Sturmey Archer S3X Fixed Gear 3 Speed Hub

Sunrace Sturmey Archer have published details of a new fixed-gear 3-speed hub, which is currently at the prototype stage. The details are as follows:

• Overall gear range is 160%.
• Direct drive is 3rd gear, with reductions of 25% and 37.5%. This translates as gear steps of 20% and 33%.
• This The hub will feature a "much stronger aluminium hubshell".
• No details are given about shifters, but a "bar-end style shifter" looks a possibility.

The new S3X is a new interpretation of the Sturmey Archer ASC hub, which was a Fixed Gear 3-speed hub produced from 1946 to the late 1950s. The S3X has a wider ratio than the ASC, which had an overall ratio of 133% (-25%, -10%, Direct). Some links for information on the ASC hub:

• Sheldon Brown's ASC Page
• Hilary Stone
• Sheldon Brown's ASC Technical Page
• Jobst Brandt on the ASC

The Sturmey Archer ASC 3-Speed Fixed-Gear Hub, from Sturmey Archer Heritage The full Sunrace Sturmey Archer blog post is below.

Tuesday, September 2, 2008 S3X Fixed Gear 3 Speed So I know there are many of you out there that are very interested in the little bit of info I recently got my paws on. The first batch of prototype Fixed Gear 3 speeds is finished. The new hub will be called the S3X. The hub will be made using a much stronger aluminum hubshell. Overall gear range will be 160%. * 1st Gear -37.5% * 2nd Gear - -25% * 3rd Gear - Direct Drive * Gear step gear 1 to gear 2: 20% * Gear step gear two to gear 3: 33% Shifters are still up in the air but we have had many requests for a bar end style shifter. Also we are still planning on the possibility of doing some anodized colors with laser etching instead of screen printed graphics. Please comment on what you would like to see in the way of shifters or color choices.