Recumbentrx
100 µW
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2019
- Messages
- 7
I tried three different cassette/derailure setups (8 sp, 9 sp and 10sp), each with a gear sensor and had a very tough time getting my system to shift correctly. I am not a beginner as far as bicycle mechanics go (I actually worked as a bike mechanic in my youth and was the group mechanic for both my transcontinental cyclo-camping tours across the USA) so I understand a lot about chain line, cable tension, wheel dishing, chain/cassette/shifter compatibility etc. I never got my recumbent trike to shift easily. I realize the trikes have three times the chain length as a regular bike so I tried each combination on my son's cannondale touring bike and had similar failures. Even though the gear shift sensor did its job, shifting was clunky and harsh. Finally, the rear derailure hanger literally was torn out of the frame. That and several snapped chains (new chains!) and I sought out a better solution.
I read a review of a guy using the nuvinci n380 cvt hub with his bbshd and was impressed. Even though it's only rated to handle 350 watts, he claims to run all 1500 watts through it regularly and it's holding up fine.
Long story short I tried it with my rans crank forward semi recumbent first as it's as close to a wedgie bike as possible but without the pain! I used a Paul's components "Melvin" chain tensioner (best one I found after extensive research) and the Luna Cycle eclipse 46 tooth chainring (The absolute best chainring I was able to find for this moto, worked better than my lekkie bling ring). I kept the 22 tooth chainring that came with the hub and used a kmc 8 speed (3/32") chain. The results were a perfect and smooth shift every time and I didn't use the gear shift sensor. No clicking or clunking or cigs in a transmission. Simply steel balls moving around inside a special fluid that acts as a solid when under compression.
Anyway I was so blown away at how this setup works, I installed the exact same thing on my long wheelbase rans stratus xp two wheel bent and my terratrike gran truisms tadpole trike. I am not a hot rider but rather a commuter I use my motor sparingly other than long steep climbs which both of my surgically altered knees can't handle any more. Most of the time I only use about 200 of the available 1500 watts this system can put out but there are definately times on every single ride I do where I am using as much as 1300 watts for short bursts and 800 watts for longer periods as I live in a mountainous are. There are flat sections which make up 65% of my commute and that's where I run 200 or less watts. So far my long wheelbase has 3600 miles with this system and other than two stretched out (Not snapped!) chains, everything is working flawlessly.
Has anyone else used this setup and if so what has your experience (Not guessing but actual experience) been?
I read a review of a guy using the nuvinci n380 cvt hub with his bbshd and was impressed. Even though it's only rated to handle 350 watts, he claims to run all 1500 watts through it regularly and it's holding up fine.
Long story short I tried it with my rans crank forward semi recumbent first as it's as close to a wedgie bike as possible but without the pain! I used a Paul's components "Melvin" chain tensioner (best one I found after extensive research) and the Luna Cycle eclipse 46 tooth chainring (The absolute best chainring I was able to find for this moto, worked better than my lekkie bling ring). I kept the 22 tooth chainring that came with the hub and used a kmc 8 speed (3/32") chain. The results were a perfect and smooth shift every time and I didn't use the gear shift sensor. No clicking or clunking or cigs in a transmission. Simply steel balls moving around inside a special fluid that acts as a solid when under compression.
Anyway I was so blown away at how this setup works, I installed the exact same thing on my long wheelbase rans stratus xp two wheel bent and my terratrike gran truisms tadpole trike. I am not a hot rider but rather a commuter I use my motor sparingly other than long steep climbs which both of my surgically altered knees can't handle any more. Most of the time I only use about 200 of the available 1500 watts this system can put out but there are definately times on every single ride I do where I am using as much as 1300 watts for short bursts and 800 watts for longer periods as I live in a mountainous are. There are flat sections which make up 65% of my commute and that's where I run 200 or less watts. So far my long wheelbase has 3600 miles with this system and other than two stretched out (Not snapped!) chains, everything is working flawlessly.
Has anyone else used this setup and if so what has your experience (Not guessing but actual experience) been?