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hadn't heard or read that from anyone ever before, so thanks for clearing it up. Manysounds like a lot though, i'm surprised I haven't seen any videos of people walking down tracks with belts flapping around
But DH mtb racing isn’t the real world.
It’s amazed me reading your own posts about your sons racing just how many parts you go through and the continual maintenance, even as a privateer.
Even when you watch Bernard Kerrs YT stuff they get a strip down nearly every run by the look of it.
So the chances of a belt going wrong on a run are going to be lower as the machines are maintained to the hilt ie are they changing the belt every run ?
There are a couple of non racing YouTubers using them now, Tom Cardy being an example, but even he is sponsored so you have to take it with a big pinch of salt
I get the motorbike comparison, but from the dawn of time, motorbikes have been more reliable. Maybe that’s because the components can be made heavy enough to be reliable?
In a word, no. I'm not anti-progress or anti-alternate designs but neither the gearbox or belt offers me any sort of worthwhile upgrade over cassette and mech so that I'm tempted by the additional cost. In 30 years of off-road riding I've yet to have the catastrophic failure of either chain or mech that belt and gearbox tells me they overcome. I've yet to feel that chain wear is so excessive that I need to replace it with a belt that lasts about what I can get from two chains anyway. I've never thought that a singularly designed frame to accept a centrally mounted gearbox was worth the extra cash or risk of the inherent in-built redundancy.
I admire the designers and inventors that want to change the way we move bikes, but none of them has of yet come up with a method that most folks can instinctively look at and realise that it's world's apart better than what we have already, in the same that say disc brakes or suspension forks did, and given the time and effort spent on it, to such little reward, I doubt they will anytime soon.
hadn't heard or read that from anyone ever before, so thanks for clearing it up. Manysounds like a lot though, i'm surprised I haven't seen any videos of people walking down tracks with belts flapping around
But DH mtb racing isn’t the real world.
It’s amazed me reading your own posts about your sons racing just how many parts you go through and the continual maintenance, even as a privateer.
Even when you watch Bernard Kerrs YT stuff they get a strip down nearly every run by the look of it.
So the chances of a belt going wrong on a run are going to be lower as the machines are maintained to the hilt ie are they changing the belt every run ?
There are a couple of non racing YouTubers using them now, Tom Cardy being an example, but even he is sponsored so you have to take it with a big pinch of salt
I get the motorbike comparison, but from the dawn of time, motorbikes have been more reliable. Maybe that’s because the components can be made heavy enough to be reliable?
TBH in DHs defence, i maintain the bike a LOT more than most, most people give it a wash and put it away... but i'm very very fussy. I can say that in the last 3 years of racing we've never failed to complete a race because of a mechanical, but that's my task, my 1 job (sorta). But my maint is honestly less than you'd think in some ways, it just seems a lot.. but mostly it's just 'checking' rather than repairing...
We don't see many at all at races though, there's only really a rare Zerode, it just so happens that one of our pit-gangs sons is on a Zerode and we know a girlie who's dad rides one as well, so he's had a bounce on a few, but not an actual top to bottom run as we only see these guys at races. But our pit-mate hasn't had any issues with belt/drive this season at all, i'll admit it's not been a super wet/muddy year though.
Didn't someone do a drivetrain where the free hub was in the BB and the cassette & chain were constantly moving - allowing shifting without pedalling so in the right gear before you stomp on the pedals.
Surely this would be better for a DH as the free hub in the BB would do the same as the O-Chain etc.?
One word - Drag. Having the whole drivetrain in operation massively increases the drag in the system over that of just a freewheel. This is a sport where the racers were regularly running race wheels with the grease removed and replaced with light oil to reduce the drag.
@mboy you're forgetting the suspension in all this. As you say there's very little pedalling so the efficiency isn't really a consideration but in a world where people are using Ochain because FOMO, the suspension action is obviously a major consideration and a lighter unsprung is a real benefit. A belt is significantly lighter than a chain and a single cog is a lot lighter than a mech and cassette. The whole suspension system gets lighter. You can also build a non dished wheel so that ends up stronger. Add to that the transmission weight goes into the right place (where people are adding lead to conventional bikes) and you're getting much nearer to the ideal.
That you can also change gears whilst coasting is also a big advantage.
None of this however has yet been able to make up for the fact that the best riders aren't sponsored by teams using them - there's not THAT much of a difference. Maybe if Andy Kolb had still been on Atherton it would have been a different story . . .
