OK, FG Swift experts!

My buddy has offered me a handsome pair of Campy large flange track hubs. I know the rear hub is 120mm width so too narrow for the 130+ mm Xootr frame rear fork ends. So, possibly stupid question... Is there any way this hub can be spaced or adapted to be used on my frame?

Yeah, I'm on a budget.

You just need to get a new, longer axle bolt and some spacers. Not difficult, not expensive.

nifty swifty
 

touche' ;)

[QUOTE=hulagun]Thanks for the friendly advice! I will absorb it all.

In light of warnings about fixies and age, I'm curious if there is an age gap between Swift riders with SS or FG bikes and those with multispeeds.

So - everyone chime in with your age and rear hub preference.

I am in fairly good shape for being 47 y.o. (YIKES.... born in the Fifties!) and I have fond memories of the Bendix 2-speed kickback coaster brakes of my day. (3 speeds seemed like a real luxury). oh, and some of my friends who ride fixies are well over 30.

As an Old Dog, (fifty-something) I like single-speed a lot. Particularly the simplicity of the packing for travel. And I like to coast. Reconnect to your inner eight-year old. Coasting is good. God, just imagine posting this on the fixed gear forum, I'd be crucified, dead and buried. Anyay, get a flip/flop hub and have it both ways at no extra charge. My $0.02. Just returned from a trip to S.F. The single-speed was perfect.

This axle might fit, but it's best to drop an email to Sheldon Brown to make sure (he'll know). You'll also need a bag of spacers to go with it. Keep in mind that 120mm track hubs typically have a 42mm chainline, so you'll definitely need to swap-out the bottom bracket. For starters, my 68x107mm Shimano BB gives me a 49mm chainline with the sprocket mounted on the outside of the crank spider. If I were to mount it on the inside of the crank spider, it would only give me ~45mm chainline. So with a 68x107mm BB and your 120mm track hub, your chainline would be off by 3mm. You might need to go with chainline spacers to compensate (not sure how far you can go before the sprocket bottoms-out against the chainstay).

Mine came friday, I kinda like the blue
 

Got mine friday, I kinda like the blue.
Seems like a very sweet ride!
I do have a couple of questions for you pros that I will ask later.
Ejay

Hmm, I emailed Xootr late last week to ask the cost of a Swift with an 8 speed Nexus redline hub. No response yet. Does anyone have an idea of the price and how long it would take to get one?

You need to talk with human powered machine or Peter Reich.

I spoke with Peter Reich regarding a Nexus redline hub and single speed versions of the swift. the single speed is (as of January) 660 and an additional 180 for the redline hub.

So that puts a Swift with a redline up to $ 840, and I can get a Dahon Mu XL for about $ 810 shipped, which includes a redline, fenders, rack and lights. Noting this is a Swift thread, does anyone have any comments on the merits of a Swift vs. a Dahon Mu XL? I would primarily be using this as a supplemental city/errand/commute bike, and already have two road and two mountain bikes at home.

Is Sheldon still answering e-mails? He is pretty ill at the moment.

http://www.sheldonbrown.org/journal/health.html

Although his journal is still up to date. So the answer is probably yes.

I emailed him a couple of weeks ago and he responded right away. I don't think he's ill exactly, he's just having difficulty getting around. According to his health log, he's not in pain.

He probably enjoys helping those less fortunate (in terms of bike knowledge) than him. :)

Hmmm... fair question!

The Dahon bike already has some good-to-have parts on it that Swift owners must buy and install if they want'em... parts that often need to be modified to fit the Swift. So if you want a ready-made folder with a redline internal hub, fenders, rack and lights, all under warranty, and you want it NOW, it's an easy decision and prolly not a bad one at all.

OTOH, if like me you want to ride a really handsome bike designed by a rather brilliant American frame engineer, that you can customize to your specifications, and have wiser cyclists look at you in respect (or puzzlement) when they encounter you on your fine machine... you may have to wait (and wrench) on a Swift.:D

oh yeah, if weight is an issue the alloy Swift is lighter too.

Trying to learn more about fixed gear hubs for the aluminum Swift frame I found this useful link:

http://www.63xc.com/hubchoice/zmhubs.htm

My new swift folder was delivered this morning! Getting through the day will be challenging....

Peter Reich fitted out an Al-frame swift with a Surly flipflop hub and black powder coating.

More info later.

Being a middle-aged white male cyclist, I get enough respect or puzzlement from others while riding my Indy Fab titanium Crown Jewel. Up here in the Seattle area, I rarely see anyone on a folder.

On this forum and others, I have heard people speak highly of both Swift and Dahons. Perhaps for my use, the Dahon is a better 'out of the box' solution, although so many people think that the Swift rides better. And that means a lot to me.

Never heard of it but I'm not a bike geek (yet). Very impressive name tho. ;)
Guess I have to see it. Is it a folder? Post a photo please!

Independent Fabrications is a custom shop in Boston: http://www.ifbikes.com/. They do not make folders but are considered one of the leading custom shops in the country for several styles of bikes. A full Ultegra titanium Crown Jewel will usually run around $ 5-6000 or so, depending on the wheelset, cockpit, paint job, miscellaneous other parts and the markup at the bike shop that is ordering it. It is a really nice bicycle.

