FAQ
1. Do I need a speed-drive?
2. Does speed-drive fit my bike?
3. I'd like to fit two chainrings.
4. Can I replace a triple chainring set by speed-drive?
5. Does speed-drive fit the Brompton folding cycle?
6. Does speed-drive fit the Birdy folding cycle?
7. Can I fit speed-drive into a Dahon folding bike?
8. Can I fit speed-drive into a bike with closed chainguard?
9. Can speed-drive be used with a fixed wheel cycle?
10. Can speed-drive be combined with a coaster brake?
11. Can speed-drive be used on the left side or for reversed operation?
12. Can speed-drive be used for tandems?
13. Can I combine speed-drive with the Rohloff Speed-hub?
 
1. Do you need a speed-drive?
If you prefer speed-drive, depends on whether you want higher gears (higher speed) or lower gears.

Please check, if there is space enough for the chainguard.

speed-drive makes the chainring spinning at a higher rate. This means, that a 38 tooth chainring, if speed-drive is engaged, works like a 1.65 times larger one (63 tooth chainring). If you have a 44 tooth chainring, with speed-drive engaged this chainring would equal a huge 73 tooth chainring.

That's why speed-drive is often used for fast bikes like recumbents, or folding bikes, where it compensates for the small rear wheel.


We offer a special 27 tooth chainring, which is ideal for City-Bikes. It offers a range of 27 tooth in low and 45 tooth in high gear position.

Please do not hesitate to contact us, if you need an advise for your best gearing system!

 
2. Does speed-drive fit my bike?
speed-drive fits all bikes with standard bottom bracket.

Please note, that speed-drive always comes without chainstay. There is no torque lever.
You need a special milling cutter to prepare the bottom bracket. This tool is available as accessory, in most countries, we have milling cutters for hire.

For tightening, please use the box spanner of tool set #2, which can be combined with a torque wrench and gives best resultats and very easy operation.
 
3. I'd like to fit two chainrings.
No problem. The housing of speed-drive is made of hardened steel and the spider is part of the gear housing. Fit one chainring to the left, one to the right side of the spider with a washer of 2mm between spider and one of the chainrings.
 
4. Can I replace a triple chainring set by speed-drive?
Yes, you can. There is no space problem, as speed-drive mostly comes with a very small chainring.

Indeed, please consider, that this combination normally doesn't make much sense, as you get a huge number of gears with many gears overlapping.
 
5. Does speed-drive fit the Brompton folding cycle?
Yes. We deliver a set of special spacers for the Brompton installation. Please note, that also the lockring on the left side is of special shape for the Brompton.
 
6. Does speed-drive fit the Birdy folding cycle?
Yes. Please check the chainline (distance from centerline of frame to the middle of the chainring), as the Birdy maker Riese+Muller recently changed the design.

Older Birdies with a chainline of approximately 56mm can be combined with a special version of speed-drive with a 10mm longer axle. The newer models have a chainline of approximately 50mm, which allows to use the standard version of speed-drive. In this case, the chainring is fitted to the right side of the spider.

Please do not forget to order two trouser protection rings, as the Birdy needs them to prevent the chain from jumping off the chainring when being folded.

BTW: We deliver chainrings for the speed-drive with up to 53 teeth. Trouser guards for all sizes are available.
 
7. Can I fit speed-drive into a Dahon folding bike?
Yes. Newer Dahon models have a saddle tube, which no longer penetrades the bottom bracket tube. Please check before ordering, if your Dahon eventually is an older model, where the arrangement of saddle and bottom bracket tube does not allow to fit speed-drive into the b.b. tube.
 
8. Can I fit speed-drive into a bike with closed chainguard?
Yes.
 
9. Can speed-drive be used with a fixed wheel cycle?
No. In reverse direction, there musn't be full load. It's o.k. for actuating a coaster brake, but not for high torques during long operation periods.
 
10. Can speed-drive be combined with a coaster brake?
Yes. All types of speed-drive can be combined with a coaster brake.
 
11. Can speed-drive be used on the left side or for reversed operation?
We manufacture a special version, that is designed to be mounted on the left side, for reverse operation. Please contact us.
 
12. Can speed-drive be used on a tandem?
Yes. Please check also, if the rear gearing system is strong enough for tandem use.
If using it on a recumbent trike, please put the crankarms at 90 degree from each other, to prevent from peak load.
 
13. Can I combine the Rohloff Speedhub with speed-drive?
Yes. Please note the minimal chainring and rear cog size of 36/15 and 38/16, stipulated by Rohloff.

The Rohloff hub has a wide chainline of about 54mm. Please fit the chainring to the right side of the spider, if combining it with a Speedhub. Or use the 10mm longer axle to meet the chainline accurately.
 
Are you looking for even more detailled infos?
Just download our manual (pdf-file): speed-drive manual english