anyone here using a Nuvinci CVPT hub??
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anyone here using a Nuvinci CVPT hub??
that's Nuvinci Continuously Variable Planetary Transmission
if so, how do you like it?
I'm seriously considering building a new rear wheel for my commuter and making this hub a part of it. Yes, I am aware it's heavy.
if so, how do you like it?
I'm seriously considering building a new rear wheel for my commuter and making this hub a part of it. Yes, I am aware it's heavy.
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I had one laced to a 26" wheel. Built a frankenbike with it, mostly like a mountain bike. Didn't know much about bicycles then. Rode trails, roads, about 150 miles total. Decided it was too damn heavy and expensive and I sold it.
Now I know waaaaayyy more about bikes and I kinda wish I hadn't sold it. The hub has some serious merits. I don't think that hub would ever fail. Ever. The ratio range and operation are sweet. If you can deal with the weight of that thing I don't think there is a better hub.
AllenG has a bike with one and he likes it.
Now I know waaaaayyy more about bikes and I kinda wish I hadn't sold it. The hub has some serious merits. I don't think that hub would ever fail. Ever. The ratio range and operation are sweet. If you can deal with the weight of that thing I don't think there is a better hub.
AllenG has a bike with one and he likes it.
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I had one laced to a 26" wheel. Built a frankenbike with it, mostly like a mountain bike. Didn't know much about bicycles then. Rode trails, roads, about 150 miles total. Decided it was too damn heavy and expensive and I sold it.
Now I know waaaaayyy more about bikes and I kinda wish I hadn't sold it. The hub has some serious merits. I don't think that hub would ever fail. Ever. The ratio range and operation are sweet. If you can deal with the weight of that thing I don't think there is a better hub.
AllenG has a bike with one and he likes it.
Now I know waaaaayyy more about bikes and I kinda wish I hadn't sold it. The hub has some serious merits. I don't think that hub would ever fail. Ever. The ratio range and operation are sweet. If you can deal with the weight of that thing I don't think there is a better hub.
AllenG has a bike with one and he likes it.
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$3000!!!
Ok, the hub is neat, but the rest of the bike looks beach-cruiser ordinary. Or is there something else going on?
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Cool man. Do you have the hub yet? I just ask because that hub really is heavy. My wheel weighed 12 pounds. I'm not trying to warn you away. I'll put it this way, if you don't mind a heavy bike then the Nuvinci hub rocks.
I'm extremely curious as to whether Fallbrooks will come out with a lighter CVT hub. I think they could get away with lighter (weaker) components and still have a bomber hub. Based on my experience I don't think anyone could ride that hub to death. 180mm cranks, 300 pound rider hammering up hills would be nothing to that hub. Just my opinion.
It's likely I'll have a Nuvinci hub bike someday. I just wasn't ready for mine yet.
Last edited by Cody Broken; 11-25-07 at 07:09 PM.
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I don't have the hub yet. I work at a shop and our distributor has had several in stock for months and they've just been sitting there all that time. I go to order one today and they're all sold out. D'oh!
Looks like I'll be waiting a little longer for it.
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I agree it is a fat price, but I'll totally disagree with you about the frame. That is about as unique a frame style as your are going to get from a bike manufacturer. You would have to see it in person to be able to appreciate it.
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[QUOTE=madcap;5639282]I mind a heavy bike off road but this is my commuter machine. I don't really mind the weight.QUOTE]
Yeah, unfortunately the weight ruins it for off-road applications. But for pavement it has huge potential.
Didn't know you were a bike mech. Since you obviously know your stuff, I'll just be patient and wait for your photos and updates on the build.
Too bad about the wait.
Yeah, unfortunately the weight ruins it for off-road applications. But for pavement it has huge potential.
Didn't know you were a bike mech. Since you obviously know your stuff, I'll just be patient and wait for your photos and updates on the build.
Too bad about the wait.
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https://cgi.ebay.com/Cadillac-Fleetwo...QQcmdZViewItem
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Well, yes, something else is going on on ebay...
https://cgi.ebay.com/Cadillac-Fleetwo...QQcmdZViewItem
https://cgi.ebay.com/Cadillac-Fleetwo...QQcmdZViewItem
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I run one on a Giant Twist/Lite, an electric assist which I added a XtraCycle kit.
I've gone through several hubs on that bike. Because of the added torque from the electric motor and the weight I put on the long tail very few hubs were able to survive (cracked a SA-8 in half). The NuVinci has been the exception. I would expect it would stand up to the rigors of a motorcycle. Solid as stone and whisper quiet (and no click-clack while coasting). It is heavy but if weight is not a huge factor on your build it is the most resilient hub I've ever owned, even comparing it to several Rohloffs I have.
When you have it built up I would recommend double crossing the spokes. Triple crossing (at least on 26 inch wheels) puts the spokes at a very sharp angle. My Rohloffs are double crossed and have held up very well.
