Thxcuz]

Is there such a thing as a 20 inch wheel threaded for a multispeed freewheel? I know some of the muscle bikes had 5 speed freewhells on back. I rode my new (to me ) foldie with an old shimano 3 speed and I'm thinking with the smaller wheels I need a little more variety in gearing. I could always have a new wheel built with a nexus hub but I am thinking a derailer would be cheaper.
is there such an animal?

 

[Toeslider]

I have a few kids bikes like that. They are 6 speed Huffy girls 20" bikes. I thought about using one of those in a BMX type frame. Of course, you would have to spread the dropouts on your bike a bit to accomodate the wider width. If you want better quality, Giant made a bike called the MTX 125 that was a boys/girls 6 speed 20". I had one of those but I sold it. Better quality, but they hold their value well so expect to pay more for it. You can get one of the Huffys for as low as $10-$15 at a garage sale or Craigslist. The Giant, expect to pay more like $75-$100, unless you wait a while for a deal to appear. I think I got the one I had for $25 at a swap meet that had nothing to do with bikes. Giant also makes the MTX 225, which is the same type of deal, but with 24" wheels.

 

[Thxcuz]

I guess I can gear it down with more teeth in the back, the bike co-op has crates full of those.

 

[CRASH]

I'm converting a 20" coaster to a 5-speed. You have to widen the drops, then modify brakes on to the bike. Plus the chainring required is thinner because a multi-speed chain is thinner. So, of course you need a thinner chain. As well as the derailleur...

So, you can see that it's a lot of work.

 

[danthrift71]

BMX companies have played with multispeed set-ups a few times over the years. SunTour, Browning and ACS are ones that jump to mind first with their 2 speeders. I'm sure there have been others. ACS and SunTour used 2 speed freewheels while Browning used 2 chainrings up front. A buddy has a mid-school BMX cruiser with a 3 spd cassette. I believe basically a standard BMX cassette (110mm spacing) with 3 cogs and spacers. All used some kind of derailleur or chain tensioner.

 

[Thxcuz]

it turns out I need a new wheel because the 3 speed hub is in a bad way. SOOOOOOOO how many teeth should I get for a single speed with 20 inch wheels. I'm going up some slight hills and I'm old and fat.

 

[danthrift71]

44/16 is a good all around gear for 20 inchers.

 

[mikeeebikey]

BMX companies have played with multispeed set-ups a few times over the years. SunTour, Browning and ACS are ones that jump to mind first with their 2 speeders. I'm sure there have been others. ACS and SunTour used 2 speed freewheels while Browning used 2 chainrings up front. A buddy has a mid-school BMX cruiser with a 3 spd cassette. I believe basically a standard BMX cassette (110mm spacing) with 3 cogs and spacers. All used some kind of derailleur or chain tensioner.

All were a good way to "throw," a chain off and lose a race!!! (Indy 1985 in first and flipped because of a holeshot failure)

 

[Thxcuz]

I haven't done any measurements yet but it seems the dropouts may be wide enough for a 5 speed freewheel. I'll check later.
It originally had a 3 speed internal hub.

 

[Wildcat]

My Bike E had a internal 3 speed with a 7 speed freewheel, but you probably don't want to spend that much money. With the change of the chain ring and chain and addition of derailer and shifter w cable, maybe the 7 speed nexus would cost the same or less than the 5 speed. and I think the nexus freewheels also, without coaster brakes.

 

[frameteam2003]

All 20" wheels with a single speed freewheel will take a thread on multi-speed block. look for one of the higher quality alum rims like a mongoose.

 

[danthrift71]

BMX companies have played with multispeed set-ups a few times over the years. SunTour, Browning and ACS are ones that jump to mind first with their 2 speeders. I'm sure there have been others. ACS and SunTour used 2 speed freewheels while Browning used 2 chainrings up front. A buddy has a mid-school BMX cruiser with a 3 spd cassette. I believe basically a standard BMX cassette (110mm spacing) with 3 cogs and spacers. All used some kind of derailleur or chain tensioner.

All were a good way to "throw," a chain off and lose a race!!! (Indy 1985 in first and flipped because of a holeshot failure)

LOL, true. Terrible for BMX maybe OK for cruising. Fortunate for me they were not cool anymore by the time I could have bought one back then. Thinking about a 2 speed freewheel for my '80 S&S Newport.

 

[Thxcuz]

Well my sun tour perfect 5 speed fits, but not well. It's just a little too wide. If I bend the fork out it puts the dropouts at an angle. I'm guessing that isn't good for a derailer. I'll have to stick with single speed or find a 20" multi speed internal.
Or is there a freewheel that isn't as wide as the standard freewheel?

 

[frameteam2003]

You might try and find some shamino I think cogs--they have 6 splines but if you drimal off every other one to leave three they fit on the standard three spline hub you have ---they are thinner and you can get two on your hub with a spacer--this way tour old hub is now a six speed.