Ceramicspeed shaft drive Venge
 

This has been discussed here previously, though not really to death.

But this flavor, with covers and a Venge is actually starting to look kinda sexy...

instagram.com/p/B2Qs83Nohfd

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e6f22f06ea.jpg

Has anyone actually ridden it? Lack of pedals makes me think answer is no.

So apparently they've got it shifting now... kinda.

I don't think it's viable for a multi speed drivetrain. Maybe it'll be a thing on a few track bikes one day, at most.

Hopefully, it will come in a different color. Maybe this is the Henry Ford model.

Not a single bike on the Specialized website has pedals. It's all vaporware!

THAT has got to be the mofuggliest BSO I've ever seen. I hope my eyes don't start bleedin'.
Jon

I have to agree.

I'm not a fan of the bright silver ring on the crank set, otherwise it pretty much looks like a regular Venge. (Without the derailleurs and chain, of course.)

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9a8cd4055f.jpg

Odd Job would approve of the frisbee dummy chainring/chainguard.

I was wondering about that....if it wasn't shifting--measuring aerodynamics seems rather cart/horse-ish.

I think it looks way better than a chain/cog setup. It'll be interesting to see if they can get it to market.

That's the big unknown. If it doesn't work right, or rides like crap, then obviously nothing else matters.

I think it would be pretty nifty if they could combine the chain stay with the drivetrain, say by using some CeramicSpeed bearings... Otherwise, it just looks like it has two chainstays on the drive side.

In a George Jetson/Spacely Sprockets kind of way, yes.

The crank arm and cover looks like a turntable from the 1950's.


-Tim-

Without a doubt, cool concepts don't mean much if they don't work.


Absolutely, but I like modern looking stuff. Can't say I care for the silver ring, but the overall shape/design is nice. Would look better on a bike with some color too.

For me to be on board, components would need to have a reasonable lifespan and be able to handle big power. Looks like only one little bearing is in contact with the cassette at any given time. Maybe it can handle it?

Obviously it depends on execution, but if this works, I could see a version of this on commuters or bike-share bikes. Combine the shaft drive with a commuter-style internally geared rear hub, there's potential for lower drivetrain maintenance.

I think it looks cool, but I wonder how it deals with shock, bumps, and vibration. Chains have links, derailleurs have springs. If these things aren't adequately resolved, I don't think we'd see this working for commuters, let alone enthusiasts or professionals.

Shaft drive commuter bikes have existed for years. I believe these have struggled with high-ish power even using conventional right angle gear components. As have internally geared hubs. And the big downside is that you have all those issues plus *more* drivetrain frictional losses. I'll be shocked if this is not the dead-end that many are already speculating it is.

They were heavy and limited to fixed gear, basically.

Given this is one OEM vendors pet system....I don't see widespread adoption no matter what.

Pretty sure there are others like it but this shaft driven bike has an internally geared hub, *best* of both worlds, right?

https://beixo.com/product/beixo-comp...al_information

Putting a drive through 90 degrees has always been rather inefficient.
They are doing it twice.
Even with the roller bearings, strange drive teeth etc, I just can't see it being more efficient than a chain.

I can't afford this. And, thankfully, I don't need it. That about sums up my take on it. If it works for others...great.

I hope Rapha rebrands it.


-Tim-

I can see it being slightly more efficient if they build a nice, closed, drive system.

I can can never see it being *simpler* than a chain-drive, though. See, I get the gates belt-drive; it replaces all the links of a chain with a single belt. Very straightforward. Fewer moving parts. The shaft drive, though, is replacing the chain links with, as you say, 2x 90deg pivots, which are more complex than the chainlinks, and will probably have to be sealed to keep the road-spray out.

It ignores that the beauty of a bicycle is its simplicity. A 10 year old can learn to maintain a chain-drive derailleur gearing system. The shaft-drive system looks like something that you’ll have to take into a dealer every time it starts skipping.

I can’t see it ever catching on, or replacing the chain drive, but at the same time, Hats off to Ceramic Speed for trying it, building prototypes, exploring new things. Even if it never goes into production, it’s a forward-thinking idea. And it’s more interesting to look at than just “we saved a half a watt by lowering the seat stays 2cm.”