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BMX General => BMX Chat => Topic started by: SaMAlex on January 11, 2013, 09:14 AM

Title: Anyone ever put Gears on a 20" BMX?
Post by: SaMAlex on January 11, 2013, 09:14 AM
A friend of mine is looking at doing a 100 mile cycle but she wants to do it on her BMX. Has anyone had any success putting gears on a 20" BMX? Its her main rider so she wont want to go mad on the conversion but its bound to need at least a custom rear wheel. My guess is some kind of internal hub gear might be the best plan. The short back end wont  work too well with an offset chain alignment and the width of the frame wont be happy with a cluster of sprockets. I think that hub gears have had a bit of a revival thanks to the "Fixie" style of bike but I dont know much about it.

Anyone got any ideas? 
Title: Re: Anyone ever put Gears on a 20" BMX?
Post by: pickle on January 11, 2013, 09:17 AM
sturmy archer rear hub with 3 gears  ???

something like this?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PAIR-20-x-1-75-STURMEY-ARCHER-AW-3-SPEED-ALLOY-RIM-WHEELS-FOLDER-SHOPPER-BIKE-/281048607451?pt=UK_sportsleisure_cycling_bikeparts_SR&hash=item416fcd6adb
Title: Re: Anyone ever put Gears on a 20" BMX?
Post by: garran on January 11, 2013, 09:21 AM
Bmx plus did a feature on a gt with a Browning 2 speed system. think dordy has the mag off me
Title: Re: Anyone ever put Gears on a 20" BMX?
Post by: MaD-RoK on January 11, 2013, 09:26 AM
There was a Aero Pro done with full on rear mech and front end 3 ring crankage..... Looked a fookin monster though.

Tell her to just be rad and go single speed, it rocks after 30 miles.....  :buck2:
Title: Re: Anyone ever put Gears on a 20" BMX?
Post by: Julian347 on January 11, 2013, 09:30 AM
Use the 3 speed system off a Grifter. Proper old school.  ;D

Didn't Brian Lopes start using gears on his GT BMX at one time? Might be worth checking out.
Title: Re: Anyone ever put Gears on a 20" BMX?
Post by: MaD-RoK on January 11, 2013, 09:34 AM
Been trying to find the pic..... BUT thinking about it, it may have just had the rear mech fitted as a tension device and used the front three ringer with shifter as a 3 speed set up. Going from scarred memory here though dude. ;)
Title: Re: Anyone ever put Gears on a 20" BMX?
Post by: SaMAlex on January 11, 2013, 09:35 AM
I think that most of the 2 speed set ups for BMX racing are ones that change down only. Then you have to re-set it before the next race. (I could be wrong?).

I didnt really want to suggest a sturmey archer (Grifter/chopper) 3 speed, cos they are pretty horrid to ride.

Shimano have done a few hub gears, more recently the Nexus stuff. 3 speed, 7 speed and even an 8 speed version.

http://www.shimano.com/publish/content/global_cycle/en/us/index/products/0/nexus.html
Title: Re: Anyone ever put Gears on a 20" BMX?
Post by: pickle on January 11, 2013, 09:39 AM
will the new Shimano ones fit the rear end of a BMX though Alex?  i also think they'd be pretty expensive for a one off ride  ???
Title: Re: Anyone ever put Gears on a 20" BMX?
Post by: MaD-RoK on January 11, 2013, 09:46 AM
Here you go......

(http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc496/leemadz2/4monkian.jpg)
Title: Re: Anyone ever put Gears on a 20" BMX?
Post by: Julian347 on January 11, 2013, 09:51 AM
Here you go......

(http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc496/leemadz2/4monkian.jpg)

 :crazy2:
Title: Re: Anyone ever put Gears on a 20" BMX?
Post by: GavinDavis on January 11, 2013, 09:53 AM
I can appreciate the need for doing a long distance ride, but for anything else....gears should be nowhere near a bmx :( ...yuk!!
Title: Re: Anyone ever put Gears on a 20" BMX?
Post by: SaMAlex on January 11, 2013, 10:27 AM
Man, those gears on the BMX look stinking  :-[

Yeah, I'm pretty sure the Nexus hub wont fit in a BMX frame.
And you're right. Prob a bit much to spend for a one-off ride  :-[
Title: Re: Anyone ever put Gears on a 20" BMX?
Post by: gib66 on January 11, 2013, 10:41 AM
i think moley did one few years back it will be on here somewhere but god knows how to find it
Title: Re: Anyone ever put Gears on a 20" BMX?
Post by: Jon The Bassist on January 11, 2013, 10:42 AM
Get the correct gearing on the bike (something slightly higher than the usual 44/16, 25/9 type ratio), with the right tyres (eg high pressure & low profile). This will be more reliable and almost as quick as a bike with gears with added efficiency from having correct chainline etc, no extra weight from derailleurs & extra sprockets, less parts to go wrong.
Title: Re: Anyone ever put Gears on a 20" BMX?
Post by: SaMAlex on January 11, 2013, 10:45 AM
Get the correct gearing on the bike (something slightly higher than the usual 44/16, 25/9 type ratio), with the right tyres (eg high pressure & low profile). This will be more reliable and almost as quick as a bike with gears with added efficiency from having correct chainline etc, no extra weight from derailleurs & extra sprockets, less parts to go wrong.

Wise words, for sure  :daumenhoch:
Title: Re: Anyone ever put Gears on a 20" BMX?
Post by: Dark Diggler on January 11, 2013, 10:59 AM
i think moley did one few years back it will be on here somewhere but god knows how to find it


Moley did a sturmley 5speed on his GT, a bit weighty but not too bad, very clean looking
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