Staton: What size friction roller?

[pumpbuilder]

Lou,

I don't understand how pressing a roller into a tire will place stress on a spoke? I have never bent nor broke a spoke and have many years, unknow mileage but pretty high, so I feel I have good RL experience. This system "floats" on the tire as it flex's from eyelets.

Happy Time, I suggested that you had snapped to a decesion as you are describing faults that don't occur with the kit style I use because of its design style. Not so much as defensive as frustrated in that folks here always have an opinion and tell me what is wrong with this kit style.... and it doesn't have those issues. Its not like a Staton at all except in curosary looks, operationaly its night and day different.

Now that I have been here for a couple months I think I understand how the Staton works and I will post some new pics of my bike showing why its different and "kinder" to the bike parts. A differnet thread really explained the parts on the other,[Staton] kits and I realise now that they seem to operate more like the old "Island Hoppers" did. If that is correct I now understand some of your issues with them.

 

[SirJakesus]

Lou,

I don't understand how pressing a roller into a tire will place stress on a spoke? I have never bent nor broke a spoke and have many years, unknow mileage but pretty high, so I feel I have good RL experience. This system "floats" on the tire as it flex's from eyelets.

Happy Time, I suggested that you had snapped to a decesion as you are describing faults that don't occur with the kit style I use because of its design style. Not so much as defensive as frustrated in that folks here always have an opinion and tell me what is wrong with this kit style.... and it doesn't have those issues. Its not like a Staton at all except in curosary looks, operationaly its night and day different.

Now that I have been here for a couple months I think I understand how the Staton works and I will post some new pics of my bike showing why its different and "kinder" to the bike parts. A differnet thread really explained the parts on the other,[Staton] kits and I realise now that they seem to operate more like the old "Island Hoppers" did. If that is correct I now understand some of your issues with them.

I would very much like to see detailed pictures of the DE system and why it's superior to statons. But as far as I can see and with my experience in motored biking in general I don't see how there are many ways the staton setup can fail.

 

[sparky]

Yea, I'm interested in the Dimension Edge system too...

Is the Encore system different from the other friction drive systems??

Apparently the Encore can lift the engine off the tire just by pulling something on the handlebar. That's a pretty nice design if I'm reading it properly.

But what I don't get is the shifting part. Says there's 4 gears, but that seems kinda hard to believe.

 

[pumpbuilder]

Sparky,

The 4 gears for the Encore are not a "shift on the fly" gearing. You would have to switch the drive roller, not difficult since they do not need the extra bearing set others use. Takes me about 1 minite with a 1/2" wrench and something to lock the driveshaft like a allen wrench. Most folks never change the gearing if they use it in one area. Big hills use the 1.25" and top speed is about 28 plus it will pull you up those hills w/o pedaling at all. More speed, change to the 1.5" and top speed goes into the 30's, this is what I use so I can lazy cruise at about 33-35 and if I pedal assist can get into the 40's. Around here I can pull any hill I have attempted w/o pedaling but I do think there may be a couple by the big park where I may need to pedal if I go in the other direction.

The engagement lever is great because if you are ever in a no motor area or just don't want to use it when you raise the drive system off the tire there is zero drag added to the bike so the only extra effort is the weight of the system, mine weighs about 11 or 12 lbs is all.

 

[sparky]

Just seems like the way they present that information is a bit misleading.

Shift on the fly, should not be referring to [dis]engagement of the roller. Dimension Edge knows this, and they say that "four interchangeable gears" are included. I have no desire to pull out a wrench of any kind to shift gears. If I have four interchangeable gears, I want them to "shift on the fly"... and the wording purposely appeals to my desires. Misleading!

Anyway... two questions for you scrubber heads:

1) pumpbuilder... How is the Dimension Edge kit any different from the Staton kit?

2) It appears that the Dimension Edge's engagement lever uses a cable to do it's job, whereas you'd have to reach around back with a Staton kit to [dis]engage the roller with a rod?? Is that correct?

 

[pumpbuilder]

Sparky,

I just read their ad for the first time in years. "Shift on the fly" in their ad refers to engage the motor for self start operation, disengage at stop lights or whenever you want pure pedal power. No where do I see it used to refer to the 4 "INTERCHANGABLE" gear ratio's. So I have to think its not misleading and when you call to place an order I am sure they would of set you straight, Rob and Kristen are good people.

Now on to your question about about how is it different. It is easier to explain how it is simular. They both start with a frams shaped into what is consdered a C shape or open box. DE makes them in Steel with a lifetime warrantee and Aluminum with a date warrantee, not sure how long I have had both. They both mount on the rear of a bike. Every thing else is different.

The DE kit does have the Cable system but its not just a cable, its connected to a tension spring setup that ensures perfect preasure to the tire with out overloading the bearings in the motor, axle, or bending and breaking spokes. The legs are designed to flex with the spring system as it engages and disengages. This also means on a full uber suspension MTB you get the same preformance now matter how the frame flex's so its great for off road banging around.

In comparison IF my understanding of the Staton is correct there design is stiff and if you are not carefull you can adjust the tension so high as to have bearing, spoke, and wheel failures. I have never seen a Staton in Real Life but I have seen a bunch of companies usuing a design simular to that over the years come and go and thats how they worked. If someone near New Braunfels has one we could could go for a cruise together and do a comparison.

Some folks here have worried that the addition of the cable to raise and lower the engine makes it too complicated or that you can "Impale" yourself on the handle. I have made emergency stops before with the motor engaged, its designed to safely make emergency stops and I don't know how someone could impale themselves on that handle without traveling near the speed of sound. Its not shaped that way. If your really worried about using the handle however just order the model with the centrifical clutch and you never have to use the handle unless you really want to go with just pedal power and want to not have drag.

 

[dchrist]

Pumpbuilder...your description of DE's system and how it operates was very helpful. I really had no idea how the disengagement system worked and after reading your post I am much more confident in purchasing the system. DE should take note and use your explaination on their site. Not all FDs are apparently the same.
Thanks again.
Denny

 

[sparky]

The real question is... is the "[dis]engaging on the fly" feature really worth $200 more than the Staton kit?? I'd love the Dimension Edge kit if money weren't an objective, but I don't know if that feature is really worth $200.

 

[5-7HEAVEN]

Disengaging on the fly

I am modifying my Staton friction drive to "disengage on the fly". I already had the locking lever and cable, so the project should cost me a few bucks for the lever and doorsprings or bungee cords, maybe $10. If I had to buy the lever and cable, that's be $18 more...maybe.

 

[vegaspaddy]

sorry to steal your thread happy valley but i need some help in ordering the proper size roller for a slighty used staton drive i just bought of another member. The kit came with the 1.25 roller installed but it will be a couple of days before i put it on my bike.
(I weigh 180 lbs riding mostly flat with some minor rolling hills.)first impressions are excellent quality, is the roller hard to swap out looks pretty cosy in their.

My gebe setup runs great but the thing ways a ton with all the extras so i am really looking forward to throwing the staton on my "normal bike" and seeing how it runs.