Any experiences with Sturmey-Archer's XRD-5? Five-speed drum brake IGH?
05-20-11, 01:11 PM
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Any experiences with Sturmey-Archer's XRD-5? Five-speed drum brake IGH?
Been searching the internets and aside from a Vancouver Crusiers post from last year, there's been nothing else about this hub.
Has anyone used it? If so, how's the shifting and maintenance?
Thanks!
Has anyone used it? If so, how's the shifting and maintenance?
Thanks!
05-20-11, 01:34 PM
#2
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200 miles+ so far, no problems, several rain days. tire/tube change can be done on brake side without disconnecting the drive side and having to readjust.
05-20-11, 05:47 PM
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No direct experience with a 5 speed with drum brake, but I've been riding an XRF5 for going on 5 years with no issues. Started off with the twist shifter that came with the hub. It worked fine, but when one of my grandsons knocked the bike over and broke the housing where the cable exits the shifter, I took it as an excuse to try the trigger shifter, the DLS 50.
(DLS52 for wide range)
The shifting is flawless, right down to zero degrees f. No issues whatsoever.
I used to sell bikes with 8 speed SA hubs with drum brakes, and they worked very well when set up properly. It's the same brake as the 5 speed.
(DLS52 for wide range)
The shifting is flawless, right down to zero degrees f. No issues whatsoever.
I used to sell bikes with 8 speed SA hubs with drum brakes, and they worked very well when set up properly. It's the same brake as the 5 speed.
05-21-11, 11:10 PM
#4
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The 5 speed is a simpler hub than the 7, 8, and 11 speeds and has been in production for decades... they are a workhorse and have a pretty decent range albeit with some wider jumps.
The drum brake offers decent all weather stopping power and overhauling and maintaining them is rather simple and inexpensive.
The drum brake offers decent all weather stopping power and overhauling and maintaining them is rather simple and inexpensive.
05-22-11, 06:14 AM
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Sturmey has built 5-spd IGHs since 1966, but, and it's a big but, it's been several different designs over that time period. No single design has ever been built for multiple decades. The current (W) series debuted only last year. The previous "ball locking" Summit series came out in 1999. Prior to that was the Sprinter series that began in 1993, and before that was the 1991 StAr5 (arguably Sturmey's worst hub design ever).
05-23-11, 05:44 AM
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I have one on my commuter/shopping bike. The hub has extreme cool factor, the look can't be beat. Gear steps are kinda large, it makes it difficult to ride with a group of friends with 27 speed commuters. The brake has lost some of it's braking efficiency, I suspect there's been some lube leakage into the brake drum. It's a Sturmey Archer, requires care whilst shifting, cable tension in 1st gear is really tight, watch out for the shifting cable/axle nut if you have big feet.
05-23-11, 10:15 AM
#7
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looks like the wide 5 speed has the .75 and 1.3 gear ratio in 2 and 4 , like AW3.
1st & 5th, outside of that, higher and lower.
1st & 5th, outside of that, higher and lower.
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