The Fichtel & Sachs Torpedo Duomatic internal gear hub Story
Torpedo Duomatic (2 gear)
Manufacturer / Location:
Fichtel & Sachs / Schweinfurt, Germany
Background:
The Duomatic hub production started in 1964. This was the time of the german “Wirtschaftswunder”. This was the time with a strong economic growth after world war two. The germans bought the VW Käfer (Volkswagen Beetle) and loved the new freedom. But how to transport a bicycle in the Beetle? This was the point where the Klapprad was invented.
A 20″ bicycle with a foldable mechanism in the middle of the frame. Like today the bowden cable for gear shifting and braking was a constructive challenge. The fabulous solution was the Torpedo Duomatic two gear hub.
A coaster brake without any bowden cable and a fantastic two gear shifting mechanism. The link between the hub and the rider was not as common today a bowden cable. The new link was the chain! By pedaling a little bit backwards the shifting mechanism switches from one gear to the other. While using the coaster brake the hub shifts also from one gear into the other. This makes sense! When you ride in the fast second gear you´ll start accelerating again in the slow first one because of the coaster braking. Perfect!
This invention made it easy to fold the bike without any problems of bowden cables! Why? Because there were none!
The 20″ Klapprad wheels are the reason that nearly all Duomatic hubs came with 28 spoke holes. There were a few hubs sold mainly in the Netherlands and Scandinavia with 36 spoke holes. Because this bicycle country with cold winters recognized the big advantage to use this hub for a maintenance free commuting bike. With this hub there were no disrupted and frozen bowden cables anymore.
After a few miles you are familiar with the shifting behaviour after a brake. Because while braking the hub switches to the next gear. What will happen is quite similar to fixed gear cycling. Your attention goes up and you´ll think forward. The options: Do I use the front brake and stay in the second gear or do I brake with the coaster brake and start accelerating with the first one.
It´s fun!
Options:
– 28 spoke hole version
– 36 spoke hole version (very rare!)
– older versions come with a 10,5mm axel diameter and two flat sides of the axel (Duomatic 102)
– version with common 9,5 mm axel diameter (Duomatic R 2110)
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1
Pingback on Oct 2nd, 2007 at 2:11 pm
[…] Check also this very interesting comment on the The Fichtel & Sachs Torpedo Duomatic internal gear hub Story […]
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Pingback on Oct 9th, 2009 at 12:41 am
[…] stand, on an protoype of the Pashley-built TSR2. The SC2 is Sturmey’s remake of the Fichtel & Sachs Torpedo Duomatic, a two-speed hub with kick-back gear change and coaster brake. These hubs have something of a cult […]
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Pingback on Mar 5th, 2010 at 9:51 pm
[…] 57cm touring frame converted into a tough snow bike with 700c x 32mm mountain bike tires and a rare Sachs Torpedo 2-speed coaster hub. The hub has an automatic transmission! When pedaling 0-10mph, it sits in a low gear. When […]
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4
Pingback on Aug 10th, 2010 at 5:27 am
[…] So in doing some research into my options I found that Sturmey-Archer re-released last month an old duomatic design called their S2C hub. This will allow two different speeds and a coaster brake, so ideal […]
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5
Pingback on Sep 10th, 2010 at 3:11 am
[…] 2 speed hub is a reincarnation of Sach’s old Torpedo Duomatic from the 1960s. S-A expects to sell about a zillion of these 2 speed hubs to young urban cyclists […]
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6
Pingback on Sep 10th, 2010 at 7:46 am
[…] 2 speed hub is a reincarnation of Sach’s old Torpedo Duomatic from the 1960s. S-A expects to sell about a zillion of these 2 speed hubs to young urban cyclists […]
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7
Pingback on Aug 21st, 2018 at 11:05 am
[…] still remember how awestruck I was over its most important state-of-the-art high-tech feature: the Sachs Torpedo Duomatic kick-back 2-speed transmission hub with integrated coaster brakes. Even the name is […]
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8
Pingback on Aug 21st, 2018 at 12:35 pm
[…] still remember how awestruck I was over its most important state-of-the-art high-tech feature: the Sachs Torpedo Duomatic kick-back 2-speed transmission hub with integrated coaster brakes. Even the name is […]
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9
Pingback on Aug 23rd, 2018 at 6:16 pm
[…] still remember how awestruck I was over its most important state-of-the-art high-tech feature: the Sachs Torpedo Duomatic kick-back 2-speed transmission hub with integrated coaster brakes. Even the name is […]
Leave a comment
Recent Comments
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Hubstripping.com 
September 17, 2007 at 2:50 pm
Hi,
I love your site. Sachs two speed hubs are my favorite hubs. I have about 5 of them. I have a few kickbacks and few automatics. I also bought various parts to repair them from a closed bicycle shop in Canada. I have a small bicycle company in New York City. I have actually asked SRAM (the company that now has the Duomatic tooling) to make these hubs again. Perhaps some day they will.
Thanks,
Matt
August 17, 2011 at 1:58 am
I was just at the local recycling center and found an old bike in the metal bin. It had some cool features like an old drum break on the front wheel and unique frame architecture. When I got it home I discovered it also has a torpedo duomatic from 1966. Pumped up the tires and it rides great. The duomatic is perfect.