The Gamux riders were definitely losing belts at round 1 in Poland this year. I can't be bothered to look for the evidence. It'll be in a Pinkbike 'photo epic' article somewhere.
The retention system was updated for round 2 and we've seen some seriously filthy conditions since then with no obvious problems.
Edit: this picture was really easy to find
https://www.pinkbike.com/photo/28166319/
I think that they probably make more sense on e bikes as part of a motor gearbox unit?
I think that they probably make more sense on e bikes as part of a motor gearbox unit?
Definitely. I can't see belts hanging around in DH for long after the Belted Purse is won. If that ever happens.
Retention is tricky because they're light and thus easily deflected and the tension that keeps them on the cogs is only as much as can be applied by the spring tensioner. If you get a stone in between the belt and the cog it just compresses the spring and the belt is lifted off the cog. If that happens when there's a side hit, off your belt will come.
This wouldn't happen with a chain as it's narrow, hard and there's nowhere for a stone to get trapped. It doesn't happen with singlespeed belt setups as there's nowhere for the belt to go so it just deals with it (or jams).
Is either perfect? No. there's always compromises but Shimano aren't offering the €100k incentive. It'll be interesting to see what happens when the purse is either won or the offer withdrawn.
The most interesting question is will we ever see one of the really quick boys on a belt drive bike? There's nothing to say it has to be a production model . . . .
I've had a Gates driven Rohloff for the past 5 years or so - it's fantastic - I've only just replaced the original belt and I've done three oil changes from new - probably c 5k miles/yr.
It's on a fully rigid Shand Bahookie - so really an offroad tourer, rather than a full-on MTB - and I've used it in a number of gravel events -
Why fantastic? Mainly because of the lack of maintenance - I hard;y need to touch it.
It's (relatively) heavy and teh gear shift is (relatively) slow - and I believe the Pinion gearbox is even worse in both these regards.
Perfect for my use-case - but for racing? I'm really not sure that's the proper use for these systems - they've got benefits, but as they're neither weight nor shifting efficiency, I can't see that racing is the thing......
The pinion with smart shift electric seemed VERY quick when i used it.
One word - Drag. Having the whole drivetrain in operation massively increases the drag in the system over that of just a freewheel. This is a sport where the racers were regularly running race wheels with the grease removed and replaced with light oil to reduce the drag.
@mboy you're forgetting the suspension in all this. As you say there's very little pedalling so the efficiency isn't really a consideration but in a world where people are using Ochain because FOMO, the suspension action is obviously a major consideration and a lighter unsprung is a real benefit. A belt is significantly lighter than a chain and a single cog is a lot lighter than a mech and cassette. The whole suspension system gets lighter. You can also build a non dished wheel so that ends up stronger. Add to that the transmission weight goes into the right place (where people are adding lead to conventional bikes) and you're getting much nearer to the ideal.
That you can also change gears whilst coasting is also a big advantage.
None of this however has yet been able to make up for the fact that the best riders aren't sponsored by teams using them - there's not THAT much of a difference. Maybe if Andy Kolb had still been on Atherton it would have been a different story . . .
I can assure you that I absolutely have not forgotten the suspension in all of this... I have assumed (and not stated to be fair) that anyone racing DH seriously is going to have done all they can to isolate pedalling forces or pedal kickback from impacting upon the suspension performance by fitting an O-Chain or similar... They will also likely be running a very light, close ratio cassette, short cage mech and a wheel with a shorter freehub hence less dish already (as per SRAM 7spd cassettes)... A big belt drive sized cog is lighter than a cassette for sure, but probably not by much when you factor in the weight of a close ratio 7spd cassette compared to say a 10-52 12spd cassette that I run on my eBike... The rear mech will be pretty minimalist too, and won't be a huge amount heavier than any tensioner/guide run on a belt drive system either...
There'll be a LOT more benefit on a typical trail bike or eBike to moving the drivetrain into the centre of the bike in terms of sprung vs unsprung mass than there will be on a typical DH bike I'd wager... Although the DH racer is actually the one who is likely to benefit from it far more than the average weekend trail warrior of course.
Agree with you on the drag thing... It's been proven time and again, no matter how much we might not like it, that a well maintained derailleur gear system is by far the most efficient way of transferring a riders' power input at the cranks into forward momentum at the rear wheel... The best derailleur systems are something like 98%+ efficient, where typically even the best gearboxes on bikes are only around 95% efficient (and hug gears like the Rohloff hub quite a bit less than that typically)... Add in the fact that a belt drive typically has a bit more parasitic drag than a chain (trust me, a Pinion Gearbox with a singlespeed chain is a FAR better performance bet for most riders/racers than one with a belt drive, despite what Gates might wager) and like you said, you're adding in a LOT more drag than your a racer who's removing the seals from their wheel bearings and running a light oil instead of grease in them is likely to put up with...
