SRAM DD3 Pulse- autoelectric shifting?

SRAM recently launched the DD3 partial-electric shifting system, which probably escaped your notice. That’s because it’s designed and marketed for urban riding – but it does contain a few pretty interesting ideas.

Very Terminator. That wirey thing leads to the motor; it’s not an aerial (sadly)

Firstly, this is touted as a system for e-bikes.

No, wait! Come back!

It’s essentially a rear shifting system with a cassette (which you control) an internal hub (which you don’t). It’s automatic. There’s a doohickey on the end of the hub which regulates what gear the internal hub is in, and you fine tune it with the mech. It works with Bosch motors.

But could this potentially have an application for mtbs? Would you like to see what is in effect automatic front shifting, letting you get on with just shifting at the back? Let us know below!

And to finish off with, here’s a capture of a pic from SRAM’s website – nice hotpants, sir!

Barney Marsh

Barney Marsh takes the word ‘career’ literally, veering wildly across the road of his life, as thoroughly in control as a goldfish on the dashboard of a motorhome. He’s been, with varying degrees of success, a scientist, teacher, shop assistant, binman and, for one memorable day, a hospital laundry worker. These days, he’s a dad, husband, guitarist, and writer, also with varying degrees of success. He sometimes takes photographs. Some of them are acceptable. Occasionally he rides bikes to cast the rest of his life into sharp relief. Or just to ride through puddles. Sometimes he writes about them. Bikes, not puddles. He is a writer of rongs, a stealer of souls and a polisher of turds. He isn’t nearly as clever or as funny as he thinks he is.

Comments (8)

AlexSimonAlexSimon June 16, 2015 at 4:09 pm

“But could this potentially have an application for mtbs”
No.

tomlevelltomlevell June 16, 2015 at 4:36 pm

Doesn’t XTR Di2 basically do this across 3 rings if programmed that way? Press one button for up and one down and it moves the front mech to suit.
Oh and no I don’t mechanical bits only please. Not including lights/GPS/phone/HRmonitor/powermeter etc etc :0)

MugsMugs June 16, 2015 at 7:35 pm

No, I can’t see the advantage – a wide cassette has enough range for most off road and this looks like adding a lot of weight to the rear wheel by adding hub gears but keeping a cassette.

Tref HopkinsTref Hopkins June 16, 2015 at 7:54 pm

So, just after all the cool kids went 1x and most others 2x, Sram replace the front shifter and mech with a monster hub and electronic gizmo?

Suspect this may stay in ebike land…

MattMatt June 16, 2015 at 11:14 pm

Hmmm… Interesting.

HoratioHufnagelHoratioHufnagel June 17, 2015 at 12:29 am

It’s been around for ages (10 years?) as SRAM Dual Drive, but now they’ve added some electronics. I had it on an old Dahon folding bike, and it worked really well. I often thought about building into an MTB, but at that time it lacked a disc mount, plus it was quite pricey on its own.

SamSam June 17, 2015 at 12:03 pm

Us geeks are on DDR4 anyway…

ChippsChipps June 17, 2015 at 5:21 pm

I had Shimano Auto-D on a bike for a while, it was a speed sensitive three speed hub gear and I worked great for a town bike. This looks similar, but with a huge range for people that want ALL the gears 🙂

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