internal multi-speed hub experience

[axsepul]

After reading the topic about the bendix kickback here viewtopic.php?f=1&t=51532&p=496090#p496090 I realized that not many people have had the experience of riding with an internal multi-speed hub including myself. Here will have the chance to write a review of any brand, new or old multi-speed hub.

I have 2 new departure triplspeed hub. The trick is to correctly set up 2nd gear with the chain adjuster. After that they ride perfectly.

I recently acquired a vintage SA 3 speed hub with coaster brake. Has anybody used it before? Does it make any sounds? Do they tend to skip? Are they reliable?

How about the new SA internal multi-speed hub with the aluminum shell? Any experience with them?

I've never had the chance to try out the new departure 2 speed. Any info on this?

Bendix 3 speed hubs. Anybody using one right now?

There are probably more brands but I don't know them. Illustrate me with your wisdom!

 

[Philphine]

my experience is pretty minimal, but i'd like to work with a few more since the chainline is easier to deal with than a derailleur. i actually like derail's better, but they're hard to line up with 3" or more tires, and altering the frame sometimes makes them hard to use also.

way back i had a muscle type bike with the odd 5sp internal set up. had cables going into both sides of the hub and two shifters. it was something like the main shifter gave you three gears, then you moved the other shifter to a second position and then the main shifter gave you two more and maybe a neutral?, or something odd like that. i think that one put me off from internal shifters.

now i have one bike with a shimano 3sp coaster. i don't ride it often but it seems to work well enough. all the ones i've found are from 26x1 3/8" bikes and i haven't got new wheels built, but if i get them changed or find some for balloon tires i have at least 4 projects i'd like to try them on. i'd also try a 7-8 speed if i lucked into one, and i'd really love to try a nuvinci cvt hub, especially if i get my tandem to work.

 

[Slick Rick]

I wasnt even aware Bendix made a 3-i hub! I have used/ridden bendix 2 speed (auto) or (kickback) hubs on a few of my bikes, these have all been the yellow banded models. Love them, it takes a little time to get used to the "Double clutch" manuever, but once thats out of the way they are really solid hubs.I have used/ridden with the Sturmy Archer 3-i hubs (coaster) old and new, love them! They are solid as well providing proper lubrication and cable adjustments are maintained. I have ridden/used old and new shimano 3-i hubs (coaster) and (Nexus) Love them as well. The older Shimano seems to have really good gearing. The Nexus is about as rock solid and flawless as they come! The Bendix 2 speeds have a "growl" noise in low, but I have been told and read that this is a common occurance. The SA's have a pawl clicking, much like a cassette, and can slip when improperly adjusted. Ditto on the old style Shimano. I am currently playing with a Shimano Nexus 7-i hub, loving that one so far as well. :mrgreen:

 

[Jpromo]

I've ridden several makes pretty extensively. Old 3-Speed Sturmey's are great. Good ratio, reliable, built like tanks, reliable. Adjustment is easy after you do a couple. A couple drops of oil every couple months and you're set forever.

Bendix kickback's are nice for a clean look. I rebuilt mine with fresh grease and it never slipped, shifted real easy and was a lot of fun to ride. Low gear really isn't spread low enough for hills but it's a good flatland hub.

I have a Sachs Torpedo 3-speed coaster which I think was Bendix right? That's been real good to me too on my Tote-cycle. Good gear ratio and the shifter on mine is nice with a little indicator.

2-speed New Departure is a great rider. It's my smoothest bike by far. There are only two gears but they're perfectly spread for short hills and for speed. Shifter is a little strange as it's just held in place by tension.

 

[schertztx]

I have two bikes with Nexus 3i coaster brake hubs in them and one with a Nexus 7i drum brake hub. Love them all. I also got a wheel with a Nexus 3i roller brake that I haven't put on a bike yet. I wish all my bikes had them.

 

[jwm]

I put a new Sturmey AWC three speed coaster brake on the '56 Starlet that my wife rides. I got the shifter that is closest to the old style lever. The biggest problem with it is that the length of throw on the shift lever is very short between 2nd and 1st- barely a click, and sometimes it won't stay in 1st, or won't shift if you're pedaling. The other thing I'm not crazy about- there is a huge amount of cable slack in 3rd gear. All in all I'm not real crazy about it.

I put a new Shimano Nexus 8 with coaster brake on my rider. Sometimes the hub kind of "chunks" going between 4th and 5th if you're pedaling. The instructions that came with the hub mention this, and say it's not a malfunction. Nonetheless, I make a point of coasting while I shift. But I love this hub! it looks clean, and it gives me a great range. I may break down and buy one for the old Starlet. (which could mean either the bicycle or my wife 8) )

Good thing she doesn't hang out at the forum here.

JWM

 

[Beachside]

The Starlet
I have a Nexus 7 on one of my bikes and it's great. The gear ratio is more than enough for flat costal Florida and the 7 gear lets me cruise at about 15-17 mph without much serious effort! And internal multi's look so clean!

 

[roadmaster]

Oh, how I love my 3 speeds! I've unfortunatly never had a kickback hub ( ) or Bendix 3 speed, but Bendix is a reliable company and everything i've owned with their name on it has been rock solid.

Now for your Sturmey Archer 3speed hub with coaster brake... AVOID the TCW model!!! this is one of their earlier 3 speed coaster brake hubs and the function of the brake is tied into the function of the geared hub. This is DANGEROUS because if your hub goes into "neutral" (that space between 3rd and 2nd) or malfunctions, you lose your brakes! All other versions besides the TCW are ok, at least safe, but for 3speed hubs WITH coaster brakes, Shimano is best (Nexus being best).

