Who rides a two speed kickback?
#27
Me duelen las nalgas
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A SRAM Automatix has been on my mind for a bike project for awhile, but figured it'd be best with a lightweight bike to save strain on my knees for climbs.
Now it occurs to me I have a superlight Diamondback Podium carbon fiber frame waiting to be built up.
Hmm...
Carbon fiber racing bike frame.
SRAM Automatix hub.
Bullhorn bars.
This Frankenbike makes perfect sense.
Now it occurs to me I have a superlight Diamondback Podium carbon fiber frame waiting to be built up.
Hmm...
Carbon fiber racing bike frame.
SRAM Automatix hub.
Bullhorn bars.
This Frankenbike makes perfect sense.
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#28
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I don't always ride a two speed kickback, but when I do, it's this one.
1970 chrome Raleigh Grand Sport
1970 chrome Raleigh Grand Sport
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@gugie, Love it! Sturmey-Archer?
more pix
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#31
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Yep. The chrome Grand Sport is kinda rare, and I didn't want to clamp anything to the frame. 2-speed kickback was the way to go.
more pix
more pix
#32
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Good to Go
This is my two speed. 1903 epicyclic two speed Sunbeam. 25% difference between 1st to 2nd. A 90 year old woman rode it for 80 years.
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#33
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Resurrecting this thread in case there's interest. I have been riding a newer, Sturmey kickback hub for 6 months or so. I like it, but don't love it. It's too easy to accidentally end up in the unintended gear just by coasting or not backpedaling enough. It's especially obnoxious to accidentally upshift mid-hill. I still like it, though, when it works as intended. I decided I wanted to build up a 29/700c, 36-spoke wheel with the same hub, but I can only find the 32 spoke version I already have.
But.
My searches pulled up a thing I didn't know existed, and I'm still not sure it does: A Sturmey Archer 2-Speed Automatic hub. Not a kickback, but a centrifugal force-activated shift like the old Sram/Sachs. It appears to be a new item, mentioned in passing on some bike shop's Facebook page and showing up in the inventory of just a couple of European shops, and one or two ebay sellers. Model number A2KAM-BOXSILVER36H for a 135old, disc brake model. There's also a rim brake model, I think. Searching A2K might pull up both options. Does not appear on Sturmey's website. Does not appear in the most recent catalogue they have posted, which is 2018, I think.
I rolled the dice on an ebay purchase, and we'll see what happens. Feels like a risk, but it's exactly what I want, and they seem to be in short supply. Hopefully it's something new that just hasn't made it to market in large quantities yet. I love the simplicity of the 2 speed, cable-free hub, but being unable to reliably get into and remain in low gear at low speeds is my one issue with the kickback hub. If the automatic works as advertised, it should address that problem.
Happy hunting.
But.
My searches pulled up a thing I didn't know existed, and I'm still not sure it does: A Sturmey Archer 2-Speed Automatic hub. Not a kickback, but a centrifugal force-activated shift like the old Sram/Sachs. It appears to be a new item, mentioned in passing on some bike shop's Facebook page and showing up in the inventory of just a couple of European shops, and one or two ebay sellers. Model number A2KAM-BOXSILVER36H for a 135old, disc brake model. There's also a rim brake model, I think. Searching A2K might pull up both options. Does not appear on Sturmey's website. Does not appear in the most recent catalogue they have posted, which is 2018, I think.
I rolled the dice on an ebay purchase, and we'll see what happens. Feels like a risk, but it's exactly what I want, and they seem to be in short supply. Hopefully it's something new that just hasn't made it to market in large quantities yet. I love the simplicity of the 2 speed, cable-free hub, but being unable to reliably get into and remain in low gear at low speeds is my one issue with the kickback hub. If the automatic works as advertised, it should address that problem.
Happy hunting.
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#34
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I have a SRAM 2-speed auto shift “automatix” hub w/ rim brakes on one bike. It’s a lot of fun.
#35
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I had a Sturmey kick-back wheel I tried a couple of times and really liked. My son needed a campus commuter so I put it in that bike, hoping I'd get it back at some point. Of course it quickly got stolen instead. He's 2/2 on getting bikes stolen in Wash DC, 1 when a student, the other after graduation and moving into a nice new house near a sketchy part of town.
