I'm looking to make my Porter into a singlespeed, and am after a kit to SS my XT hub. I've seen a bunch for sale at various places, but does anyone have any experience with one vs. another? Is there a really good one, or one that I should stay away from?
Best SS conversion kit
- Thread starter Radarr
- Start date
We use the Atom lab one all the time and have no problems. Rohloff makes the best tensioner.
You don't need a kit to single speed a bike. The easiest thing to do is pick a cog, ss specific or from a cassette, and use PVC or cassette spacers to space out the cog. For a tensioner, Rennen makes a good one. It is bolt on and does not use a spring. Or you might get a lucky and find a gear ratio that does not need a tensioner.
I've been using the Spot kit...pretty clean look.
It's hard to say if there is a "best" kit since they all are pretty much the same thing: spacers, cog, maybe a tensioner. I would suggest getting one with multiple spacers instead of something like the Gusset 1'er which doesn't give you much in the way of chainline adjustment.
It's hard to say if there is a "best" kit since they all are pretty much the same thing: spacers, cog, maybe a tensioner. I would suggest getting one with multiple spacers instead of something like the Gusset 1'er which doesn't give you much in the way of chainline adjustment.
For what it's worth I used the Gusset kit with no problem,as a bonus 34X18 achieves proper tension too!
yo radaar, you've seen how i'm running the ss on my xt hub. took a cog and threw a ton of spacers on with it. When i had it on my roast i used a tensioner cause i ran vertical dropouts and couldnt move my wheel back to tighten the chain. Now that i havehorizontal dropouts i dont have a tensioner anymore.
thats how it is now, but i am trying to get a hub with a freewheel instead of this cassette cog. The one i'm running is off an 8 speed cogset and when i'm cranking hard the chain chunks on me and i eat ****. I figure a freewheel is alot simpler and wont chunk the chain on me. When you go ss, definitly dont throw a cog from a multi speed.
thats how it is now, but i am trying to get a hub with a freewheel instead of this cassette cog. The one i'm running is off an 8 speed cogset and when i'm cranking hard the chain chunks on me and i eat ****. I figure a freewheel is alot simpler and wont chunk the chain on me. When you go ss, definitly dont throw a cog from a multi speed.
I still prefer the ENO method, build up a wheel using a white industries eno hub, all problems solved, and if you find you don't like singlespeeding you can easily sell the rear wheel on ebay or anyboard that has a large SS contingent, MTBR, DirtRag etc.....
And if you do like SSing that wheel can make any bike a SS!
And if you do like SSing that wheel can make any bike a SS!
I've used a gusset, atomlab, pvc and a bunch of spacers. They all work fine. I'd get a ss specific cog though since it's thicker and you'll be cranking on it pretty hard.
Get a rennen tensioner. They're the only one that's not spring loaded and are built by a guy who does a lot of dh and urban riding so he makes'em tough. All the other ones I've seen are spring loaded which end up being just as annoying as having a derailleur flopping around. Plus they break.
Get a rennen tensioner. They're the only one that's not spring loaded and are built by a guy who does a lot of dh and urban riding so he makes'em tough. All the other ones I've seen are spring loaded which end up being just as annoying as having a derailleur flopping around. Plus they break.
There's a couple that don't use a spring for tension (Soulcraft, for one), but the Rennen does look like a quality component.kidwoo said:
went out today and spent 30 bucks on a real deal ss conversion. My knee was tired of getting thrown into my stem when the chain slipped off, and it looks better.
30 bucks later
30 bucks later
I've got the same Gusset kit on my Steelhead and it works perfectly.
Well, I'm sold. If anyone wants to trade me a SS setup (tensioner and SS cog/kit) for an 8 speed XTR (Mega-9 RD, 8sp shifter, rollamajig, casette) setup, let me know. I just don't want to go through the hassle of selling the parts I have now then buying new stuff.
What rear wheel tensioner are you using on that Steelhead? I am looking to pick on up put the only one I can find with a QR adapter is the Surly. I might have a few other questions as I am building my Steelhead up right nowMcGRP01 said:I've got the same Gusset kit on my Steelhead and it works perfectly.
rennen makes really cool spacers to get your chainline dialed. http://www.rennendesigngroup.com/products.html but if you want to keep the bike as a ss then i think it can be worth it to invest in a ss hub.
I just bought myself a Rennen. Would it be ok if I used just alot of regular spacers, or should I be the SS kit?
That gusset looks really nice... what is it and where can it get it?
Gusset 1'erroughandtangle said:
Use a piece of PVC pipe, it's cheap and works real well.
Had the pipe around and in a couple of minutes made the spacers with a mitre saw.
For tensioning the chain you could try to find a magic ratio and a half link to avoid the tensioner.
Half Link
Had the pipe around and in a couple of minutes made the spacers with a mitre saw.
For tensioning the chain you could try to find a magic ratio and a half link to avoid the tensioner.
Half Link
That's a Surly. You can get cheaper ones, but they don;t have the fancy bottle opener for post-ride beers!2000cx said:What rear wheel tensioner are you using on that Steelhead? I am looking to pick on up put the only one I can find with a QR adapter is the Surly. I might have a few other questions as I am building my Steelhead up right now
Fell free to PM me with any questions you might have!
