S-RF3 3-speed hub
Aluminium-shell 3-speed with no brake: 127mm over locknuts, 36 holes, 177% gear range.
Sheldon Brown calls it a new version similar to the AW. Check your frame's rear spacing before ordering.
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Sturmey-Archer and Brooks
The hub gears and leather saddles you'll find on many of the bikes in this guide: where they came from, which versions you're likely to meet, and what to buy when yours needs replacing.
About the linksLinks marked (Ad) go to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Check fit against your own hub or seat pin before you buy.
Sturmey-Archer
The story in dates
- 1902The first Sturmey-Archer three-speed gear patents were taken out, and a new department was set up at the Raleigh works.
- 1903Raleigh's catalogue presented the three-speed hub as the year's biggest new feature.
- 1908The Three-Speed Gear Syndicate became the Sturmey Archer Gear Co under Frank Bowden, Raleigh's main owner; Raleigh made the gears.
- 1913Output had reached 100,000 three-speed hubs a year.
- 1934Raleigh Cycle Holdings was floated, with Raleigh Cycle Co and Sturmey-Archer Gears as its two operating companies.
- 1936Sheldon Brown dates the AW wide-ratio three-speed, the most common Sturmey-Archer hub, to 1936.
- 1939Grace's Guide records a four-speed model being developed.
- 1957–1958The SW three-speed was meant to replace the AW in 1957; it was withdrawn and the AW came back in 1958.
- 2000The company was sold, becoming Sun Race Sturmey-Archer Inc., and operations moved to Taiwan.
Hubs you'll find
The code is stamped on the hub shell. Descriptions from Sheldon Brown's Sturmey-Archer cribsheet.
| Code | What it is |
|---|---|
| AW | 3-speed, wide ratio. The most common Sturmey-Archer hub; Sheldon Brown dates it to 1936. In this guide: Claud Butler Lady Lightweight (1939) |
| AM | 3-speed, medium ratio. Rare; made for club bikes. In this guide: Claud Butler All-Rounder / New Allrounder (1939), Claud Butler Lady Lightweight (1949) |
| AC | 3-speed, close ratio. Rare; made for club and time-trial bikes. |
| AR | 3-speed, ultra-close ratio. Very rare 1930s hub for club and racing bikes. |
| ASC | 3-speed fixed gear, close ratio. Extremely rare. |
| FW | 4-speed, wide ratio. The most common four-speed. In this guide: Elswick-Hopper Tour Anglais (None) |
| FM | 4-speed, medium ratio. Rare; made for club bikes. In this guide: Raleigh Lenton Marque III (1958), Raleigh Record Ace (R.R.A.) (1958) |
| FC | 4-speed, close ratio. Rare; made for club bikes. |
| AG | 3-speed with Dynohub. An AW with a built-in Dynohub generator. |
| FG | 4-speed with Dynohub. An FW with a built-in Dynohub generator. |
| SW | 3-speed, super-wide ratio. Meant to replace the AW in 1957, then withdrawn. None of its internal parts swap with other hubs. |
| TCW | 3-speed with coaster brake. Sheldon Brown warns the brake can fail if the cable is wrongly adjusted. |
| S5, S5/1, S5-2 | 5-speed. The S5 was a modified FW. Sheldon Brown calls the S5/1 unreliable and prone to slipping out of low gear; the S5-2 was the improved version. In this guide: Raleigh Sprite (1968) |
| Dynohub | Hub generator. Built into the AG and FG. In this guide: Raleigh Superbe Dawn Tourist (1958), Raleigh Dawn Tourist (1958), Raleigh Superbe Sports Tourist (1958), Raleigh Boulevard Tourist (1958), Raleigh Police Model (1958), Raleigh Superbe (1967) |
| Hub brakes | Drum brakes in the hub. Raleigh's 1938 'X' models came with Sturmey-Archer hub brakes. In this guide: Raleigh Light Roadster (1938), Raleigh Dawn Safety (1938), Raleigh Dawn Safety Tourist (1938), Raleigh Golden Arrow (1938), Raleigh Sports 'C' Tourist (1938), Raleigh Tourist (1938), Raleigh Popular (1938), Raleigh Sturmey-Archer 3-Speed (1938), Raleigh All-Weather (1938) |
Replacements and spares
SLS30-T 3-speed thumbshifter
Indexed 3-speed thumbshifter for 22.2mm bars. SJS lists it for the X-RD3 hub and says it won't suit the S3X.
SJS's answers to buyers say it works with the AW. Check with the seller for your hub.
Find on Amazon (Ad)3-spline sprockets (1/8in)
Steel 3-spline sprockets for Sturmey-Archer 3- and 5-speed hubs, sold flat or dished.
SJS lists 13T to 22T for the S-RF3.
Find on Amazon (Ad)Cables, cones, axles and small parts
General search for Sturmey-Archer spares.
Sheldon Brown's AW service notes list the part numbers; take yours with you when ordering.
Find on Amazon (Ad)Thin oil for the hub
Sheldon Brown's AW notes call for a good thin oil, about two teaspoons in the planet cage, with grease kept to the dust caps.
Find on Amazon (Ad)Brooks
The story in dates
- 1866John Boultbee Brooks set up a leather goods business in Birmingham.
- 1882Brooks filed its first patent for a bicycle saddle, according to road.cc.
- 1890sBrooks says the B17 was first introduced in the 1890s. It is still made.
- 1958Family ownership ended, according to road.cc.
- 1962Raleigh bought Brooks, according to road.cc.
- 1999–2002road.cc says Brooks was sold and went into liquidation in 1999, and Selle Royal bought it in 2002. Brooks says it is part of the Selle Royal Group.
Brooks saddles named in this guide
- Brooks B17Holdsworth Typhoon (1952)
- Brooks B66Raleigh Superbe (1967)
- Brooks B15Claud Butler Jubilee (1953)
Replacements and care
B17 Standard
Leather saddle that Brooks says was first introduced in the 1890s.
Find on Amazon (Ad)B66 sprung saddle
Coil-sprung leather saddle with double rails for traditional seat pin clamps; 260mm long and 205mm wide.
The retailer pitches it at upright, everyday riding.
Find on Amazon (Ad)Proofide leather dressing (30ml)
Brooks' own dressing for leather saddles. The listing suggests every 3 to 6 months, used sparingly and never on a wet saddle.
Keeps an old saddle supple.
Find on Amazon (Ad)Sources
- Sheldon Brown: 'The Sturmey-Archer Story' (company history, reproduced)
- Grace's Guide to British Industrial History: Sturmey-Archer Gears
- Sheldon Brown: 'Sturmey-Archer Bicycle Hubs Cribsheet'
- Sheldon Brown: Sturmey-Archer AW wide-ratio 3-speed – service notes
- SJS Cycles (retailer): Sturmey Archer SLS30-T 3 Speed Thumbshifter – HSJ962
- SJS Cycles (retailer): Sturmey Archer S-RF3 3Spd Aluminium Hub – 127mm OLN – 36 Hole
- Tree Fort Bikes (retailer): Sturmey Archer 3 Speed Sprocket 1/8 Dished
- Brooks England: About us
- road.cc: 'The story of Brooks England bike saddles'
- bike-components (retailer): Brooks B66 Saddle
- Urban Bike Wear (retailer): Brooks Proofide leather dressing 30 ml