I hope that info comes with pics! ;)

Hi hulagun

Turning 63 this April; in pretty good shape, not carrying any extra baggage. My Swift is set up with an SRAM Dual Drive (3 speed internal hub and 9 speed cassette). If there is a further incarnation, I may go with just the Shimano Alfine 8 speed or SRAM 9 Speed internal hubs.

Just keep the little wheels turning

OziSwift

I heard back from Peter Reich this morning. The current price for a Swift with a Shimano 8 speed Nexus redband is $ 860. I assume this does not include shipping. Adding the typical $ 50 to ship a bicycle, that would give me a delivered price of $ 910, or $ 100 more than a delivered Dahon Mu XL. Decisions, decisions.....

I haven't been in this thread for awhile, but my Swift was stolen from my house last week, so if anyone (in the South Bay tries to sell you one cheap), let me know.

OH CRAP!!! Sorry to hear it. A description would be helpful, since someone might spot it riding around.

On a happy note, mine arrived today from Colorado. It's not stolen as it came with all the original paperwork. WOW! Work ground to a halt as everyone stopped to admire it and ride it. I really like it!

It's a silver one with the abbreviatedshifter and Kenda Kwest 100 psi tires. Looks to be a 132.5mm rear fork spacing. Year of make supposedly 2005.... anybody know for certain? It has a Selle Ti saddle, Cane Creek bar ends, and Power Grips. :D :D :D

I want to experiment with riding it as a fixed gear, with front brake. Per James_Swifts advice, I just sent a note to Peter Reich asking about buying a fixed gear wheel for it.

Heading out in a minute for lunch, it'll be the maiden voyage for me on a Swift. And of course, pics to come in a day or three.

Don't forget that if you want a steel Swift hand-cut frame that is fabricated and built in the U.S. by the co-designer/engineer, Jan VanderTuin, Then buy your Swift from Human Powered Machines in Oregon.
http://www.catoregon.org/hpm/swift.htm

It will cost you 100-200 dollars more than buying the aluminum frame from Peter, but you are getting a steel swift fabricated and built to order by Jan or by his apprentice Mac here in the U.S. If you prefer aluminum to steel, and you don't mind getting a frame made overseas, and you would like to save some dollars, then get your Swift from Peter in Brooklyn.

Basically for a couple hundred more dollars you get the same Swift with the addition of deore LX V-brakes, an all steel frame, and you get built-by-the-designer/made-in-U.S.A. quality. You also get a lifetime warranty on the frame, and your choice of around 20 different powder coating options.

Peter Reich is the person who originally recommended I buy my steel Swift from HPM in oregon since (at the time) he did not sell the steel frames anymore.

looks like HPM lowered the price of their swift from 850.00 to 800.00 dollars on their website!

EDIT: I just talked to Abe at HPM and he said that is a typo error. He said they will fix it. If you download the pdf of their catalog, you should see the correct price of 850.00 dollars.

http://www.catoregon.org/hpm/HPM2007web-catalog.pdf

It was stock, blue, and had bar ends and a seatpost rack, but I'm pretty sure the thug that took it has defaced it by now and it doesn't look like this anymore:

http://picasaweb.google.com/bigbenau...30818240794034

[QUOTE=Donkey Hodie]looks like HPM lowered the price of their swift from 850.00 to 800.00 dollars on their website!

EDIT: I just talked to Abe at HPM and he said that is a typo error. He said they will fix it. If you download the pdf of their catalog, you should see the correct price of 850.00 dollars.>>

In case it is helpful:

HPM wants $660 for a steel frameset, made to order, with many choices of color. Begrudgingly.
They told me they prefer to sell the $850 bike.

Peter Reich (Design Mobility) prices an aluminum frame set at $390 off the shelf, add $100 for custom color.

Many other factors to consider, for sure!

Gee - I already had a guy try to buy mine today!

Will keep an eye peeled anyway!!!

James, thanks for this . Sorry for tardy reply. Looking at the bike in person finally I see it may be possible to space the sprocket inside the crank spider by as much as 6 mm... but it'd get really close to the stay.

Looks like the rear fork width is 132.5mm (approx).

I'm not fixed on a track-width hub (pun intentional :) ) so I am gonna pursue a 135mm rear hub. Another buddy already says he wants to buy my OEM derailleur and wheel set. If he is serious, that would help finance upgraded wheels/ fixed hub.

I think I saw your bike....it was another blue Swift heading towards N. Whisman Rd. coming from Easy St. and E. Middlefield road at about 5:17PM last week (can't remember if it was Tuesday or Wednesday). At first I thought it was you, but then I noticed the bike didn't have it's distinguishing Apex rear fender, and the guy riding it appeared to be wearing a white baggy shirt.

If you don't mind me asking. how was it stolen from your house? Break-in?

Just to forewarn you about communications with Peter....it takes a while (sometimes a long while) for him to reply, but he eventually always does. He has his hands full with all the custom builds and all other responsibilities that go with running the business.

If you can't wait that long, aebike.com can build you a custom fixed wheel (where I got mine), and I also read that irocycle.com did a custom fixed rear wheel for a Swift reviewed on commutebybike.com around a 135mm fixed MTB hub with 52mm chainline (which should match the stock front chainline). After shopping around, Peter did eventually quote me the best price, but my impatience got the better of me. ;)