Comments on: Torker Graduate Commuter Bike Review

By: Tony P

Tony P — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 03:33:34 +0000

I have this bike. Ride it everyday. It is a great bike and I would not change anything about it. The brakes work very good, and the fenders come in very nice when you get stuck in the rain. Torker has made a great bicycle if you dont like some of the parts on it then dont buy it. Once again great bike from Torker.

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 01:50:40 +0000

try running bb7′s or even worse Avid juicy in the winter and find out what happens to your calipers in the process. Hint: Salty roads and slush destroys them quickly and effectively. Torker made a good choice because drum brakes are a ‘sealed’ system and mostly immune to these problems. PLus the sturmey archer hubs are pretty awesome

By: L

Sun, 06 Mar 2011 02:15:18 +0000

Have this bike now, and loving it. Made in China like many other bikes. So far added a kickstand as it didn’t come standard. So used to mountain bikes so I was surprised how quick this bike can go.

By: Tom

Tom — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 05:26:25 +0000

My Khs Urban x was 265 on sale . Has been bullet proof and is one hell of a commuter bike .

By: James F

James F — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 01:16:27 +0000

I have almost this very setup, home-built: XRD5 rear but with the dynamo/drum XFDD front (dynamo drives LED lights beautifully). About 1500 miles so far. The price of this bike is excellent. I paid about $400 for my wheelset (self-built).

I think all this talk of soft brakes and not-locking-up is misleading. The drums take a lot of running in – probably 500 miles; they’re alarmingly weak on first try. While my front 28mm T-Servs won’t lock up on dry tarmac, they will lock on anything else. Rear will lock on anywhere, any time. They’re stronger than dual pivot caliper brakes I’ve used, not far short of cantis, though not up to V-brakes or disks. Control is excellent.

I think their gearing is too high. The XRD5 doesn’t have great range, so I forgo the top end. I have 42:22. While that limits pedalling top speed to spinning at 24mph, it gives me a decent granny gear. I rarely use 1st except in winter snow with studs, so perhaps a little higher might be worthwhile.

The problem with the gears is the wide ratios (even worse is the current XRD5-W). I have 20:25:25:20 gaps, and I think the W is 20:33:33:20. 33 is pretty huge if you have a long gentle grade. Not a problem for <5 miles around town, but for my 10 mile commute I have had to fit carefully selected cogs to get the right gear available.

I kind of covet the SRAM i9 hub, but I'm very sad it doesn't have a drum option with it – I'm completely sold on them. Disks will wear out many times over before these drums need new pads. I'm never going back to rim brakes for year-round commuting (salt + sand = ground rims + work). Perhaps I'll go i9 with v-brakes for emergency use only.

As stated, a /major/ downside is rear wheel removal. It's a royal pain.

By: Don Parish

Don Parish — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 20:47:52 +0000

Trek’s Soho ( http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/urban/soho/soho/ ) is a similar bike, but with Shimano Alfine, 8 speed internal hub, Shimano IM50, roller brakes, and a Gates Carbon-belt instead of a chain. The belt means about zero maintenance. MSRP $1150 (I think the belt is about $400 of that)

By: martin

martin — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 18:37:27 +0000

regarding sa drum brakes. I have over 7000km on my 75 lb velomobile and the drums stop me from 30 kph to o in less than 20 ft. only maintenance in this time is one cable adjustment. these are great hubs.

By: BMac

BMac — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 16:59:36 +0000

The drum brakes are virtually maintenance free.

Disks are a continual maintenance hassle if you do any real mileage. The drum brake linings will outlast several sets of disk linings at a fraction of the cost. The disk rotor is also delicate and subject to warping in use, or bending if it gets a knock.

By: Aytan

Aytan — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 01:20:27 +0000

Raiyn
In response to your pricing out of disc options. I found one hub option in the same price range. But it’s a 3 speed, the sram iMotion disc hub. Sturmey seems to have the only 5 speed available with a hub brake. The 7-9 speed options with disc are a lot more expensive, as is the nuvinci hub, with disc.

Here are some factors to consider.
1. Adding disc brake mounts to the frame. (this would be nice even if the bike isn’t stocked with the brakes)
2. Calipers/rotors
3. All Torkers with internal gearing have Sturmey Archer.

Costs to Customer:
1. Service on caliper.
2. Replacement of bent rotor.

The cheapest BB5 online is $35.
I think disc mounts would have been nice so the option is available down the line. But how many budget bikes do we see coming out with disc mounts.

By: PhilM

PhilM — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 17:50:06 +0000

PeeWee, I commute in LA: Pasadena area. You don’t need drums, you don’t need fenders (except for days like today!) and unless you live up in the hills or downtown, you don’t need gears. A single speed with the crank and cog perfectly aligned will do you just fine. I’d look at the Electra Tacino’s. There’s actually a LOT of options when you start taking OFF the heavy weather components.