SRAM Spectro P5 gear hubs
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,984
Bikes: Brompton, Dahon Vitesse D5
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 55 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
SRAM Spectro P5 gear hubs
I'm a bit exasperated with my Sturmey Archer 5 speeds and am curious about the two versions of the SRAM hub that seem to garner almost no attention whatsoever, the 'Cargo' and wider-range version.
The Sturmey hubs have changed over the years so I don't know to which model the efficiency chart I saw pertained which listed gears 1 and 5 as being in the 80s. I have several instances of the ball-locking type and they have irregular efficiency issues in the middle gears too.
I think I've read that the SRAM 5 speeds are popular in parts of Europe, and that the mechanism is very different from the SA hubs, presumably resulting in greater efficiency. The downside is that they're heavier.
Any advocates of the P5 here?
The Sturmey hubs have changed over the years so I don't know to which model the efficiency chart I saw pertained which listed gears 1 and 5 as being in the 80s. I have several instances of the ball-locking type and they have irregular efficiency issues in the middle gears too.
I think I've read that the SRAM 5 speeds are popular in parts of Europe, and that the mechanism is very different from the SA hubs, presumably resulting in greater efficiency. The downside is that they're heavier.
Any advocates of the P5 here?
#2
Been Around Awhile
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Burlington Iowa
Posts: 29,972
Bikes: Vaterland and Ragazzi
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Liked 1,536 Times
in
1,045 Posts
I have A Sachs Pentasport (P5) that was on a bike thrown out in Germany in 2000 or 2001. It is the two cable model with coaster brake. I much prefer the Sachs/SRAM Spectro S7 with Coaster brake that I have been using for commuting and shopping for over a decade. It feels much smother and does have the extra gears with no disadvantage.
I wouldn't pay much attention to theoretical "efficiency" charts, the proof is in the riding in an all up bicycle.
I had very good luck in the past with S-A S5 two cable hubs, the first version of S-A five speed hubs. Used one for almost 25 years without a problem. You might want to look around and see it any are available in your area. If you are handy, the S-5 internals will fit perfectly in any S-A AW three speed shell.
Pictured is my dumpster Sachs (SRAM) 5 speed dumpster find.
I wouldn't pay much attention to theoretical "efficiency" charts, the proof is in the riding in an all up bicycle.
I had very good luck in the past with S-A S5 two cable hubs, the first version of S-A five speed hubs. Used one for almost 25 years without a problem. You might want to look around and see it any are available in your area. If you are handy, the S-5 internals will fit perfectly in any S-A AW three speed shell.
Pictured is my dumpster Sachs (SRAM) 5 speed dumpster find.
#3
Banned
I think those were made when the production [Sachs] was in Germany, after the take over,
SRAM moved everything to Taiwan.
I dont see that in the catalog now. so auctions and dumpster scores are what you have ..
SRAM moved everything to Taiwan.
I dont see that in the catalog now. so auctions and dumpster scores are what you have ..
#4
Been Around Awhile
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Burlington Iowa
Posts: 29,972
Bikes: Vaterland and Ragazzi
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Liked 1,536 Times
in
1,045 Posts
Mine are German made. SRAM IGH production remained in Germany for about a decade after the takeover from Sachs before going offshore to the Orient.
#5
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,984
Bikes: Brompton, Dahon Vitesse D5
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 55 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
It's very much perceptible, the weird thing is the problems I have in gears where one wouldn't expect any. For instance, having stripped and serviced my x-rf5 for the umpteenth time, swapped some internals from a spare, improved it's overall performance by paying attention to subtleties of adjustment, I find there's some grindiness in 3rd gear. I could live with it if it were just the extreme gears that weren't up to par.
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 7,143
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 261 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 11 Times
in
10 Posts
The Sram P5 is no longer in production. Whatever parts you can find are what's left since the hub was discontinued. It's a shame because I prefer the 5 speed over the heavier 8 speed hubs. I prefer the Sturmey Archer 5 speed over the Nexus 7. Having said that, I'm doing all my riding on a 3 speed at the moment so my taste for more gears decreased over time. ;-)
Last edited by Dahon.Steve; 03-17-13 at 01:22 PM.
#7
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,984
Bikes: Brompton, Dahon Vitesse D5
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 55 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
It's still available to buy, though quite expensive.
I've been looking into the logistics of running an S-RF5 on oil and I'd be curious to see if there was any perceptible efficiency increase. The problem is that there's no lip on the ball ring to keep oil inside; I've read some reports of it leaking straight out and others that claim it's fine. The Sturmey grease seems to work well, though whilst it stays on the pinions it migrates from other areas eventually. . . I find the Sturmey hubs tend to start rattling about a year after I've serviced & greased them and I assume it's because there are areas where the grease has been forced out.
I've been looking into the logistics of running an S-RF5 on oil and I'd be curious to see if there was any perceptible efficiency increase. The problem is that there's no lip on the ball ring to keep oil inside; I've read some reports of it leaking straight out and others that claim it's fine. The Sturmey grease seems to work well, though whilst it stays on the pinions it migrates from other areas eventually. . . I find the Sturmey hubs tend to start rattling about a year after I've serviced & greased them and I assume it's because there are areas where the grease has been forced out.
#8
Been Around Awhile
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Burlington Iowa
Posts: 29,972
Bikes: Vaterland and Ragazzi
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Liked 1,536 Times
in
1,045 Posts
It's very much perceptible, the weird thing is the problems I have in gears where one wouldn't expect any. For instance, having stripped and serviced my x-rf5 for the umpteenth time, swapped some internals from a spare, improved it's overall performance by paying attention to subtleties of adjustment, I find there's some grindiness in 3rd gear. I could live with it if it were just the extreme gears that weren't up to par.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
neeonbrowwn
Classic & Vintage
1
05-03-11 09:08 AM
IanHelgesen
Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets
22
01-30-10 12:28 AM