September 17, 2007 at 4:55 pm
Hello Matt,
according to your comment we´ll have quite a lot in common. But we are not alone supporting the Duomatic. Have a look on this posting!
I´am also very interesting in the answer from SRAM!
Gruß Marco
September 28, 2007 at 10:10 am
Great site Marco!
I ran a duomatic hub on a modified road frame for about 5 years. The bike was affectionately known as the Torpedo. I found the hub in an old Raleigh 20 bike (a New Zealand produced version). Among its may benefits is the ability to commute almost completely no-handed, braking and changing gear with hands shoved firmly in pockets – great for those cold mornings!
I would love SRAM to produce this hub again.
December 25, 2007 at 6:35 am
i need 500 torpedo breaks.
February 12, 2008 at 5:10 am
Just acquired an old Peugeot 2piece bike.Took it apart and finally cleaning the wheels and found it has this Duomatic with 36 spokes.I can`t wait to ride it this spring.
October 27, 2008 at 9:16 pm
I have a fichtel & sachs motor wheel #363854.
Is there any info for parts or any other information you have on this?
Thanks
Joe
February 24, 2009 at 9:57 am
Moulton have anounced a Limited Edition “Moulton50” to celebrate 50 years of Moulton bicycles – seems to be based on the TSR series. It used the Duomatic, in combination with a heel-operated 2-speed “Speed Drive” chainwheel to give a total of 4 gears (39-52-64-86″). Looks nice – here’s the link: http://www.moultonbicycles.co.uk/models/Moulton50.html
May 4, 2009 at 5:07 pm
Hello, if it is possibile, I need Technical Specifications of Sachs Torpedo super7 hub, I ant to repair it by myself.
Thank You very much
cigno@inbox.ru
July 19, 2009 at 4:16 pm
Given that the Duomatic was installed on so many 20″ German klapprads with 28 spoke (28 hole) wheels, what is the availability today of used 28 hole Duomatics in Europe? I’m in the US.
My bike is identical to the pretty green machine pictured above. http://www.flickr.com/photos/39389118@N07/sets/72157621474584178/ Unfortunately, it is a single-speed Sachs ET. If anyone could direct me to a parts/spares vendor who might have a used 28 hole Duomatic, I would appreciate the referral. johnfmccann(at)yahoo(dot)com
July 19, 2009 at 8:36 pm
Hi John,
finally I found a person named Jens Hansen!!! He lives in Germany and has a interesting profession:
Repairing, selling used internal geared hubs and the spareparts.
So if you looking for a old hub e.g. Fichtel & Sachs or some spareparts have a lock on his website
http://www.scheunefun.de
Here is the link to the Duomatic spareparts and hubs….
http://www.scheunenfun.de/f+s_duomatic.htm
Please inform him in detail about the hub version you have. Because there are two Duomatic versions out there!
Another source is:
http://www.ebay.de
Gruß,
Marco
July 19, 2009 at 10:01 pm
Thank You / Danke, Marco! I will be contacting Jens directly. I’ve spent the afternoon disassembling and cleaning the klapprad. I’m excited at the possibility of finding a Duomatic.
Kind regards,
John
January 14, 2010 at 12:55 am
The Duomatic hub production started in 1964. This was the time of the german “Wirtschaftswunder”.
July 19, 2011 at 8:13 am
Vreau sa cumpar un butuc la bicicleta mea care se cheama
,,torpedo schweinfurt automatic s 36 2 gang
July 19, 2011 at 8:14 am
cumpar butuc de bicicleta ,,torpedo schweinfurt automatic,,
2 gang, 36 de spite nou
February 19, 2012 at 3:26 am
Meine Torpedo-3-Gang-Nabe ist nach mehr als 30 Jahren an meinem Heidemann-Barando* hinueber UND ich moechte dringlichst eine NEUE plus Bowdenzug (Lenker -> Schaltung)
* 28er Herrenrad
Wo bekomm ich sowas auf den Philippinen ?
Ich habe in Hamburg eine Girokonto und biete Abrufvollmacht an, FALLS sie mir helfen koennen.
Danke fuer eine Antwort
mfG !
J.Montag
November 22, 2012 at 6:19 am
IST ES HEUTZUTAGE MÖGLICH IRGENWO IN FINLAND EIN NEUES TORPEDO DUOMATIC 2-WECHSEL?/ 2-GEAR KAUFEN?
WO?
MEIN ALTER FAHRRAD MIT 2-WECHSEL TORPEDO DUOMATIC IST IMMER SEHR GUT. VIELEN DANK!
22.11.2012 mikko kiio +358407000841
nikkarimikko@suomi24.fi
veräjäkuja 2 B 12 36200 kangasala
finland
April 8, 2013 at 3:57 pm
I have the 36 spoke hole version how Mutch is it worth on the market my phone number is U.S 714 929 9071 and my email address is mitchellian866@gmail.com
April 19, 2014 at 4:05 pm
i have a 28 spoke hub on a rim that i road as a kid in the 70’s.still works great but how much is it worth today.
November 29, 2014 at 4:46 pm
very good
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September 6, 2018 at 12:35 am
I believe there was also a Torpedo automatic hub, that shifted automatically at the right speeds. Can’t remember where I saw this it was so long ago, some Raleigh 20s mat have been fitted with this.