S3X is for real and in at last
11-14-09, 07:33 AM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,605
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
S3X is for real and in at last
I know some people have wondered if the SA S3X hub is vapor ware
Well i can report we just got in and unloaded our first container of bikes with these hubs
And they will start shipping Monday
So the hub is for real
I do not make pictures of Matt Black, Starry Gray or Starry Yellow yet; but will late next week
I have not seen the hub only on P&A sites yet; but I am sure it should arrive soon; as our bikes just got in
I hope that IGH bikes get a boost from this interesting hub
Well i can report we just got in and unloaded our first container of bikes with these hubs
And they will start shipping Monday
So the hub is for real
I do not make pictures of Matt Black, Starry Gray or Starry Yellow yet; but will late next week
I have not seen the hub only on P&A sites yet; but I am sure it should arrive soon; as our bikes just got in
I hope that IGH bikes get a boost from this interesting hub
__________________
https://www.bikesdirect.com
"First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win." – Mahatma Gandhi
https://www.bikesdirect.com
"First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win." – Mahatma Gandhi
11-14-09, 08:02 AM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,737
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 147 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 8 Times
in
8 Posts
Thanks for the report! A lot of us were wondering if Sturmey Archer's new fixed gear hub would ever see the light of day. There will be considerable interest in it on this forum. 
11-14-09, 08:02 AM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: England, currently dividing my time between university in Guildford and home just outside Reading
Posts: 1,921
Bikes: Too many to list here!
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
2 Posts
What model are the bikes that have them, and how much are they selling for?
11-14-09, 08:10 AM
#4
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,605
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
basicly a KILO TT with S3X hub & brakes included
for $449
https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...kilott_s3x.htm
__________________
https://www.bikesdirect.com
"First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win." – Mahatma Gandhi
https://www.bikesdirect.com
"First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win." – Mahatma Gandhi
11-14-09, 09:38 AM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,737
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 147 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 8 Times
in
8 Posts
Would your techs do field testing on this new hub before shipping the bikes out the door? It would help sales if you can show how it holds up under real world conditions.
11-14-09, 02:54 PM
#12
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,605
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
so far - so good
shifts fine; however, riders need to understand that a fixed IGH is not exactly like a fixed hub
there is so pedal 'slack' when you change direction of pedaling
But I think people will really like it - especially in hilly areas
__________________
https://www.bikesdirect.com
"First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win." – Mahatma Gandhi
https://www.bikesdirect.com
"First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win." – Mahatma Gandhi
11-14-09, 06:15 PM
#17
Pants are for suckaz
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Mt. Airy, MD
Posts: 2,578
Bikes: Hardtail MTB, Fixed gear, and Commuter bike
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
11-14-09, 10:34 PM
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Portland, Maine
Posts: 294
Bikes: '85 Univega Safari-Ten (fixed), '84 Univega Supra-Sport, '85 Univega Gran Turismo, '86 Bianch Giro, '93 Cannondale R300, '68 Raleigh Gran-Prix (S3X fixed), '74 Schwinn Sprint (fixed), '5? Raleigh Lenton, '73 Raleigh Sprite, '36 Three Spires... etc.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
11-14-09, 11:15 PM
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: San Jose, CA
Posts: 3,691
Bikes: Too many bikes, too little time to ride
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 430 Post(s)
Liked 460 Times
in
318 Posts
the cable looks like it might snag/be snagged by a vehicle's side mirror
11-15-09, 04:27 AM
#23
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,605
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
it was mentioned
Factories normally like using longer cable over ones that might be too short
I think I fair number of these bikes will get retaped, or cable rerouted, or converted to bull-horns or what not
I veiw the bike as an inexpensive way to start your S3X bike - great frame; nice crank and wheels, workable other parts
Cable routing will end up as personal choice
some might like an exposed wire with stops; but I actually like IGH bikes with full housing from shifters to final stop
As much as customers modify FG bikes; cable routing is a minor issue in my mind; maybe I am wrong
__________________
https://www.bikesdirect.com
"First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win." – Mahatma Gandhi
https://www.bikesdirect.com
"First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win." – Mahatma Gandhi
11-15-09, 05:02 AM
#24
Pants are for suckaz
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Mt. Airy, MD
Posts: 2,578
Bikes: Hardtail MTB, Fixed gear, and Commuter bike
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
From the pics it looks like you've included plenty of cable/housing so it's simply a matter of re-wrapping the bars if someone isn't happy with the cable routing. This costs about $7 and takes about 10 minutes. Not a big deal considering a person could buy almost 2 of the Kilo S3Xs for what one of the competition (2010 Felt w/ S3X & downtube shifter) would cost.
11-15-09, 05:08 AM
#25
Senior Member
Well, this hub would give you the option of swapping from one to the other.
Don't know what you are refering to here.
I've seen two versions of this hub (in photos), one with threads and one without
Here is the unthreaded version, which does not look like you can attach a normal freewheel.
However, the version on the Sturmey Archer website shows a splined and threaded "freehub" body (image below).
Based on my interpretation of how this works, you install a normal splined freehub cog and normal threaded lockring for fixed, or you can simply thread on a normal BMX freewheel. The Sturmey Archer webpage about this hub says the same thing. I assume the one currently on their page is the production version. Perhaps the version in the first photo is a prototype.
Mike which version of the hub comes on the Kilo's?
Last edited by mihlbach; 11-15-09 at 05:12 AM.