Thinking out loud: S&S couplers

[RNair]

I am not being a pessimist Just that this is like a real bold move as I said earlier. Surely it will work out well.

I am just talking over my head here and maybe I am totally wrong. I would think that a lot of these people who do these are dedicated tourers? In my case the Volpe does double duty and it is not a 100% touring bike. I do take my Volpe out on rides and ride it hard. Maybe I am wrong but I would assume that much of the dedicated tourers don't do that and hence can afford to do that and works well for them? Hence my query.

If I had to do something of this nature I would have surely grabbed someone who has done this, ride their bike and see.

Not setting out alarms, like I said it looks beautiful and it will work I guess. The Volpe is a brilliant bike. I just had it in the shop for a week and the guy told me everyone who entered the shop had a word to say about it and this is in Italy! Off all the bikes I have this one is special and I can see it with me for a long time. Every passing year I find it more and more beautiful

[Minkey Chief]

Yes, most S&S I'd guess are dedicated tourers, but you also see them on cross bikes, steel race bikes and MTBs. Some people who travel a lot to cross/MTB races use them. The frame has to be steel or titanium to install them, so I guess that decides the kind of riders who tend to do this. If you look at the Bilenky gallery, you'll see lots of really nice steel race frames that have had this done. I was reading about road riders who have a CF bike, but travel with the S&S steel bike to keep the training going.

No reason a coupled bike can't work just fine on a regular hard ride. I'd think that the most stress on the frame is when it's loaded and you're standing and cranking up a hill?

[RNair]

I don't have an opinion on this. I don't know much about this. Just questions and curiosity. KInd of interesting.

[photon]

I don't have an opinion on this. I don't know much about this. Just questions and curiosity. KInd of interesting.

No reason a coupled bike can't work just fine on a regular hard ride. I'd think that the most stress on the frame is when it's loaded and you're standing and cranking up a hill?

Depends on Frame geometry and material used. In cantilever beams(example) the most stress occurs closer to/at the support and maximum deflection at the loose end. Mechanics of Materials comes into play.
Impact/cyclic loads(like a flat wheel of train hitting the tracks or a vehicle hitting a bump at speed) are more harder on equipment than gradual loads, especially in cycles which do not experince the monstorus torque/forces like automobiles upon accelerating or pushing a load up a slope. It would be helpful if the guys doing this job can specify to an extent what load the original frame can take and what load the modified frame can take, its difficult but doable with all the jazzy Finite Element Software available these days. Trust me those guys would have most probably done that.

There are videos on the S&S site showing strength tests where the tube fails before the coupling.

Have they applied the same load to the same model cycle without S&S couplers to see where and how they fail? Of course, I salute that the guys doing this are SME's.For a brand like volpe, there is a probability original design strength may be compromised a bit.

I have one question though...I dont have access to to the pix posted by you, what do we do about the chain before folding?

[Minkey Chief]

Hey Photon,

Take a look here (http://www.sandsmachine.com/testdest.htm) and here (http://www.sandsmachine.com/testnond.htm). I don't know enough to critique the test methodology, so would love to hear your views.

What's happening with pics.. I've used imageshack. I now remember some people being unable to access that site.

I usually take off the chain before regular packing as well, so it'll just be the same--Powerlink to the rescue.

[deepakvrao]

How long does it take you to pack/unpack? What is the size of the box? No personal experience but from what I have read, couplers don't mar the ride, but like Rajesh said, you'd be the best judge after you ride it.

[Minkey Chief]

The box is 26x26x10 and I have no idea if I'll be able to fit it all inside. Not looking forward to that part at all and I'm sure it'll take a long long time. Two of us will be travelling with two bikes, but I'm going to say the Volpe box is spare wheels and outdoor equipment.

[bonigv]

Vandit has an orange bike with these couplers. He brought it to pune once and we rode to lavasa. It was Ritchey breakaway I think. Where is he?

[deepakvrao]

^^Not the same couplers I think. Location and mechanics are different if I recall correctly.

MC, that is 62". Well within check in allowances right? You should not have any problem at all. With the airline that is. 700c wheels with tyres is over 27", so fitting the bike in that box will be impossible without removing the tyres. Pretty sure but you could reconfirm by measuring or trying to fit a wheel in that box.

[vkalia]

Not getting ridiculed on BZ for riding a midget sized bike

Go ahead, have your laughs. I'll have the final one

No, not really. We are the freaks, you know.

[vkalia]

I am just talking over my head here and maybe I am totally wrong. I would think that a lot of these people who do these are dedicated tourers? In my case the Volpe does double duty and it is not a 100% touring bike. I do take my Volpe out on rides and ride it hard. Maybe I am wrong but I would assume that much of the dedicated tourers don't do that and hence can afford to do that and works well for them? Hence my query.

The location of the joints is in a position where there is very little shearing torque. I'd be very surprised if it makes any difference in feel. My Breakaway rides just like a "normal" bike as well.

[photon]

Hey Photon,

Take a look here (http://www.sandsmachine.com/testdest.htm) and here (http://www.sandsmachine.com/testnond.htm). I don't know enough to critique the test methodology, so would love to hear your views.

Same here, whatever I told was very basic bookish knowledge.

The location of the joints is in a position where there is very little shearing torque. I'd be very surprised if it makes any difference in feel. My Breakaway rides just like a "normal" bike as well.

There you go, Vkalia has given a very satisfactory reply.

Regards
Aravind S

[deepakvrao]

So, any pics of the bike packed? How did the packing go? Came across this as I was doing a search for the retro shifters thingie. You got them for the Volpe right?

[kk27]

I've been trying to see if I can get the couplers in retail, but I guess they don't do retail.