Flat Pack Chainless Bicycle from IKEA

Re:Flat Pack Chainless Bicycle from IKEA by userbinator on Sunday January 15, 2017 @11:41AM (#13404770)

More interesting is the fact that it's a 2-speed automatic. I've seen previous attempts at adding automatic transmissions to bikes but much of the reviews out there seem to mostly complain about the shift points and inability to control them. E.g. they shift at a fixed speed and there's no way to "kickdown" unlike an automotive automatic, which also takes into account engine speed and throttle position. I suppose the analogous indication for a bike would be the force being applied to the pedals.

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Re:Flat Pack Chainless Bicycle from IKEA by crispyambulance on Sunday January 15, 2017 @12:42PM (#13405172)

I believe it is this one (or an OEM variant): https://www.sram.com/sram/urban/products/automatix

I think its gimmicky.

If you're going to bother with internal hub gearing, you might as well make it manual-- its even easier than shifting a derailleur and you don't need to be moving. Its not like automatic 2-speed shifting is solving a real problem.

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Re:Flat Pack Chainless Bicycle from IKEA by Illotus on Sunday January 15, 2017 @01:09PM (#13405368)

Well it is pretty handy to have the uphill gear and standard gear on a town bike.

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Re:Flat Pack Chainless Bicycle from IKEA by halostatue on Monday January 16, 2017 @12:40AM (#13408403)

I’ve got a Norco (CityGlide) with the SRAM 2-sped automatic on it. It’s pretty good. The shift is more based on the torque applied than the speed you’re going at; coasting and then using light torque will shift back to first gear pretty quickly.

Aside from the belt drive, this looks pretty close to the CityGlide that I have, and at a similar price (on sale). (The CityGlide lists around CA$799, and I got mine at a bike show for CA$450; I’ve spent more since then, including getting fenders.) If I didn’t already have a two-speed automatic, I’d probably look at this seriously.

I also have a Dahon (Speed P8) that I use in the winter, although I might be using the Norco a bit this winter. When I replace the Dahon, I’m strongly considering a Montague full-sized folding bike.

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Re:Flat Pack Chainless Bicycle from IKEA by Illotus on Sunday January 15, 2017 @01:07PM (#13405354)

It's an old Fichtel & Sachs design, from 70s or earlier. I think it came back to production few years back, now by Sram that bought Sachs while back.

I think there also is an old Shimano design, but that was 3 or 4 speed.

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Re:Flat Pack Chainless Bicycle from IKEA by fulafel on Sunday January 15, 2017 @12:34PM (#13405129)

The 2-speed internal gear hub seems to be the same SRAM Automatix that you have probably heard of, it's been around for a while (since 2011?) and used in quite a few bikes on the market.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/automatix.html

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