Which is where Honda's RN-01 came in, all those years ago... All the benefits of a gearbox with none of the drawbacks... Why...? Cos it was basically a 7spd derailleur and cassette setup inside a box, mounted in the frame, shielded from the elements!
... yes, that was kinda my point. Just much wordier
And yet, ironically, it was the least important part of what I said previously... The speed at which we pedal vs the speed of a motorbikes engine rotating, was a big deal when everyone was running weird and wonderful suspension setups and experimenting with the main pivot point in all sorts of positions to combat "pedal bob"... The world has moved on from that problem though with better quality shocks mostly, but also suspension designers realising that they don't need the crazy levels of anti squat that they previously thought necessary to make a bike climb well (which is something a DH bike doesn't need to do anyway)...
Anti-squat is still a serious consideration for anyone designing a motorbike suspension system too... It's just that it will be considered the power being applied to the rear wheel will be a more consistent force, and hence the shock won't typically need as much low speed compression damping in relation to the overall system weight, as an equivalent MTB being ridden up things might do to compensate for a riders' lack of smooth pedalling style...
I think that they probably make more sense on e bikes as part of a motor gearbox unit?
100%... And this is where I would still love to have one myself sooner than later!
The pinion with smart shift electric seemed VERY quick when i used it.
The electronic shift has made all the difference with the Pinion gearboxes... Previous mechanical shifters were clunky and slow (and had terrible ergonomics for MTB use!)... The electronic shifter has changed all that thankfully...
You still get an occasionally clunky shift from 4th-5th and 8th-9th on the 12speed versions simply because of the 3x4 architecture inside the gearbox, but it's waaaaay better with the electronic shifter than it was with mechanical from what I can tell.
it was basically a 7spd derailleur and cassette setup inside a box, mounted in the frame, shielded from the elements!
Meanwhile, Scott are putting the shock in the frame and leaving the transmission outside *facepalm*
Anyway, it'll be interesting to see if the DH teams who went to belt & gearbox setups stick with them - and if any more teams join the party in 2026.
it was basically a 7spd derailleur and cassette setup inside a box, mounted in the frame, shielded from the elements!
Meanwhile, Scott are putting the shock in the frame and leaving the transmission outside *facepalm*
Anyway, it'll be interesting to see if the DH teams who went to belt & gearbox setups stick with them - and if any more teams join the party in 2026.
I'm not sure that's a factor, the DH teams apart from Atherton HAVE to stick with them, both the Gamux and the Zerdoe are gearbox bikes, simple as that. The Atherton is a weird outlier, if we believe what's been said, they are not producing a version the public can buy, so it's purely for their own reasons, there's VERY few gearbox bikes out there made and even the non-team riders are not on them, you'd assume if they were going public, then some people would have one by now. So there's no commercial benefit, so they must therefore believe they're better/faster i assume.
I know their riders have done back to back testing at Dyfi etc with gearbox and non, so you'd assume at pro level they're quickest.
Bizarrely at National level the Athertons are getting more and more popular and outstanding results with their standard bike, just about every time a winner crosses the line at the moment they're on Athertons. (Partly this was why i've bought one). They're absolutely flying at National UK level.
Every year or so we get a "gearboxes are great" thread and they always go the same way. Someone with a fairly niche bike raves about how awesome it is and wonders why everyone else still uses derailleurs, then other people point out that derailleurs are fine for 99% of bike and are cheap and simple, then it devolves into nerdy tech arguments about gear ranges, drivetrain drag, pivot points and anti-squat, etc.
The fundamental problem with gearboxes is that they will always be more expensive than a derailleur and will always have more friction. For a decent number of people, those considerations are outweighed by being shielded from the weather and not getting bashed on rocks. But, for the overwhelming majority of cyclists, gearboxes are just too expensive. That's why they will never replace derailleurs.
Atherton and Intense could both go back.
I'm not saying they will, and I don't expect they will, but they might for whatever reason.
As you say, the normal Atherton bike was clearly one of the best on the circuit and maybe it is quicker than the gearbox one in some circumstances.
Which is where Honda's RN-01 came in, all those years ago... All the benefits of a gearbox with none of the drawbacks... Why...? Cos it was basically a 7spd derailleur and cassette setup inside a box, mounted in the frame, shielded from the elements!
