Originally Posted by
Mos6502
Actually, I quite understand my own reason for being drawn to them. The mechanical "oddity" of the 3 speed planetary transmission, the clean uncluttered chain line, the easy shifting, easy maintenance, and a clean classic look. Not as light as a 10 speed, but lighter and more useful than most of the old balloon tired coasters out there. It's a practical bike.
A 30 year old road bike - is really no match for a new road bike. But... 3 speeds are timeless.
Some excellent points...I'm going to mull it over now.
The shifting definitely has a lot to do with my personal obsession with three speeds, though. The other advantages have revealed themselves so gradually that I didn't notice.
They are attractive bikes, on the whole. Even three speed hubs look interesting. A basket full of clean SA hubs on the coffee table wouldn't look any worse than a basket of fishing reels or old Case knives.