Single Speed Cruiser to Multi Speed

GoldenMotor.com

Huckthe1

New Member
Mar 30, 2012
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NY
I have a single speed beach cruiser I purchased out in CA while I was working out there. I am now wondering what is involved in converting the bike to a multi speed. I was just going to add the geared cassete to the rear axle and add a SBP shift kit, but what do I need to change to do this? Change the rear axle?, Crank shaft?, What else? I will be adding caliper brakes to replace coaster brake. Ideas appreciated.
 
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wheelbender6

Well-Known Member
Sep 4, 2008
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You need a new or used back wheel with a multigear freewheel or cassette. You can use one from a 26in mountain bike. If the multigear rear wheel has a skewer, replace it with a nutted axle. The multigeared rear wheel will not have a coaster brake, so add a rear hand brake, like a bmx caliper brake. You need an axle-mounted derraileur and compatible shifter. Modern shifters are indexed. Rear gearset, derailleur and shifter must be compatible for indexed shifting. For friction shifting, the gear/der/shifter are easier to match.
I would just buy an old multispeed bike at a yard sale and transfer the parts to your cruiser.
 

5-7HEAVEN

Well-Known Member
Aug 2, 2008
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You will need to widen the rear dropout to accept the wider wheel.

It might be easier to install an internal gear hub.
 

Huckthe1

New Member
Mar 30, 2012
10
0
0
NY
Have been debating getting a new bike and moving motor to it. I am thinking cost wise this is going to be my best bet. Labor wise they will be about the same. I will check with my local bike shop and look for a used wheel with cassette. I will still have to buy the derailer, brakes, shifter along with this. I think in the long run I could buy a new bike for much less and add SBP shifter for the savings.

Figured I would throw the question out there to see if i could use what I had and just add the cassette but did not know.

Any idea what a good gear set to look for on a bike? Not a lot of hills here but need something besides a single speed to get up the slopes we have. Any other suggestions accepted with open arms.
 

wheelbender6

Well-Known Member
Sep 4, 2008
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I dig the internal gear hubs 5-7 mentioned, like the Nexus 7. However, it is tough to fit a rear sprocket to a nexus with a coaster or roller brake hub. A sprocket can be mounted to a Nexus hub that is dsk brake compatible (Alfine?). Sturmey Archer makes some internal gear disk hubs too. If you have friction drive, the rear sprocket isn't required.
 

5-7HEAVEN

Well-Known Member
Aug 2, 2008
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wheelbender6, I believe he's going for the shift kit, so no need for the big sprocket.