Chainless Bicycles

Tgleeman2 · Jan 22, 2003

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Hi there,

Has anyone in the group actually owned a Sussex, chainless, driveshaft = bicycle as seen at
http://www.sussex.com.tw/? I am looking for a review/consumer test on = these bicycles.

Thanks in advance.

Tom

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<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Hi there,</FONT></DIV>
<DV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DVI><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Has anyone in the group actually owned = a Sussex,=20 chainless,
driveshaft bicycle as seen</FONT></DIV>
<DVII><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>at <A=20
href=3D"http://www.sussex.com.tw/">http://www.sussex.com.tw/</A>? I am = looking for=20
a review/consumer test on these bicycles.</FONT></DIV>
<DVIII><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIX><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Thanks in advance.</FONT></DIV>
<DX><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DXI><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Tom</FONT></DIV>
<DXII><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DXIII><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV></BODY></HTML>

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A Muzi · Jan 22, 2003

"Norm" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> "tgleeman2" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:<[email protected]>...
> > Hi there,
> >
> > Has anyone in the group actually owned a Sussex, chainless, driveshaft bicycle as seen at
> > http://www.sussex.com.tw/? I am looking for a review/consumer test on these bicycles.
> >
> > Thanks in advance.
> >
> > Tom
> >
>
> I haven't ridden one of these, so in time-honored newsgroup tradition, I'll reply to your
> post anyhow.
>
> From the 'Advantages' page on that site: [ http://www.sussex.com.tw/se3.htm ]
> * Commuters will never face with chain slippage.(sic)
> * Parents don't have to worry about a child's accident due to chain bite.
> * Women would enjoy the ease of low maintenance.
>
> I'm inclined to believe this is another solution in search of a problem.
>
> Is "chain slippage" a problem with modern bike components? I can't say it is in my experience. Not
> when commuting, certainly.
>
> I'm not a parent, so not very qualified to comment on the "chain bite" menace, but I do remember a
> childhood of playing around bicycles and never loosing any digits. I also sold many childrens'
> bikes back when I was working in retail and don't recall any customers berating us for the
> hazardous chains attached to these bikes.
>
> I can see the low maintenance idea being attractive for a commuting bike. The lack of an exposed
> chain risking soiled clothing also has merit. Why women in particular might find this feature an
> advantage defeats me, however.
>
> The most interesting question, which their site doesn't appear to address, unfortunately, is does
> it work? Or rather, how does it compare to a chain driven bicycle? It's been a while since I read
> Witt and Wilson's 'Bicycling Science' but I seem to recall that shaft drives have been found to
> have significantly lower efficiency than chain drives. Perhaps this technology has improved in
> recent times. If that's the case, the combination of this drive with a Nexus hub makes sense. I'd
> be interested to see a weight comparison, compared to a chain driven transmission, as well.
>
> Looking at the models available on their products page [ http://www.sussex.com.tw/se5.htm ] they
> don't appear to be aiming their bikes at the performance end of the market. Nothing wrong with
> that, but maybe an acknowledgement of the inferior efficiency of this system.
>
> I also seem to recall a manufacturer or distributor in Europe trying to market shaft driven bikes
> back in the late eighties. It wasn't a success. Seems to be one of those recurring 'innovations'.
>
> I'd be interested in a report from anyone who's ridden one, as well.
>
>
> Norm [email protected]

I have ridden a 1910 Pope Columbia shaft drive fixed which was a beautiful elegant and clean bike.
The problem with these is adjusting gear lash, especially with worn gears. No functional advantage
over a chain IMHO but they sure do look cute.

--
Andrew Muzi http://www.yellowjersey.org Open every day since 1 April 1971

Matt O'Toole · Jan 22, 2003

"Norm" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...

> I can see the low maintenance idea being attractive for a commuting bike. The lack of an exposed
> chain risking soiled clothing also has merit. Why women in particular might find this feature an
> advantage defeats me, however.

A lot of bikes with rubber belt drive have been sold in Japan, where fastidiousness is next to
godliness.

> The most interesting question, which their site doesn't appear to address, unfortunately, is does
> it work? Or rather, how does it compare to a chain driven bicycle? It's been a while since I read
> Witt and Wilson's 'Bicycling Science' but I seem to recall that shaft drives have been found to
> have significantly lower efficiency than chain drives.

