Whether you find shifting gears wearing you out on your way to work or mentally taxing and draining the joy of simple bike riding from you, there is no time like the present to convert your multi-geared bike into a single speed one and make your life easier.
Using a single-speed conversion kit is the cheapest and the most convenient way of making this conversion. This way, you will not have to purchase another bike, and you can keep all the gear.
But how do you find the best single speed conversion kit? To make your life hassle-free, we have rounded up the top 4 picks for you.
Without further ado, let’s jump right into it.
What Are the Best Single Speed Conversion Kits:
Here is the list of the top 4 single-speed conversion kits you should know of.
- Cervus Bike Single Speed Fixie Cassette Conversion Kit – Best Overall
Is easy to install, compatible with different hubs, gives you great value for the money you are paying, offers all the tools necessary for swift conversion, and comes in a variety of colors. - Wheels Manufacturing One Speed Conversion Spacers Set
Sleek aluminum set of spacers that would make it easy for you to handle, looks great irrespective of colors and provides you amazing chain security with signature chain sandwiching guide plates that truly deliver. - GearClamp Single Speed Conversion Kit for Shimano/SRAM Freehub
Easy to set up and simple to use, the clamps will help you effectively convert your bike into a single gear one, allowing for easy chain line adjustment. - Wheels Manufacturing One Speed Conversion Spacers Set with 16Tcog
One of the best conversion kits under $50, has almost everything you would need to make the conversion along with a decent number of spacers and cogs.
Why Convert My Bike To Single Speed?
A single-speed bike is always in one gear which makes life simpler if you are a beginner and you are constantly confusing one gear with another. Using a conversion kit will let you keep all the gears of your bike while you peddle away on your route without constantly worrying about gears.
Also, single-speed is a great option if you use your bike to commute, as it works the most efficiently on the pavement.
The gear train that runs the chain in a perfectly straight line from sprocket to chain wheel makes it easier to paddle, and that is definitely one less problem to deal with while you are headed out on your bike.
If biking is an essential part of your workout routine, or even if you just ride a bike to experience the sheer joy it offers, single speed is the way to go.
Lastly, riding a single-speed is faster than riding a multi-speed bike when you are using the same gain ratio. So if you were wondering that a single speed will slow you down, it would definitely increase your speed when you stamp down on your pedals just like it does on any other bike!
Best Single Speed Conversion Kit Reviews
Below are some of the versatile conversion products that offer many benefits and, depending on your criteria, will be the kit that helps you in making the conversion.
For your convenience, here is a detailed description of the kits you should take a glance at.
1. Cervus Bike Single Speed Conversion Kit
One of the best things about this is that the product is compatible with both Shimano and Sram Hubs, while the majority of the products only work with Shimano Hubs.
The item is also relatively cheaper compared to other products in the market, which makes it a great product for the price. It is compatible with both 1/2 “ x 1/ 8” and 1/ 2” x 3/ 32” single-speed chains, which is a huge advantage.
The Compatible 18T feature indicates 18 teeth which is a plus point as you want the front gear to have twice as many as the gears in the back.
The product comes in more than five colors, so you can easily pick one that suits your bike and blends right in. The color is quite resistant, so you will not have to worry about it wearing off soon either.
Pros
- Is very easy to fit and use on your bike
- Lightweight
- Compatible with both Shimano and Sram hubs
- Has variation in color, and color remains intact for a long period of time
Cons
- The sprocket is quite narrow and could dig into freehub splines
2. Wheels Manufacturing One Speed Conversion Set
The value for money is one of the best aspects of this product. This item will convert your bike by converting the Shimano freehub bodies cassette hub to a single-speed bike.
However, you will need to purchase your cogs if 16T cogs do not work on your bike perfectly. The product is exactly what it says on the package, a great set of conversion spacers.
Another great thing about this product is that you do not have to worry about any sort of rough handling, thanks to the aluminum spacers that make for a lightweight and durable product that makes it perfect for bikes.
The aluminum spacers also come with a chain-sandwiching guide plate for added chain security, a rare feature in conversion kits. The package also comes with two chain guides. Two 1mm shims and lockring.
Pros
- Great for converting multi-speeds
- Solid manufacturing
- Great value compared to the cost
- Comes with a chain-sandwiching guide plate for security measures
Cons
- There are only 9 spacers
3. GearClamp Single Speed Conversion Kit
Renowned for being very light and easy to clamp down onto your bike, converting single-speed or mountain bikes is a breeze with this product.
The cogs do wiggle around, though, so tightening the bolts on either side of the clamp is a very good idea.
Weighting 18 grams per pair, these clamps on your freehub let you enjoy a simple conversion. The product is built in a way that is very easy to use, and the sturdy yet light manufacturing helps you in keeping the bike lightweight as the item is very basic in design.