Wasn't the problem with the RN01 that it was always engaged and therefore had huge drag? I'm sure I read that Minnaar was really frustrated with it because it was so much slower in a straight line than it could have been.
Wasn't the problem with the RN01 that it was always engaged and therefore had huge drag? I'm sure I read that Minnaar was really frustrated with it because it was so much slower in a straight line than it could have been.
I hadn't heard that, but wouldn't the solution have been to move the freewheel element from the rear wheel from the gearbox. Although that would mean you would lose the ability to shift while freewheeling.
Although in these days of wireless shifting I'm sure you could engage and disengage the rear freewheel just for gearshifts if you really wanted to...
Anyway, on the subject of gearboxes, I'm yet to see a better solution than Millyard's bike (even if it is nearly 20 years old now):
Wasn't the problem with the RN01 that it was always engaged and therefore had huge drag? I'm sure I read that Minnaar was really frustrated with it because it was so much slower in a straight line than it could have been.
I hadn't heard that, but wouldn't the solution have been to move the freewheel element from the rear wheel from the gearbox. Although that would mean you would lose the ability to shift while freewheeling.
Although in these days of wireless shifting I'm sure you could engage and disengage the rear freewheel just for gearshifts if you really wanted to...
Anyway, on the subject of gearboxes, I'm yet to see a better solution than Millyard's bike (even if it is nearly 20 years old now):
Without being too harsh, his lad didn't exactly set the world alight when he rode it. 15th at a National seems to be the best result he had on it. So maybe the gearbox worked but the bike wasn't arguably amazing. His results were better on the Commencal he rode after that.
just goes to prove the old adage that it's more about the rider than the bike. No matter how much we may want to blame the equipment.
Loved that thing, even if it was a bit URT. The single sided swingarm version was immense. Super impressive to have been made in his garage and even more so when you realise he even made the shock for it.
just goes to prove the old adage that it's more about the rider than the bike. No matter how much we may want to blame the equipment.
Loved that thing, even if it was a bit URT. The single sided swingarm version was immense. Super impressive to have been made in his garage and even more so when you realise he even made the shock for it.
There's no doubting he's a clever bloke.
Without being too harsh, his lad didn't exactly set the world alight when he rode it. 15th at a National seems to be the best result he had on it. So maybe the gearbox worked but the bike wasn't arguably amazing. His results were better on the Commencal he rode after that.
It's difficult to read too much into a single rider on two bikes.. It could be the Commencal was just fundamentally faster (which you would expect given the sheer number of riders and designers they would have been getting feedback from) or it could be he just improved as a rider.
The Millyard is more of a proof of concept and I think it succeeds as that. If Specialized took that concept and threw a couple of years development at it and then you could compare it with a Commencal (under multiple different riders) and get a better idea of how close they were.
I think it's a shame putting IGH hubs into frames never really took off. I think it was an idea that had some legs.
I had a go on that Millard bike years ago at FOD. It was really really good (I on the other hand am just an average rider), but that could be to do with the suspension which felt great. I’d love to see a modern version with better geometry. Dirt absolutely loved it. And I seem to recall it had a lot less travel than people thought/assumed.
Having looked at all the belted DH bikes this year and all the great lengths Gamux and Zerode/Hope have gone to to keep the belt on in filthy conditions I still think that making it enclosed is the way forward.
Interesting video on GMBN where they visit Gates (obvs lots of marketing, but still some interesting stuff):
Now that Geometron are offering a gearbox version of the G1 I'm guessing Chris Porter thinks there's something to gearbox/belt drive?
Now that Geometron are offering a gearbox version of the G1 I'm guessing Chris Porter thinks there's something to gearbox/belt drive?
Geometron is not Chris Porter anymore and hasn't been for a while.
Interesting how Gamux showed up with an all new, multi link frame that looks completely different to the old one with 2 rounds to go.
Chris Porter was on a pod cast, he really liked the new (non-chris porter gemotron) but said for the gearbox one he would use a chain as there was more flexibility for chain stay length than with belts that only come in so many lengths.
A Millyard style enclosed belt on a single sided swingarm would be a fabulous thing. Would mean you could get rid of the oil bath, keep the mud and rocks off the belt and lose the tensioner all of which would help with efficiency.
Might get my (virtual) crayons out . . .
