The S3X is here

It's fixed gear, but not singlespeed. Or single speed.

You get everything shown plus a cable, but not a sprocket (this one is a 15T) for £180 plus postage. It feels very well made and there is minimal lash between driving and braking. Now I need to get some spokes and lace it up. Chainline is adjustable using spacers; in the maximum position shown here it's about 46-46.5mm, which is handily the same as a Goldtec track hub. You can reduce it to about 41mm by moving the spacers.

Although thats a lot of money, Im surprised its not more money. There must be loads of engineering going on in that thing.

Nope.

Witchcraft.

Is that the only shifter option - werent they looking at a couple of options?

I went to my local frame builders (they only build trikes) and they have a fixed gear trike with that on
offered to sell me the hub for cheap:)

Verry nice guys in there

ICE inspired cycle engineering

That looks very nice.

Where can I buy it online?

google.

http://www.spacycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m2b157s171p1811&tbv=STURMEY_ARCHER_S3X_3_Speed_Fixed_Hub_PARTS_&_ACCESSORIES_Components_-_Wheels_-_Hubs_-_Fixed_and_Track

http://www.futurecycles.co.uk/best-buys/sturmey-archer-3-speed-fixed-gear-hub-s3x.html

cheaper option is extra ring and surly dingle.

one less gear and have to change manually but save £180.

Even cheaper option is a double fixed hub.

That's not really the point though is it.

Someone I know did some prototype testing about one and a half years ago. He broke two of them in very little time. I tried it and it had loads of play. Also the normal SA three speeds are shit compared to the Sram ones. I can only hope the production model is much much better than the prototype was. I´m not trying to bash SA, just sharing my experiance. I like the idea tough.

more expensive than a 8speed alfine!

due to the alfine being produced in much larger quantities

Someone I know did some prototype testing about one and a half years ago. He broke two of them in very little time. I tried it and it had loads of play. .

that's actually normal to have some play on it, in the past when there's more variation of those, hubs, each one have a different amount of play, the 2 speed fixed hubs were popular for time trialling back then mostly because not just for the two speed option but because there's little play on it.

Someone I know did some prototype testing about one and a half years ago. He broke two of them in very little time. I tried it and it had loads of play. Also the normal SA three speeds are shit compared to the Sram ones. I can only hope the production model is much much better than the prototype was. I´m not trying to bash SA, just sharing my experiance. I like the idea tough.

By "normal" do you mean the AW3?
That has now been superceded by the SRF, which I understand has eliminated the old AW problems. I've got one to try out so I'll report back when I have.

SRAM and Shimano of course started with hub gears by taking SA hubs and copying them, and doing it badly. The original Shimano 3 speeds were cheap, fragile crap. They only got good when Sturmey had been asset stripped, and had neither the will nor the means to defend its patents.

I can get hold of those hubs for £175, if anyones interested PM me. you can pick em up from my workshop in farringdon.

interesting. can't see the point, but interesting/.

Yes!!!!

Does anyone know where to get a full range of S3X sprockets in the UK? I need a 14T.

I'm thinking of doing some wheel builds with these s3x hubs- (complete with bar end shifter and choice of rear sprocket etc. ) - with Chrina (the shinny polished variant) or a deep section rim similar to weinman. and something like the ubiquitous zenith on the front. and DB SS spokes. just scoping out the interest

• would pairs be better than just rear wheel alone?
  
• or would just the bare hubs be more attractive?
  rims - Chrina ? deep section?
  
  

let me know any initial ideas first and i'll check out maybe a limited run of a few pairs, rears or hubs , depending on feasibility-

what are the ratios?

-25% and - 37.5%

more info here

yes i found it easier to think in terms of

0.75 1.00 and 1.33333333

THE range is not very TT (as the USC was )/ street / hipster friendly - it being a touring range. more suited to what i like - getting out in the hills on long rides

i set the center gear as pretty much what i'd ride anyway - some where between 42/18 and 42/17

this means with 42t on front you'd want a 14 on rear for the s3x hub. giving apporx these gears equivalent UPHILL 42/24 LEVEL 42/18 DOWNHILL 42/ 14

or with the proper sturmey crank i've fitted (46T) i've put on a 15T for similar but very slightly longer gears.

they were right to put Direct drive as top because if anything goes in the way of cable / shifter you certainly don't want to be running fast down a hill and suddenly find yourself in a low gear
(redlining my motorbike on the motorway i changed down instead of up with similar heart stopping - rear wheel locking- results )

i'll stick on pics of the build later tonight.

thinking about it at least on the motorbike i had a clutch to dump the revs fast !

here we are. they've done the right thing and gave out all bar end shifters which you just unscrew as per any shimano bar end shifter, to give you a down tube shifter - your choice.

ooops - here is pic

no - can't them on - anyway you know what it all looks like