I've gone through several hubs on that bike. Because of the added torque from the electric motor and the weight I put on the long tail very few hubs were able to survive (cracked a SA-8 in half). The NuVinci has been the exception. I would expect it would stand up to the rigors of a motorcycle. Solid as stone and whisper quiet (and no click-clack while coasting). It is heavy but if weight is not a huge factor on your build it is the most resilient hub I've ever owned, even comparing it to several Rohloffs I have.
When you have it built up I would recommend double crossing the spokes. Triple crossing (at least on 26 inch wheels) puts the spokes at a very sharp angle. My Rohloffs are double crossed and have held up very well.
Last edited by Allen; 11-15-07 at 03:36 PM.
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Beach cruiser's seem, at least to my untrained eye, to come in a variety of shapes, perhaps because they're not constrained by the weight and strength worries of the DF crowd.
What top quality components would we be talking about? It certainly looks like the Ebay seller has managed to get the same frame design for a lot less.
Its a very nice bike. Just maybe not $2500 nice (discounting the $500 for the hub).
What top quality components would we be talking about? It certainly looks like the Ebay seller has managed to get the same frame design for a lot less.
Its a very nice bike. Just maybe not $2500 nice (discounting the $500 for the hub).
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Well, yes, something else is going on on ebay...
https://cgi.ebay.com/Cadillac-Fleetwo...QQcmdZViewItem
https://cgi.ebay.com/Cadillac-Fleetwo...QQcmdZViewItem
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Cars kill 45,000 Americans every year.
This is like losing a war every year, except without the parades.
This is like losing a war every year, except without the parades.
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At that price, it becomes very tempting. As long as the hub is solid and the frame doesn't fall apart, you could replace the other stuff (what? front wheel? front socket? shifters? seat?) with better componentry as needed and still come out ahead. And you could say your other vehicle is a Cadillac
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I've fitted a NuVinci to my 20" Hammerhead as an experiment.
First off: The hub is really heavy. It's not really an issue when riding but as soon as you pick your bike up (to turn it round or whatever) you notice the extra mass. It's probably more noticeable as it's overhung at the rear end.
Secondly I've had a couple of issues with my hub.
My local bike shop built the wheel up with a 2x pattern at first, resulting in extreme spoke angles and broken spokes after about 2 weeks. The bike shop admitted that they should have built it up as a 1x and did a rebuild for free. The moral of the story is make sure you take the larger diameter of the hub into account when wheel building!
After about a month I noticed some oil weeping from the shift rod. After firing an email to NuVinci they replied that they had some problems and were dispatching a replacement rod. Less than 48 hours after I sent the original email a new part arrived by FEDEX (I live in London!). The modification seemed to be the addition of an extra O ring and the swap took about 5 minutes and cured the problem straight away.
Another month of riding later I noticed more oil, this time weeping from the wavy joint on the non-drive side. Another email to NuVinci got an instant response. Again said they had had some issues and that they would send me a replacement hub!
My hub has been a little problematic, but so far I have been very happy with the support from NuVinci. I'm guessing that the hub I got was a bit of a Friday afternoon job. Hopefully the new hub will be good unit.
Apart from these problems and the weight, I really like the hub. Shifting is smooth and the hub feels rock solid. The efficiency appears to be good, although the extreme ends of the range have a noticeable dip.
I guess that if this hub sells well NuVinci will look to re-engineer a lighter hub with a bigger range. Personally if they can get down to 2kgs and up to 400% I'll bet they'll have a real winner on their hands.
First off: The hub is really heavy. It's not really an issue when riding but as soon as you pick your bike up (to turn it round or whatever) you notice the extra mass. It's probably more noticeable as it's overhung at the rear end.
Secondly I've had a couple of issues with my hub.
My local bike shop built the wheel up with a 2x pattern at first, resulting in extreme spoke angles and broken spokes after about 2 weeks. The bike shop admitted that they should have built it up as a 1x and did a rebuild for free. The moral of the story is make sure you take the larger diameter of the hub into account when wheel building!
After about a month I noticed some oil weeping from the shift rod. After firing an email to NuVinci they replied that they had some problems and were dispatching a replacement rod. Less than 48 hours after I sent the original email a new part arrived by FEDEX (I live in London!). The modification seemed to be the addition of an extra O ring and the swap took about 5 minutes and cured the problem straight away.
Another month of riding later I noticed more oil, this time weeping from the wavy joint on the non-drive side. Another email to NuVinci got an instant response. Again said they had had some issues and that they would send me a replacement hub!
My hub has been a little problematic, but so far I have been very happy with the support from NuVinci. I'm guessing that the hub I got was a bit of a Friday afternoon job. Hopefully the new hub will be good unit.
Apart from these problems and the weight, I really like the hub. Shifting is smooth and the hub feels rock solid. The efficiency appears to be good, although the extreme ends of the range have a noticeable dip.
I guess that if this hub sells well NuVinci will look to re-engineer a lighter hub with a bigger range. Personally if they can get down to 2kgs and up to 400% I'll bet they'll have a real winner on their hands.
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+1. Thanks for sharing your experience, ocb. That is impressive customer service indeed! They are standing behind their product in a big way.
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So is this an internally geared hub? Auto shifting? My simple brain is having a hard time understanding what's so cool about this hub.