monsterpile

I went to look for a particular frame for a mountian bike for my wife at a local charity that fixes up bikes for people who need them especially kids and they had a funky bike for sale. It was a Yankee bike. They told me to ride it around and test it out. It shifted from the crank with 9 speeds and had a singlespeed rear wheel and setup. For something funky it could be a nifty commuter for the right person with a chainguard. I just wondered if anyone else had happened upon one of these. Here is a link with pics of one and even the owners manuel on the 2nd page. Also the brake on the rear is a cable that wraps around the rim and when squeezes stops the bike. Its a unique machine.

https://ustimes.com/Bicycle/

tjspiel

It would be fun to own as a novelty but I wouldn't want to commute on it unless you can add a front brake. Even then you're going to put a lot of wear and tear on parts you won't be able to get replacements for.

xtrajack

Definitely a collector's item. Certainly not a daily commuter.

Val

I have worked on these, and they are, at best, a mechanic's minor nightmare. The shifting of the variable diameter "chaniring" is problematic, somewhat imprecise, and tends to wear easily, as it relies on plastic parts to provide indexing. The rear brake requires a unique rim that I have only seen on this bike, and the cable does wear the portion that it rubs against (the "braking surface" if you will). I have no idea how long it is likely to last, but it is guaranteed to eventually cut through the extra flange on the side of the rim, detaching that piece and leaving the rider with no brakes at all. There is some interesting and innovative thinking involved in this bike, and it would be fgreat as a prototype used to assist the design process. As a a finished product, not so much.

trekker pete

interesting design. don't much care for the brake though. seems like it would drag when not being used and the rim would be quite heavy.

Kojak

I certainly don't like the idea of a bike with only a rear brake (as far as I can tell, that's all it has).

ItsJustMe

Rube Goldberg would be proud. Wow, it's amazing what some people manage to get into production. What a nightmare.

monsterpile

Its great to hear some thoughts on the bike especially from people who have experience with it. I was thinking it might be a commuter for someone that rides like a mile or 2 to work and just wants something different but yeah its probably a bad idea if it has plastic parts. YOu could easily add a rear brake if you wanted to actually ride it for any purpose. When I rode it they asked if I felt it shift. I was pushing the button, but didn't know what was supposed to happen exactly and after reading the above website I realize I wasn't crazy it wasn't shifting because I didn't know to pedal backwards. Any-who I wasn't about to pay $120 for it but it was interesting just to see it and then research about it. I wonder what something like that is worth to a collector. I didn't look it over really carefully, but it seems like it was in great shape. When I saw it (mostly the frame) I thought it looked interesting but I would have never thought it was as strange as it turns out it was.

belo01

This particular bike does just FINE with one brake in the rear....it is SO unconventional that it WILL stop the rear wheel with easy effort....and my experience was that with the kevlar band riding the unique rim, there has been virtually NO wear on the coated cable OR the aluminum rim.

I don't know the longevity of the 9 speed helical gear with the plastic parts- by now, with the bike LONG since no longer being produced even after Nordic Trak purchased the rights to the product.....it is indeed a very special machine...fun to ride.

belo01

No, not really- no drag noticable and the rim is as light as any other...yah gotta see it to believe it!

Saving Hawaii

I'm sure the rear brake can stop the rear wheel. The question is if the rear wheel can quickly stop the bike in an emergency. Unless Yankee bikes also come with magic tires they can't.

belo01

The rim band brake WILL stop the tire & wheel.....stopping a bike with one or both skinny tires seems rhetorical....in practice it works, and the brake works dry OR soaking wet. We all know tires are limiters...
It works so well, I'd never wanna try this setup on both rims....if you miscalculate with the ease of application of this brake, one might go end over end....I'd want the rear to lock up first, and speed kills. If you've ridden one- you'll know what I mean. I've owned a Yankee bike since 1992.

Agent4834

I saw one of these at a Bike Co-Op I sometimes Volunteer at In Baltimore City... tagged "as is $30"

Dave Cutter

One on CL: Unique, collectable vintage Yankee Bicycle

Cyclosaurus

To add to the weirdness, I actually bought an adult tricycle (Nordic Track branded) with this shifter off of CL for my mother in law to ride. It works well, though it does seem like a too clever by half solution. I don't have a full picture of the tricycle handy, but here's what the chainring looks like

dynaryder

70% of your bike's ability to stop lies in the front brake. You will never stop as fast with the rear wheel only.

Have a little knowledge:
Braking and Turning Your Bicycle

bigbenaugust 

I think I read about these in Pop Sci when I was in Jr. High.

belo01

Anyone interested in the Yankee Bike- this is not a motorbike, x-country bike, mountain bike, etc... if you are interested in debating the virtues of front brakes on a bike- I am not interested. I am asserting that this recreational bike- the Yankee Bicycle has an extremely efficient rear brake- with technology not used before or after this design- that I own one and it works VERY VERY well. If you have ridden one or owned one, I wouldn't have to explain this to you....you'd be impressed. The Yankee did not come with a front brake, and for a recreational bike- touring about, etc.... it's braking ability is absolutely incredible and unique. It does not require a front brake to stop well......it may not be for everyone's dream of the ideal bike- it just has a great rear unconventional braking system. I hope that is enough for any/all readers expressing interest in this particular bike.

Yankeeman

I've been riding my Yankee for three years. Takes a little practice to perfect the shifting action of this wonderful machine, but once you do, you'll be in love with the science. And the braking as stated above, is really beyond belief. Love my Schwinn's with the various personalities in my collection, but the Yankee is my go to rider of choice for a great and comfortable riding experience.

Reynolds 

Rear-brake-only is for slow speeds/flat terrain, a lot of cruisers have rear coaster brake only, but riding downhill on them is very risky.

YankeeFan93

You have to try it to believe it! I worked at the Yankee factory for a couple years and rode my bike 10 mi. each way to work on the IL prairie path in good weather, moved back East, and still ride it occasionally 20+ years later. I would love to find another one or two in good shape, as my teens now think my bike is WAY more comfortable to ride than theirs!

JReade

I'm sure it works, but there's this whole physics thing...

autonomy

That's how I feel about bikes with pinion gears at the front. I understand the reasoning and it's a cool device, but come on, it's a bike! KISS.

Darth Lefty 

What an interesting bike

no motor?

Where was their factory located? I've lived in the Chicago area for many years and don't remember hearing about them except for here.