This is true, and there's no getting around it. Chain drive is the most efficient gear mechanism we
have. It also happens to be cheaper to make.

> Perhaps this technology has improved in recent times.

Nope. Like I said, there's no getting around it.

Chainless bicycles' main appeal, besides mere novelty, has always been cleanliness.

Matt O.

Trentus · Jan 22, 2003

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"tgleeman2" <[email protected]> wrote in message =
news:[email protected]... Hi there,

Has anyone in the group actually owned a Sussex, chainless, driveshaft = bicycle as seen at
http://www.sussex.com.tw/? I am looking for a review/consumer test = on these bicycles.

Thanks in advance.

Tom

Hmmm.... Might appeal to the SS fraternity. Unless there are gears = hidden in there somehow

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http-equiv=3DContent-Type content=3D"text/html; = charset=3Diso-8859-1"> <META content=3D"MSHTML
6.00.2800.1106" name=3DGENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=3Dltr=20
style=3D"PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; = BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px
solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DV>"tgleeman2" <<A=20 href=3D"mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</A>> =
wrote in=20 message <A=20
=
href=3D"news:[email protected]">news:[email protected]= ews.com</A>...</DIV>
<DVI><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Hi there,</FONT></DIV>
<DVII><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DVIII><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Has anyone in the group actually = owned a Sussex,=20
chainless, driveshaft bicycle as seen</FONT></DIV>
<DIX><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>at <A=20
href=3D"http://www.sussex.com.tw/">http://www.sussex.com.tw/</A>? I am = looking=20 for
a review/consumer test on these bicycles.</FONT></DIV>
<DX><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DXI><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Thanks in advance.</FONT></DIV>
<DXII><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DXIII><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Tom</FONT></DIV>
<DXIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV></BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV dir=3Dltr><FONT
face=3DArial size=3D2>Hmmm.... Might appeal to the = SS fraternity.=20 Unless there are
gears hidden in there somehow</FONT></DIV> <DIV dir=3Dltr> </DIV></BODY></HTML>

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Norm · Jan 22, 2003

"tgleeman2" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> Hi there,
>
> Has anyone in the group actually owned a Sussex, chainless, driveshaft bicycle as seen at
> http://www.sussex.com.tw/? I am looking for a review/consumer test on these bicycles.
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Tom
>

I haven't ridden one of these, so in time-honored newsgroup tradition, I'll reply to your
post anyhow.

From the 'Advantages' page on that site: [ http://www.sussex.com.tw/se3.htm ]
* Commuters will never face with chain slippage.(sic)
* Parents don't have to worry about a child's accident due to chain bite.
* Women would enjoy the ease of low maintenance.

I'm inclined to believe this is another solution in search of a problem.

Is "chain slippage" a problem with modern bike components? I can't say it is in my experience. Not
when commuting, certainly.

I'm not a parent, so not very qualified to comment on the "chain bite" menace, but I do remember a
childhood of playing around bicycles and never loosing any digits. I also sold many childrens' bikes
back when I was working in retail and don't recall any customers berating us for the hazardous
chains attached to these bikes.

I can see the low maintenance idea being attractive for a commuting bike. The lack of an exposed
chain risking soiled clothing also has merit. Why women in particular might find this feature an
advantage defeats me, however.

The most interesting question, which their site doesn't appear to address, unfortunately, is does it
work? Or rather, how does it compare to a chain driven bicycle? It's been a while since I read Witt
and Wilson's 'Bicycling Science' but I seem to recall that shaft drives have been found to have
significantly lower efficiency than chain drives. Perhaps this technology has improved in recent
times. If that's the case, the combination of this drive with a Nexus hub makes sense. I'd be
interested to see a weight comparison, compared to a chain driven transmission, as well.

Looking at the models available on their products page [ http://www.sussex.com.tw/se5.htm ] they
don't appear to be aiming their bikes at the performance end of the market. Nothing wrong with that,
but maybe an acknowledgement of the inferior efficiency of this system.

I also seem to recall a manufacturer or distributor in Europe trying to market shaft driven bikes
back in the late eighties. It wasn't a success. Seems to be one of those recurring 'innovations'.