My Main Thought on Gearboxes DH bikes has long been that they mainly give the potential to simplify the Rear Wheel; if it basically becomes a SS or even Fixed (with a front FH) thing, with wider but symmetrically spaced flanges and a Shorter OLN Dim, that allows simpler to build and maintain, stronger wheels. As an Associated bonus it allows frame designers to narrow the rear of a (Specifically DH Race) bike without giving up stiffness(?) gaining those un-sprung mass benefits and moving the drive out of harms way.
At the same time if it's a Race bike, overall mass matters a bit, spares and repairs availability matter (in the field) and Robustness of the Drivetrain arguably come second to suspension performance and handling? once you've put the pivot higher up does it do much more in that regard?
Effort and money spent acquiring the "ideal" geometry and suspension setup has to trump gears especially as (for DH) you can have the key spare items (a spare Mech and hanger) sat in the pits waiting for you to clatter your way down after a cocked practice run.
Much of My own stint playing with DH bikes (I don't think you could call it racing) was back when Using Road Mechs and Cassettes was a common choice, they were Dinky, Cheap and (pre-Dynasis) happily talked to MTB shifters.
I think the issue is everyone is watching the "bleeding edge" developments on WC bikes right now, but most Privateers have to live within more prctical and financial constraints. Yeah some of these products are now available to muggles (at a significant premium) but are they going to give you enough of a performance benefit over the next season or two to justify the spend?
Then again at the other end of the spectrum you've got stuff like the Tora EVH a "modern" BMW alike, Steel, Single Speed DH bike that just appeals on the basis of simplicity and Sheer Agricultural engineering, all the attributes of a current Gearbox DH bike, apart from the gears...
This is the only belt drive in our house. Bloody thing spends more time off than on.
Now that Geometron are offering a gearbox version of the G1 I'm guessing Chris Porter thinks there's something to gearbox/belt drive?
Nicolai have ALWAYS offered Gearbox bikes, back when a "gearbox" was just shoving a Rohloff hub inside the frame... The "Geometron thing" has always worked both ways, Nicolai have benefitted from Geometron's input in terms of geometry and design and used it to their advantage on some of their more weird and wonderful creations too...
I think it's a shame putting IGH hubs into frames never really took off. I think it was an idea that had some legs.
No... Just no! By christ I'm glad we're past that... Overly heavy, massively complicated, huge amounts of drag, terrible shifters, you name it... Hub gears work well on commuter bikes, but they are a long way from being a high performance product... Pinion and the likes have moved that game on a long, long way with their internal gearboxes even if they are still a long way from universal acceptance even now.
Wasn't the problem with the RN01 that it was always engaged and therefore had huge drag? I'm sure I read that Minnaar was really frustrated with it because it was so much slower in a straight line than it could have been.
I don't know, I've not ridden it, but I know a man who has... I'll ask him! But yes, quite conceivably in a world where (as previously reported) they're removing the seals and all grease from hub bearings and running a light oil in them to reduce every microwatt of drag at times, a constantly spinning drivetrain (even a highly efficient derailleur one) would provide a touch more drag than one that was freewheeling when not being pedalled... And we're straight back to the reason that for most people, most of the time, that the derailleur gear system is still the drivetrain of choice on a high performance bicycle!
Then again at the other end of the spectrum you've got stuff like the Tora EVH a "modern" BMW alike, Steel, Single Speed DH bike that just appeals on the basis of simplicity and Sheer Agricultural engineering, all the attributes of a current Gearbox DH bike, apart from the gears...
Which reminds me, did anyone notice Starling had a Sturn V3 at Bespoked?
https://www.pinkbike.com/news/day-2-randoms-bespoked-show-dresden-2025.html
No... Just no! By christ I'm glad we're past that... Overly heavy, massively complicated, huge amounts of drag, terrible shifters, you name it... Hub gears work well on commuter bikes, but they are a long way from being a high performance product... Pinion and the likes have moved that game on a long, long way with their internal gearboxes even if they are still a long way from universal acceptance even now.
Thing thing I liked about the Hub in the Frame idea was that potentially you wouldn't be limited to a single 'gearbox'. If you took the concept to it's logical conclusion you'd have a standard mounting and you could pick and choose your gearbox. Rohlof if you want spendy or a three speed Sturmy Archer or Nexus if you want cheap winch and plummet.
Saying all that, the drag is noticeable (on some hubs more than others) which is why I'd rather see something like the Sturn above matched with a Phaser even further above where you fit a cassette in the middle of the cranks and then have a second cassette mounted on the second driveshaft (which is also the pivot).
Not sure if this is making sense the way I'm describing it.
