Two Swedish wheels good

"The Lurktastic Opponaught" (oppolurker) 02/19/2017 at 20:08 • Filed to: Bicycle democracy, IKEA bike

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IKEA bike! $399, aluminum frame, belt drive, mechanical 160 mm Tektro front brake, Sram automatic two speed/coaster brake rear hub. The really neat part is the belt drive, which they imply is low maintenance.

There are a lot of accessories available, including a trailer, front and rear racks, panniers, lights, a pump, and helmets. It had lots of adjustability built in for different body types, and IKEA says it comes in 26" and 28" sizes, but I have no idea what that means. A neat concept to be sure, and time will tell how successful it is.

Honeybunchesofgoats > The Lurktastic Opponaught 02/19/2017 at 20:19

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If I owned a bike, I would want to be this. It’ll probably become a collector’s item too, after what happened. I sure will miss Swedish design.

bhtooefr > The Lurktastic Opponaught 02/19/2017 at 20:20

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26" and 28" are referring to tire sizes - I’d guess it’s 559 (26" MTB) and 622 (700C road bike) mm rim sizes.

Hopefully their Automatix hub is configured to upshift at a reasonable speed - most of them upshift too early, as I understand. I get the whole idea of it being simple like that, but I would’ve gone for a 3-speed, even if that meant manual shifting at their price point. (Shimano Coasting would’ve been ideal here - it would’ve meant a 3-speed automatic, and it would’ve meant that there’d already be a dynamo present for lighting.)

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > The Lurktastic Opponaught 02/19/2017 at 20:24

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Is there no derailleur-type apparatus? If so, then we might be seeing the end of slipping chains.

The Lurktastic Opponaught > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 02/19/2017 at 20:27

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Yep, no derailleurs or shifter to be found. The only controls on the bars are the front brake and a bell. It’s an automatic two speed with an integrated coaster brake in the rear hub.

Frank Grimes > The Lurktastic Opponaught 02/19/2017 at 20:28

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I want one. I would make it like a BMX cruiser except that coaster hub brake might be a deal breaker.
Or maybe I should just find a used one O’ these

The Lurktastic Opponaught > Frank Grimes 02/19/2017 at 20:29

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I think they’d make a really neat project foundation at that price. The want is strong.

bhtooefr > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 02/19/2017 at 20:31

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Internally-geared hubs are quite popular for utility bikes in Europe and Japan. There’s a few reasons for this.

Ability to shift at a complete stop (and I can bang out shifts faster than I can on a derailleur setup, even with having to stop pedaling to shift)

Reduced maintenance - the gearing’s in an enclosure that’s not exposed to the environment

Nothing to break if the bike is banged into or dropped

Room for a wider chain or a belt, increasing durability and further reducing maintenance

Chain or belt line stays in one place, so a chain case can more easily be implemented, reducing maintenance and protecting clothing

bhtooefr > Frank Grimes 02/19/2017 at 20:34

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You could convert to a (handle-operated) drum rear brake, maybe. Disc and rim brakes look like they’re right out, though.

As far as gearing, it has vertical dropouts, but no provisions for a derailleur hanger.

The Lurktastic Opponaught > bhtooefr 02/19/2017 at 20:35

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Thanks for filling in some details. I hadn’t considered the possibility that they were using unusual nomenclature for the wheel sizes. I’ve never ridden an automatic hub bike. Are the shift points adjustable beyond the factory?

Frank Grimes > bhtooefr 02/19/2017 at 20:39

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hmm might not be worth it if I have to bust out my tig and weld on break mounts.

The Lurktastic Opponaught > Honeybunchesofgoats 02/19/2017 at 20:39

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May we never forget the missing.

LOREM IPSUM > The Lurktastic Opponaught 02/19/2017 at 20:42

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I’ll never buy another aluminum framed bike. Steel is real.

(Unless it’s a full suspension mtb or downhill monster)

bhtooefr > The Lurktastic Opponaught 02/19/2017 at 20:44

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On the Automatix, not easily. It involves opening the hub up and bending springs - it uses flyweights to command the shift. SRAM sets it to shift at a certain RPM (and therefore wheel speed), and I believe the bicycle manufacturer can custom-order that speed.