Moreover, the Allen bolts sitting on the side of each clamp allow fast adjustments when it comes to trailside, gear swaps, and chain lines.
Though you should be careful to only use these clamps with 16T and larger cogs, otherwise, the cogs might end up damaging your bike. The 5mm wide cog base will provide you with the stability you need for your bike conversion.
Pros
- Lightweight clamps
- Easy to line up the cog with the front chainring
- Can be used with any kind of Shimano freehub
- Great for converting fixed gear bikes
Cons
- The cogs might slide around after using them for a while
4. Wheels Manufacturing One Speed Spacers Set
A great package with a decent amount of spacers and cogs. It is quite easy to install, and the spacers make it easy to set up a perfect chain line. However, the cog might be on the thinner side and damage a freewheel when it is under high torques. So it might be best to use a separate cog for your bike.
One of the best things about this product is that the package provides a decent number of necessary spacers, chain guides, chimes, and lock rings.
And it helps a lot in getting the right adjustment thanks to the sufficient number of spacers. The amazing threads on the lock ring are a huge factor in why we think it is the best kit under a budget.
The kit only comes in the color black, though, so it might stand out a bit if your bike is a paler color in comparison.
Pros
- Good threads on the lock ring
- Provides a number of spacers to get the right placement
- Easy to install
- A great package under the budget
Cons
- The majority of bikes are more suited for 18T cogs, so having 16T cogs might be an issue
What to Look For Before Buying a Single Speed Conversion Kit
Though we have selected the top 4 single-speed conversion kits for you, it is better to do your own research to find out what suits you best rather than taking our word for it. Here are some factors you should keep in mind while researching:
Cogs
Look for a wide base single-speed cog as the chain wears out the cog over time when you use one with a narrow base.
Find cogs with the number of teethes that will balance out both the front gear and rear gear for the ideal ratio of 2:1 to enjoy the best ratio of single-speed bikes. Look for a sprocket that is quite broad and does not dig into your freehub splines. Check the sizes and number of shims, and lock rings.
Lightweight
Try to find tools that play a role in keeping your bike lightweight and tools that come with a low-maintenance design and are quite durable. Look for a decent number of spacers of good quality as it takes a number of spacers to get the right placement and plays a role in keeping your bike lighter.
Compatibility
Make sure you are using the right freehub and if the brand is compatible with your cassette before buying one. Check if there is any tool to help you with the tensioning mechanism.
All in all, make sure the tools fit your bike without wearing it out faster and weighing it down because this will take the joy out of the worry-free biking experience you were searching for in the first place.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, make sure to follow a detailed guideline on removing the gears before you start making the conversion, and the tools that come in a conversion package will help you ease into it.
No, most conversion kits come with different assortments of spears and cogs, and unless you are using clamps to make the shift, you will be using spears and cogs for any sort of bike or gears you own beforehand.
Also, as you remove most of your gears while shifting into an angle-speed bike, you will be bound to reduce the number of gears anyway.
If you are purchasing a bike with daily commuting and exercising on your criteria list, then a single speed will work out perfectly for you. Buying a single-speed bike means you will not be able to switch to a multi-geared or a hybrid bike.
On the other hand, if you already have a fully functioning bike, you can just save yourself some money and convert your bike with kits to enjoy biking at your own pace.
A freehub allows you to stop pedaling when you are riding on a bike. Another function of it would be holding the rear cassette in place. So knowing the brand of your existing cassettes is important, and the majority of the cassettes available are Shimano or SRAM.
Counting the number of gears or chainrings will also help you identify which freehub you need.
16T and 18T basically indicate the number of teeth on your cog. You will want the front gear to have twice as many as the gears in the back, so it basically depends on you which cog will work better for you.
If you want to ride the bike while using the ideal gear ratio of 2:1, both of the cogs mentioned above can be used for this ratio if you double the number of gears on the front.
Also, to make the cog last longer, it is advised that you use one with larger rings and cogs to spread the wear of the chain on the chainring.
Single-speed bikes are usually fitted using freewheels. While on fixed gears, the rear cog is joined with the rear hub. This will lead to the pedal arms continuing to spin even when you have stopped pedaling on your fixed gear bike.
Once you discover which conversion kit is more suited for your bike, you can convert any functioning bike into a single speed. It works for previously hybrid, multi-geared, fixed speed, or even mountain bikes.
Final Words
If you love riding bikes for daily commutes or the serenity bike riding brings, then converting your bike into a single-speed one might be one of the best transitions you make when it comes to bikes.
I hope, by now, you’ve selected the best single speed conversion kit for yourself. Embark on your biking journey and rejoice in the thrill of bike riding!