What model of SA hub? Year? Both are stamped on the hub case. Old school SA hubs (without coaster brake) from Sturmey Archer are still in my opinion as bulitproof as the old school "Chicago" built Schwinns I also own.

And BTW, I have a 62' Raleigh sport 3speed with the Sturmey Archer TCW hub, but I also have a front brake "just in case" and thats the only way i'd roll with a TCW. Hope this helps.

 

[aka_locojoe]

I have/had 3 bikes with Shimano 3 speeds with coaster brakes. 2 I rode regularly. I liked them and thought they worked well.

 

[axsepul]

Here is the beast. Already drilled to accommodate 10 gauge spokes! I don't see any ACW on it. I see inside the sturmey logo a S3C and sideways I see an 80 on one corner and on the other I see a 1 and there is also the patent numbers for the usa, gb and canada. Any info on this?

Edit

On the ND triplspeed with no tension on the cable I'm on 1st gear and as pull tension I go into 2nd and 3rd. Is it the same with this SA hub or is it backwards?

 

[mrfritz]

I am enamored with geared hubs. Properly adjusted to start with and maintained/weather proofed they seem to just work.

Note worthy;

For cruising I haven't met anyone with a kick back 2 speed that would give it up. The smoothness and linear steps of the nexus 7 are always a pleasure to ride. I haven't hooked up the Nu Vinci to anything yet but I have high expectations, though taking to people it sounds a little like something you're always adjusting while you ride. My next build is getting a 5 speed with a coaster brake and reverse!

Compared to the derailer setup a geared hub is win if for no other reason than you can select your gear at a stop. It ALWAYS works out for me that if I have to stop I'm too busy doing that to get setup into the right gear for when I have to take off. I might as well be riding a fixie with a 44:17..

I suppose there are good reasons that I've never seen a geared hub in the Tour De France, but the truth is I don't ride with those guys I like to ride on balloons in the warmth of sun letting life be at it's best getting there as much as being where I'm going. And for that gear and especially geared hubs make my ride better.

 

[axsepul]

There is a bendix 3 speed right now on ebay
http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com/viewitem ... 4754135818

 

[axsepul]

Check the price on this ad! There is also good info

 

[jwm]

Cool ad. I've never seen one of those.
Y'know what's weird- I have read several explanations of how the three speed hub works, seen as many exploded, and cut away views, and I've taken Sturmey 3 speeds apart, and put them back together so they worked just fine. Yet somehow I still don't quite actually understand how the dang things work. And seven, eight, or fourteen speeds? Fergetaboudit. (Please don't offer well meant explanations. I'm resolved that I'll never figure it out.)

JWM

 

[B607]

[quote="axsepul]S3C and sideways I see an 80 on one corner [/quote]

S3C is the model and 80 is the date of manuf. Gary

 

[Philphine]

I haven't hooked up the Nu Vinci to anything yet but I have high expectations, though taking to people it sounds a little like something you're always adjusting while you ride.

do you know, or did they mention if are they constantly adjusting just because they can, or because they feel like where they set it is drifting or something?

i can see constanly playing with it. kinda like how you do with a motorcycle or car, letting up or giving more gas as you need to. if they just don't keep their setting well, that would make them less appealing i think. i've only read about them and they seem really interesting, but i've never read about this part of them.

 

[JaxRhapsody]

I thought they where like a cvt for bikes.

 

[jwm]

I am enamored with geared hubs. Properly adjusted to start with and maintained/weather proofed they seem to just work.

Note worthy;

For cruising I haven't met anyone with a kick back 2 speed that would give it up. The smoothness and linear steps of the nexus 7 are always a pleasure to ride. I haven't hooked up the Nu Vinci to anything yet but I have high expectations, though taking to people it sounds a little like something you're always adjusting while you ride. My next build is getting a 5 speed with a coaster brake and reverse!

Compared to the derailer setup a geared hub is win if for no other reason than you can select your gear at a stop. It ALWAYS works out for me that if I have to stop I'm too busy doing that to get setup into the right gear for when I have to take off. I might as well be riding a fixie with a 44:17..

I suppose there are good reasons that I've never seen a geared hub in the Tour De France, but the truth is I don't ride with those guys I like to ride on balloons in the warmth of sun letting life be at it's best getting there as much as being where I'm going. And for that gear and especially geared hubs make my ride better.

When you get that Nuvinci hooked up please write a detailed review on it. I just checked out their web site, and I'm dangerously close to getting a bad case of the 'gottahavits'

JWM

 

[Philphine]

I thought they where like a cvt for bikes.

they are, but i don't think they move up through their gear range on their own. or do they? as i understood it the "cv" meant adjustability being infinitly variable over whatever it's range is, but still being set whereever you adjust the shifter?

 

[mrfritz]

I haven't hooked up the Nu Vinci to anything yet but I have high expectations, though taking to people it sounds a little like something you're always adjusting while you ride.

do you know, or did they mention if are they constantly adjusting just because they can, or because they feel like where they set it is drifting or something?

i can see constanly playing with it. kinda like how you do with a motorcycle or car, letting up or giving more gas as you need to. if they just don't keep their setting well, that would make them less appealing i think. i've only read about them and they seem really interesting, but i've never read about this part of them.

The people I've talked to are "because they can"... They have no complaints about slipping or any other odd behavior they just are always finding the perfect ratio for the conditions and how they want to ride. It doesn't auto shift, you just pick the ratio you want by turning a handlebar mounted twist.

The build I'm going to use this in is a few away. Basically I'm going to build another dyno-roadster/clone for use here in Seattle. The one I have in CA with the seven speed nexus is my favorite bike. The seat being that far from the crank and the half moon cruiser bars really discourages a stand up pedaling gate so I really appreciate having the gears.