On electronic automatic hubs, it can be trivially adjusted - the Shimano Coasting group (which was a complete failure in the marketplace, and Shimano discontinued it) has a potentiometer on the control box that can be adjusted with a screwdriver to change the shift point. IIRC, the other automatic shifting systems (some Shimano and Bosch e-bike systems paired with Shimano Nexus/Alfine Di2 hubs, and the NuVinci Harmony) have controllers that allow either manual shifting or setting a target cadence from the handlebars.

And, in the 1970s or so, Shimano did a clone of the Sachs Automatic (the SRAM Automatix simply being a re-release of the old Sachs Automatic) that had an externally accessible knob to adjust the shift point.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > The Lurktastic Opponaught 02/19/2017 at 20:45

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So the drive belt never needs lubrication and will never slip off due to unwanted derailleur movement. This is incredibly exciting.

The Lurktastic Opponaught > LOREM IPSUM 02/19/2017 at 20:45

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5" tires work wonders for the comfort of an aluminum frame :-D

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > bhtooefr 02/19/2017 at 20:45

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Makes total sense. I’m super excited that you can now get that system at a reasonable cost in North America.

LOREM IPSUM > The Lurktastic Opponaught 02/19/2017 at 20:48

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I bet! The added weight and rolling resistance kill it for me though.

To each their own of course, but I’m more of a steel cyclocross lover for my general purpose cycling needs.

The Lurktastic Opponaught > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 02/19/2017 at 20:49

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IKEA specifically says not to lube it. All it needs is to be rinsed off occasionally.

The Lurktastic Opponaught > LOREM IPSUM 02/19/2017 at 20:56

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Oh yeah. I did a few miles on snowmobile trails the other day. I loved it, but it absolutey kicked my ass. I’ve got quite a bit of training up to do.

The Lurktastic Opponaught > LOREM IPSUM 02/19/2017 at 20:58

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That said, I really want a surly long haul trucker. That looks like a really comfortable frame to do some miles on.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > The Lurktastic Opponaught 02/19/2017 at 20:59

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Do you get to assemble it?

LOREM IPSUM > The Lurktastic Opponaught 02/19/2017 at 20:59

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I really need to get out and ride more.

bhtooefr > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 02/19/2017 at 20:59

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There’s been plenty of other bikes with 3-speed hubs and belt drives at similar price points, FWIW. (Although, it is a nice touch that Ikea’s including fenders and a front disc.)

The Lurktastic Opponaught > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 02/19/2017 at 21:00

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Sadly, no. I’m currently bike-poor from a recent fat bike purchase, so I had to leave it there.

LOREM IPSUM > The Lurktastic Opponaught 02/19/2017 at 21:02

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The Surly is a nice frame. It was one of the ones I was looking at while shopping for my bike, quite a few years ago. Ended up with a Campagnolo equipped Lemond Poprad though, which I like quite a bit.

29ers were intriguing too at the time, but they were few and far between and more moolah than I was willing to spend.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > The Lurktastic Opponaught 02/19/2017 at 21:30

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Boooooo

Tazio, Count Fouroff > The Lurktastic Opponaught 02/19/2017 at 22:38

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But will the box fit in the car?

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > The Lurktastic Opponaught 02/19/2017 at 22:54

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The most boring bike......in the world

My bike coming soon, being made, 1000w of POWAAAAAAAHHHH:

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > The Lurktastic Opponaught 02/19/2017 at 22:59

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Nice.

Straightsix9904 > LOREM IPSUM 02/19/2017 at 23:17

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Aluminum has its place in cycling. Like in the beer cans I drink after a ride.

I miss my steel Colnagos; And my Ti Merlin. They were both magical to ride. That ride can’t be replaced by carbon or AL.

Lenny Valentin > LOREM IPSUM 03/02/2017 at 08:42

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Alu frames won’t rust, I think that’s more important for the intended target audience of this bike, than any of the personal gripes about the material you may have. :)