Sturmey-Archer X-FD Drum Front Hub

I like these hubs

I've been using a standard x-fd on my fake klunker for sometime now; the same hub pulled the same duty on the same bike when it was more of a city/cruiser build. Further, my wife has the x-fdd dynamo version on her town bike. Both hubs have been trouble-free for over a year now. Braking power is VERY weak until the shoes wear in, but it stops nicely and reliably once it's broken in properly. Stops well in wet or dry conditions; some squealing noises initially, but these subsided long ago.

A key to properly setting up these brakes is to use a short-pull brake lever. (Eg, 99% of road levers, bmx levers, older mtb levers designed for canti-brakes, pretty much anything vintage from the 80s or earlier.) Folks who have used these with long-pull levers (eg, newer mtb levers designed for v-brakes and/or discs) run into problems with noise and reliability. I'm not sure if the other reviewer, who broke 2 different brake arms, was using long-pull levers or not, but the extra mechanical advantage of those levers could conceivably lead to that sort of failure over time.

Pros: Provides weatherproof (if not entirely waterproof) braking in the rain;
Run a hub brake on a fork without disc tabs; Looks hott on cruisers/town bikes.
Dynamo option (but the brake-only base model weighs less and looks nicer

Cons: Arguably pricey, although you need to add the cost of a brake caliper when comparing price;
Heavy;
Need to be careful about what lever you're using

Would Buy Again: Yes
Would Recommend: Yes

Reviewed on: September 01, 2012
Reviewed by: Twitchy

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