Sachs internal 3 spd hub questions

[thwart]

Question for the folks out there...

Just was gifted an approximately 1995 vintage Bike Friday by someone whose bike enthusiast husband died a couple of years ago. It has a Sachs rear hub that functions as a triple front crank would (the bike is a 7 x 3 spd, with early Shimano RX-100 brifters and a close ratio 7 spd freewheel mounted on the Sachs hub).

Any impressions on this set-up? The hub is marked "Sachs 7 x 3". Wondering whether this is worth keeping---or whether a change to a conventional rear hub would be wise.

Thanks in advance!

[csm]

I think those are pretty neat. makes for a nice commuter. Sachs stuff is generally well thought-out and durable. I'd keep it.

[David Kirk]

They are very cool. Set it up and use it.

Dave

[palincss]

Any impressions on this set-up? The hub is marked "Sachs 7 x 3". Wondering whether this is worth keeping---or whether a change to a conventional rear hub would be wise.

Thanks in advance!

The SRAM Dual Drive is a good way for small-wheelers to get a wide range. It's very difficult to get the same gearing range with only derailleurs. The 7x3 (and later incarnations, with more cassette sprockets) is quality stuff, used on many high-end recumbent trikes and similar. Here's a page from the Greenspeed (one of the top recumbent trike makers) web site describing it: http://www.greenspeed.com.au/dualdrive.html

[thwart]

Thanks for all the information!

There is an issue with shifting into overdrive... perhaps lubrication will help.

The nice thing about a standard bicycle drivetrain: everything is there in front of you.

[palincss]

Thanks for all the information!

There is an issue with shifting into overdrive... perhaps lubrication will help.

The nice thing about a standard bicycle drivetrain: everything is there in front of you.

Perhaps some manuals will help:
http://www.bikefriday.com/DocumentLibrary/DualDriveManual.pdf
http://www.sram.com/_media/pdf/sram/dealers/TM_GHS_MY04_E.pdf

[Brian Smith]

Question for the folks out there...

Just was gifted an approximately 1995 vintage Bike Friday by someone whose bike enthusiast husband died a couple of years ago. It has a Sachs rear hub that functions as a triple front crank would (the bike is a 7 x 3 spd, with early Shimano RX-100 brifters and a close ratio 7 spd freewheel mounted on the Sachs hub).

Any impressions on this set-up?

People wanted very much for those hubs to be compatible with brifters.
They weren't made for that.
The proper shifter from SRAM/(Sachs) would more reliably get that hub into it's highest ratio gear. You won't find an easy and elegant shifting solution for mouting on a drop bar.

SRAM still offers something simlar called something like Dual Drive II, currently on their website.

Have fun with the BF, and you don't have to put up with the 2nd rate shifting if you don't want to do that.

[Vancouverdave]

The internal hub is easier to keep adjusted after much dis and re assembling of the bike than STI triple front shifting. It's a great choice for a travel bike as well as allowing for reasonably high gears without needing a 56 tooth front chainring.