A TOTAL FLOP in the making? | Classified Powershift HUB | REAMING

Summary

In this episode of Humbini Reams, Beanie delves into a review of the Classified Hub, a unique epicyclic gear system designed for bikes. He discusses its innovative shift technology, claiming benefits like no chain rubbing and reduced complexity compared to traditional front derailleurs. However, Beanie also critiques the system’s custom cassette, its added weight, and its efficiency loss in low gears, with a 4% drop in performance. He highlights potential challenges in real-world use, including wheel changes during races, and speculates about its commercial viability. Ultimately, Beanie remains skeptical of its widespread adoption without integration from major group-set manufacturers.

Takeaways

• 😀 The video is hosted by Beanie Fans, featuring sarcasm, innuendos, and a quest to find the finest hairdressers.
• 😀 The topic of the episode is the Classified Hub, a unique hub system that eliminates front derailleurs and integrates gearing into the rear hub.
• 😀 The Classified Hub features a power shift system with an epicyclic gear train, reducing the need for traditional chainrings.
• 😀 The system includes a control unit, power shift hub, and a through-axle that houses the electronics.
• 😀 The Classified Hub utilizes an epicyclic gear train, with gears that lock to create different gear combinations, offering a 1x or stepped-down 0.7 ratio.
• 😀 The hub has a complex setup with different combinations of gears, using a red outer ring, an orange inner ring, and planetary gears for power transfer.
• 😀 The system is designed for frames that require through axles but may not fit with quick release hubs, and some frames need a counter-torque adapter.
• 😀 A schematic of the hub system shows its integration with handlebars and the receiver, which works via ANT+ and Bluetooth.
• 😀 One major downside of the system is the custom cassette, which is expensive and may lead to shifting issues with non-SRAM or Shimano chains.
• 😀 The Classified Hub is claimed to be more aerodynamic and to reduce chain rubbing, but its added weight, complexity, and cost are significant cons.
• 😀 The video concludes with skepticism about the commercial success of the Classified Hub, mainly due to its efficiency loss and the lack of widespread adoption by group set manufacturers.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video script?

The video script discusses the review of a classified hub, highlighting its features, mechanics, and comparisons to other drivetrain systems, specifically focusing on its unique gear transmission technology.

What is the key feature of the classified hub discussed in the video?

The key feature of the classified hub is its innovative epicyclic gear system, which integrates multiple gears into the rear hub, allowing for a 1x system with shifting functionality, eliminating the need for a front derailleur and chainrings.

How does the classified hub work mechanically?

The classified hub uses an epicyclic gear train, which involves locking one of the gears (either the outer ring or the inner ring) to change the gear ratio. This setup enables smooth shifting through a 1x transmission system, with a 0.7 step-down ratio in certain settings.

What are some of the potential downsides of the classified hub mentioned?

Some potential downsides include the complexity of the system, a custom cassette that may be expensive, potential efficiency loss in low gears, and the difficulty of fitting the system to frames with QR hubs or those lacking the necessary brake mount clearance.

What does the video mention about the efficiency of the classified hub?

The classified hub's efficiency is claimed to be lower than traditional 2x drivetrains. It achieves 93-97% efficiency, with some loss in the lower gears due to the additional components in the hub's transmission system.

How does the classified hub compare to traditional 2x drivetrains in terms of power transfer?

In a 2x drivetrain, the power transfer is 97% efficient, whereas the classified hub can lose up to 4% efficiency in low gear settings, making it slightly less efficient for those specific conditions.

What are the benefits of using the classified hub?

The benefits of using the classified hub include the elimination of front derailleurs, reduced chain rubbing, potentially improved aerodynamics, and a simpler, cleaner drivetrain system with only a rear hub and one chainring.

What challenges are associated with using the classified hub in real-world conditions?

Challenges include the need for specialized components (such as the custom cassette), potential difficulty with wheel changes during races, and the integration of the system with existing bike technologies like electronic shifting.

What does the video say about the potential commercial success of the classified hub?

The video expresses doubt about the commercial success of the classified hub, citing issues like efficiency loss, the cost of custom components, and unproven technology as potential barriers to widespread adoption.

What is the general attitude of the speaker toward the classified hub?

The speaker is cautiously skeptical about the classified hub, acknowledging its technical innovation but questioning its long-term viability due to its complexity, cost, and potential efficiency losses compared to traditional systems.