Hi all,

I'm new to bike forums, but definitely not new to bikes

Last year, when I was in Paris, I wanted a commuter setup on the cheap. I was thinking about buying an old racer and converting it into a single speed, but I didn't have the tools

So, I got a flatland BMX with slicks, put on mudguards and lights, and off I went

The thing was incredibly light; 6061 (I think) frame which was ridiculously compact, and it was great training for spinning at high RPMs. I regularly beat people on road bikes, and sometimes even scooters, though scooters were GREAT for drafting behind.

That gave me an idea, however:

putting a 3-speed (or more, perhaps 5 or even 7) rear hub gear onto a BMX, which would have the following benefits:

1. lightweight
2. compact (for taking on the train, etc)
3. gears

Anyone had any experience? I don't need a heavy duty hub, as I wouldn't be doing any real BMX stuff.

thanks in advance

J

No experience, but the only issue I can think of is the spacing on the rear dropout. As long as they can match up I can't see what the problem would be.

So long as the rear end is wide enough to fit a geared hub, I don't see why it wouldn't be possible. What you describe is basically a folding bike, minus the fold. Compact frame, small wheels, etc.

If you use a hub that is direct drive at first gear (Sturmey Archer's 8-speed hubs are like this, at least), you wouldn't even need to put a huge chainring on it.

if you do this you should post us some pics

Sounds like you're essentially making your own version of a mini-velo. These types of bikes are often discussed in the folding bikes section of Bikeforums.net.

Good luck with the conversion...
--sam

Kona made a 24" BMX cruiser with a three speed hub a few years ago, quite a cool bike. It inspired me to add an SA hub to a 24" BMX frame that I have and got as far as checking that it will fit the dropouts (it will...) but I didn't go through with the build because I didn't quite fit the bike.

I love my Kona Keiki.
Cantilever brakes and a 3-sp hub with a coaster brake, how can you go wrong?

That's some intimidating seatpost, there.

Yeah, that's one of the downsides of liking tiny frames.

Let us know how it turns out if you decide to go that route; I've got a buddy mulling the same possibility.

I have an older Kona 26" cruiser that has what appears to be a BMX style frame that I installed a Sachs 3 speed hub on several years ago. It has worked fine.

Small wheel bike service is actually easier on a gear hub as the primary gearing needs to be higher to give reasonable overall gearing. This decreases the input torque the hub is subjected to.

The Kona model is a Humuhumu-nukunuku-a-pua'a according to the top tube label. From about 1995 or so as I recall.

So... it's been a while since I thought about this project but I discovered that Cannondale made a goofy-looking BMX-style 20" bike with disk brakes and hub gears called the Hooligan...

Looks like they beat me to the concept, but I think I'll still wait around to build my own - rather then spend the $900... plus it'd be more fun

How light do you want to get? I have a Downtube 8H folding bike that weighs 26.5 lbs stock. You can knock off a few pounds by removing the rack and swapping out the front suspension fork. It comes with a Sturmey archer 8 speed IGH. It's around $400.

https://www.downtube.com/Font_Suspens...ding_Bike.html

Dahon has been offering the N.A. market their "shark" series of mini-velos for a couple years now.

https://us.dahon.com/bikes/1674/bullhead
https://us.dahon.com/bikes/1680/smooth-hound

tcs