sturmey archer kick shift hubs
 

Hi all,

Anyone have any experience with these hubs? I'm considering one to replace my fixed rear wheel, but am not sure what to expect with regards to the shifting, and specifically whether or not I'd be better off spending a bit more and getting a 3 speed IGH with a roller brake or something.

Thanks

Daven

They are simple to operate. You have a straight gear (low) then a high gear with 37% gain. To change gears, you pedal backwards quickly. However, that hub has a coaster brake. Once you stop, you have changed gears.

Thanks, yeah that is what I was afraid of. Coaster hub + kick shift = gear change every time I stop. Although tbh I'd never use it as a brake, except in an emergency.

Daven

S A 3 (or5) speed with a drum brake is where I'd go..
(if you are not wanting to use Rim brakes)
a good choice for low maintenance, all weather commuting . :thumb:

S A also combines a Dyno-hub and a drum brake for the front.

& S3X is a fixed gear 3 speed, cable shift,
but they will take a Screwed on Freewheel cog too.

There is a SA S2 without the coaster brake. I've got one on my bike. My verdict is, while I won't outright condemn it, I wouldn't get another. The shifting is finicky. If I'm pedaling in one gear or the other I'm fine, but if I backpedal inadvertently even just a little bit, it may or may not shift. Alternately, sometimes I want to shift and have to backpedal three or four times to get it to shift.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...n/IMG_2943.jpg

If I wanted two speeds without cables, I would look at one of these- the SRAM Automatix hub. It shifts based on wheel speed with centrifugal force. It upshifts when the wheel spins fast enough, and downshifts when you slow down. The nice thing is whenever you stop, you are guaranteed to be in the low gear.

http://cdn.sram.com/cdn/farfuture/_E..._automatix.jpg

I had an old bike that had a Sachs auto-shift two-speed, which is the precursor to this one (SRAM bought out Sachs hubs), and I loved the shift action on it. I now wish I would have kept that bike.

I too had the S2C and exchanged it for the much better IMHO SRAM A2.

My second one, slightly modified and fitted to my Brompton.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7107/7...5da520c5_z.jpg

Replaced the S/A S2C with coaster to the SRAM A2 with coaster on my belt driven Moulton TSR2.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7146/6...6fcc7f49_z.jpg

Regards

Jerry

How do ya like 'em?

They are great. A much better implemtation of a two speed than the S2C IMHO. Like you, I found the S2C inconsistant when changing (slight back pedal) and there were cases sometimes when they locked up. I have an older F&S two speed kick back which works the same way and is perfect every time I change, so I know its not my technique. I had the S2C fitted for about six months and did over 500 miles on it. It also took quite a while to loosen up and run free with loads of black grease oozing out the seals. In comparrison the the A2s really are fit and forget units and both were pretty free running from the moment I fitted them.

I would maybe like to modifiy them to move the change point up a couple of mph to around 10-11mph which is probably what they would change at in more common larger wheels, but all my bikes being smaller wheeled mean the change points are lower.

As I have already taken the one on the Brompton apart I will try it with that first.

Regards

Jerry