Questions about shaft drive bicycles? Are they fast? What should a buyer watch out 4?

Sped Man

Cruisin' on my Bluebird

• Mar 31, 2015

• #1

I was thinking of buying a shaft drive bicycle but I have a few questions. These bikes are expensive and I don't want to spend a lot on a wall hanger. Are they as fast as a chain drive bicycle? Are they reliable? What should a first time buyer watch out for? What are its biggest drawbacks?

 

fordmike65

Riding a '37 Colson Imperial

• Mar 31, 2015

• #2

I don't know much about them, but I know enough to recommend you pick one up that is COMPLETE. No missing parts whatsoever, especially drivetrain. Good luck in your search!

 

Sped Man

Cruisin' on my Bluebird

• Mar 31, 2015

• #3

There isn't one being sold locally. I would have to buy it in the blind. I hate buying something I haven't ever tried.

 

catfish

Riding an Alexander Rocket Bike

• Mar 31, 2015

• #4

Buy a complete one! Make sure it works before you buy it. I've seen a lot of them that were missing internal parts. And it is very hard to piece these together. and very expensive.

 

Andrew Gorman

Cruisin' on my Bluebird

• Mar 31, 2015

• #5

I agree- get a complete one! The only inexpensive part available is a plastic reproduction rear gear cover for Columbia/Pope bikes. Also, the early models were completely different year to year BUT were higher quality machines.

 

S

schwinnspastic

Look Ma, No Hands!

• Apr 1, 2015

• #6

I have only ridden one shaft drive bike but it was not in great shape and was very clunky in the gears so about 30 feet I got off and walked it back and I agree with the others being hard to find parts as I have been looking for a rear hub for years to complete a Pierce but the only one I found was not for sale at any price period.
Mark

 

partsguy

Riding a '38 Autocycle Deluxe

• Apr 1, 2015

• #7

Mike Wolf is on this site and I wouldn't be surprised if he owns one or did in the past. I wonder if might chime in? He hasn't signed on since Jan though.

 

partsguy

Riding a '38 Autocycle Deluxe

• Apr 1, 2015

• #8

It also appears that shaft-drive bikes have been making a comeback after an absence of over 100 years. This is very cool!

http://www.dynamicbicycles.com/chainless/

 

videoranger

Wore out three sets of tires already!

• Apr 1, 2015

• #9

Are you thinking of a vintage bike or a new shaft drive? Chain drive with a Shimano Nexus 7 or 8 speed Hub is also a good way to go for lots of different styles of bikes. With a shaft drive bike I would think that more of the available torque at the pedals would be used by the gears and the shaft as compared to a light weight (alloy chain ring and narrow chain) chain drive set up.