Whats the most speeds that come on a bike?

Question

My friend says 52, and I say 30. Anyone know for sure?

Answer 1

30 right now until Campy releases their Super Record next year with the overkill 11 speed rear.

Answer 2

The question can change.  I don't know about 52 - 4x13 is a weird number.  

The speeds on a standard bike is calculated by shift combinations of the front sprockets (often 2 or 3) and the rear cogs (7,8,9 or 10 in the latest versions.)  So you might see 30, but you can have more.

More?  How?

If I wanted to get creative with a "recumbent" style bicycle I could add another 3 ring gear on the front and get 90, or customize the old 3 gear planetary hub to have 3 internal gears added to the 27 or 30.  

For the record, the Campagnolo and Shimano seem to carry 10 speed cassettes as an option so 30 is easy to get over the counter.  Campagnolo has one that has 11 on the cog and I recall Shimano applied for a patent for a 14 speed cassette a while ago that never hit production so if you are looking for something that is not "over the counter" then you can go higher than 30.  

If you have a "bet" then I would make sure it was qualified by "over the counter" and have your friend prove the 52 speed was a standard.  If custom is available then the sky is the limit and all bets are off.

r-

Answer 3

Read carefully...

Rohloff makes a 9 speed internally geared hub onto which you can install a 10 speed cassette. If you have a 73mm bottom bracket you can also add a triple crank.

So, 9 x 10= 90, 90 x 3=270.

So there is a theoretical possibility, using currently available components, to have 270 gears on a bike.

I built one as a prototype to check out the chainlines of a drivetrain using the Rohloff hub and an external cassette as I was developing a bike model for my customer for whom I design bikes. There were more than a few ratio repetitions, but they all worked.

That being said, the Rohloff hub- all by itself- retails for over $1500.00.

Answer 4

Thirty is the most I have heard of or been able to find reference to.  Maybe your friend is thinking of the number of sprocket teeth - 52 is a common configuration, or gear inches.  

That being said, as crazy as bicycle  tinkerers tend to be, I would not be shocked to hear that someone had rigged a 52  speed bike.  The question is - Why would they?  

I think you win this one.

Answer 5

You are both wrong !  63 is the max, well kind of see the link below.

I would say the 30 is the most on production bikes.

Answer 6

What's your specified bike actually your talking about.

BTW it all depends on that person but usually for mountain bikers and road bikers average velocity 10-15 M/H it just totaly depends on that person

me about 15-18 on a road bike.

for maximum speed look at the world records of fastest cyclist.

Answer 7

52 speed? That'd be one helluva cassette. I think they've toppped out at 24...that's an 8-speed cassette (uh...the back sprocket thingie) and a three ring chainring (uh...the front sprocket thingie). I think some roadies might have a 9-speed cassette...Campagnolo, I believe.