Then again at the other end of the spectrum you've got stuff like the Tora EVH a "modern" BMW alike, Steel, Single Speed DH bike that just appeals on the basis of simplicity and Sheer Agricultural engineering, all the attributes of a current Gearbox DH bike, apart from the gears...
Which reminds me, did anyone notice Starling had a Sturn V3 at Bespoked?
https://www.pinkbike.com/news/day-2-randoms-bespoked-show-dresden-2025.html
They had it on their stand at the Malverns too. Very lovely thing. No plans for a geared/gearbox version when I spoke to Joe though.
Which reminds me, did anyone notice Starling had a Sturn V3 at Bespoked?
https://www.pinkbike.com/news/day-2-randoms-bespoked-show-dresden-2025.html
I did more than notice it. I've been speccing one up in my head all week.
If this grey one is a demo bike I'd love to ride it. Maybe not with the trail tyres on.
I bumped into a guy on yesterdays ride that was trying out a Nicolai MGU he'd borrowed off a mate.
Said he really liked the bike but wasn't keen on the gearbox aspect of it. Said it just felt a little agricultural.
I think it was the cable actuated version though so maybe the electronic one has improved on that.
I love the concept of gearbox bikes but after bad experiences with various hub gears I've not seriously looked into trying one yet.
They had it on their stand at the Malverns too. Very lovely thing. No plans for a geared/gearbox version when I spoke to Joe though.
I wouldn't want a gearbox on it. Just the Middleburns, thanks!
Love the Sturn - all bar the horrid 1/2 link chain. Even if it is necessary. I'd def have one if I had the use.
Now if only they could hide a small gearbox in it it'd be more than a park bike.
Love the Sturn - all bar the horrid 1/2 link chain. Even if it is necessary.
I hadn't even noticed that. I don't think an all half-link chain is necessary. Surely all you need is one half-link?
I remember there was a fashion among BMXers to use all half-link chains for a while. Maybe this is a throwback to that 🙂
Very lovely thing. No plans for a geared/gearbox version when I spoke to Joe though.
I think a Gearbox would miss the point (IMO of course), a Jackshaft SS suspension bike just looks 'Right', Starling's are much tidier.
A Single speed DH bike makes real sense to me, perhaps not as an all-out race bike(?), but it addresses the main complaint people have about gear danglers risking rock interactions. Obviously the trick then is picking your one ratio to suit the riding, but I do think I'd personally prefer that over a Gearbox.
IT's the KISS principle innit, but also not the topic Weeksy was looking to discuss, Race bikes really need gears.
Almost all BMX chains are full half-link now so it's one of those. Only kids bikes and racers use normal chains anymore.
Has anyone seen the Sturn V3 with pedals on? I'm wondering if that's a custom pair of left hand drive Middleburn's or they've stuck a regular set on the wrong way round to get it on display.
A Single speed DH bike makes real sense to me, perhaps not as an all-out race bike(?), but it addresses the main complaint people have about gear danglers risking rock interactions. Obviously the trick then is picking your one ratio to suit the riding, but I do think I'd personally prefer that over a Gearbox.
Using a Classified hub might be the way to go, dunno if singlespeed/dinglespeed is possible on them though?
Using a Classified hub might be the way to go, dunno if singlespeed/dinglespeed is possible on them though?
Like I said, Keep it simple, can you even get a 148mm Classified hub? are you gaining much by having 2 speeds Vs gearing a little on the tall side and having to grunt a little jus to get rolling?
Almost all BMX chains are full half-link now so it's one of those. Only kids bikes and racers use normal chains anymore.
Really?
I genuinely thought it was a fashion thing from 15 years ago or so that they had given up on.
I understand having one half-link but why anyone would possibly want a full chain of half-links?
can you even get a 148mmClassified hub? are you gaining much by having 2 speeds
- They do an MTB version so I'm sure it's 148mm
- Yes, you're gaining 100% extra speeds
Has anyone seen the Sturn V3 with pedals on? I'm wondering if that's a custom pair of left hand drive Middleburn's or they've stuck a regular set on the wrong way round to get it on display.
No I haven't but expect it's just a case of swapping the axles side to side and keeping an eye on the axle/nuts & adding a big dollop of Loctite to make sure they don't unwind. Though thinking about it for the pedals it'd be no different to normal as the nut one side is always "backwards" as they're just standard nylocs not handed versions (I'm thinking Burgtecs as it's all I've had for years).
Did RHD BMX cranks used on the left used to unwind the pedals before LHD was invented?
Sure Middleburn/BETD is small enough to be able to do a few customs.