I really like the idea of putting one in a brakeless track frame, and coaster brakes just make me feel like a kid again.
I really like the idea of putting one in a brakeless track frame, and coaster brakes just make me feel like a kid again.
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Fuggedaboutit!
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Everybody knows the cute gals go for the boy with a Bendix 2-speed:
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I had a matching pair of black Schwinns, one Racer and a girl’s Breeze, they were built one week apart, the girl’s bike had special order black paint, they were great on camp ground roads, no gears for the wife to worry about...perfect gear every time!
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#38
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I do! Put one together earlier this summer, using a ratty 71 Schwinn Sports Tourer frame. Credit to Yellow Jersey, in Arlington WI, they did the framework, paint, and built up the wheels. It’s my last minute go riding, bomb around the neighborhood, no special cycle gear required, bike. Took about 2 minutes to get used to the kick back shifting, and coaster brake. Makes you feel like a kid again, I love it!
Tim
Starting point, had all brazeons removed prior to paint
Sturmey Archer 2 speed kick back hub
Velocity No BS rims
Had 1 brazeon added for coaster brake arm
Sugino 175mm crank
Tim
Starting point, had all brazeons removed prior to paint
Sturmey Archer 2 speed kick back hub
Velocity No BS rims
Had 1 brazeon added for coaster brake arm
Sugino 175mm crank
Last edited by tkamd73; 11-13-20 at 02:41 PM.
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#39
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I Do!!!!
And absolutely love it!
Lotus Eclair converted to a 2-speed kickback gravel bike.
Lotus Eclair converted to a 2-speed kickback gravel bike.
#40
Senior Member
I have one of those hubs that I snapped up around the time Sram decided to discontinue them. It's in a wheel I built for an old cruiser I wanted to rebuild with some modern parts. Unfortunately the rear wheel is the only part I've finished so far, so I've never been able to ride it.
#41
Full Member
I have one on my Peugeot Path Racer, but the kickback, not the auto shift. Newer Sturmey-Archer. Works great!
aceves
aceves
Last edited by aceves; 11-13-20 at 03:44 PM.
#42
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Built a 20" wheel with a kickback hub back in the winter of 14/15 for the wife's Eastern European off-brand folder (built in Yugoslavia, I think) that she rode in St. Augustine, FL when we were on our honeymoon. Figured she needed the help, as I was riding my Raleigh Twenty at the time. She enjoyed it, but never really rode it again after we returned, so I sold it about two years ago.
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#43
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I had a decrepit looking Typhoon for a while, before moving west.
This thread makes me want to build up a commuter around a two speed kickback hub. My commute is downhill in the morning, up in the evening, so that would be perfect.
When I was a kid in the 60's, we would pretend we had two speed kickbacks. We'd accelerate, do a quick skid, then slow pedal. Doubt we fooled anyone. Good times
This thread makes me want to build up a commuter around a two speed kickback hub. My commute is downhill in the morning, up in the evening, so that would be perfect.
When I was a kid in the 60's, we would pretend we had two speed kickbacks. We'd accelerate, do a quick skid, then slow pedal. Doubt we fooled anyone. Good times
#45
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I rode a Bendix two speed kickback on my first and only mtb race, in 1981. A loaner from my mtb building friend.
I also drove a three speed kickback '56 Ford pickup around that same time.
I also drove a three speed kickback '56 Ford pickup around that same time.
Last edited by seedsbelize; 11-17-20 at 09:00 AM.
#46
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#47
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It could be a while before it gets built into a wheel, and I can't really test the functionality until then, but the Sturmey Archer 2 speed automatic seems to be a thing that exists.
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When I lived at home back in the late 60's in Frankfurt, Germany, I rode this.
P6191882 on Flickr
I think it may still be in the family, need to find out.
P6191882 on Flickr
I think it may still be in the family, need to find out.
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I'm cruising on a vintage 1962 Huffy 2 speed kickback this summer. It works amazingly well, you just kick the pedals back half way and it changes gear. I would post a picture, but the stupid forum software at this site says I have to post ten times before I may do so. Happy riding everyone!
Last edited by packzap; 08-25-23 at 03:42 PM.
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Here is your picture. https://www.bikeforums.net/g/picture/30550377
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