I'd be interested in a report from anyone who's ridden one, as well.

Norm [email protected]

Tgleeman2 · Jan 22, 2003

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Hi Trentus,

If you explore the website, http://www.sussex.com.tw/ you will find the = Sussex, SX006. This is a
full suspension, chainless, MTB with Shimano Nexus 7 speed hub.

Now, who has ever ridden one?

Tom "Trentus" <[email protected]> wrote in message =
news:[email protected]...

"tgleeman2" <[email protected]> wrote in message =
news:[email protected]... Hi there,

Has anyone in the group actually owned a Sussex, chainless, = driveshaft bicycle as seen at
http://www.sussex.com.tw/? I am looking for a review/consumer = test on these bicycles.

Thanks in advance.

Tom

Hmmm.... Might appeal to the SS fraternity. Unless there are gears = hidden in there somehow

------=_NextPart_000_0025_01C2BF77.40462EF0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META
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6.00.2800.1126" name=3DGENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Hi Trentus,</FONT></DIV>
<DV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DVI><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>If you explore the website, <A=20
href=3D"http://www.sussex.com.tw/">http://www.sussex.com.tw/</A> you = will find the=20
Sussex, SX006. This is a full</FONT></DIV>
<DVII><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>suspension, chainless, MTB with Shimano =

Nexus 7 speed hub.</FONT></DIV>
<DVIII><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIX><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Now, who has ever ridden = one?</FONT></DIV>
<DX><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DXI><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Tom</FONT></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=3Dltr=20
style=3D"PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; = BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px
solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DXII>"Trentus" <<A=20
=
href=3D"mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</A>> = wrote in=20 message <A=20
=
href=3D"news:[email protected]">news:99vW9.2799=
[email protected]</A>...</DIV>
<DXIII><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=3Dltr=20
style=3D"PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; = BORDER-LEFT: #000000
2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DXIV>"tgleeman2" <<A=20
href=3D"mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</A>> = wrote in=20
message <A=20
=
href=3D"news:[email protected]">news:[email protected]= ews.com</A>...</DIV>
<DXV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Hi there,</FONT></DIV>
<DXVI><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DXVII><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Has anyone in the group actually = owned a=20 Sussex,
chainless, driveshaft bicycle as seen</FONT></DIV>
<DXVIII><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>at <A=20
href=3D"http://www.sussex.com.tw/">http://www.sussex.com.tw/</A>? I = am looking=20 for
a review/consumer test on these bicycles.</FONT></DIV>
<DXIX><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DXX><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Thanks in advance.</FONT></DIV>
<DXXI><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DXXII><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Tom</FONT></DIV>
<DXXIII><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV></BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV dir=3Dltr><FONT
face=3DArial size=3D2>Hmmm.... Might appeal to = the SS=20 fraternity. Unless there are
gears hidden in there = somehow</FONT></DIV> <DIV
dir=3Dltr> </DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>

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Andrew Webster · Jan 22, 2003

"Trentus" <The Super [email protected]> wrote in message
news:<[email protected]>...
> "tgleeman2" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:3e299de1$1 [email protected]...
> Hi there,
>
> Has anyone in the group actually owned a Sussex, chainless, driveshaft bicycle as seen at
> http://www.sussex.com.tw/? I am looking for a review/consumer test on these bicycles.
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Tom
>
> Hmmm.... Might appeal to the SS fraternity. Unless there are gears hidden in there somehow
>
A cursory glance at the web site above shows SRAM/Shimano Nexus/Sturmey Archer hub gears in the
various models quoted.

Jeff Wills · Jan 22, 2003

"tgleeman2" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> Hi Trentus,
>
> If you explore the website, http://www.sussex.com.tw/ you will find the Sussex, SX006. This is a
> full suspension, chainless, MTB with Shimano Nexus 7 speed hub.
>
> Now, who has ever ridden one?
>

Not me. Given that the "copyright date" shown on the website is 1998, I'd be willing to bet that
these are the same bikes that show up at Interbike year after year.

I've seen one or two actually sitting in bike shops occasionally. I don't know if I've ever seen one
being ridden.

Jeff

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