TartyBikes RD Hybrid Tensioner

Product code: 14301

BMX Race / MTB	$39.04
Trials	$39.04

Sold out

Updated skid design, and new BMX Race / MTB tensioner now available!

Plan on ditching your snail cams, and just using the RD hybrid Tensioner? You'll need some RD Axle Blockers!

Affordable, useful, and durable. The RD range of products!
Designed by Tarty Bikes founder Adam Read, and tested by us.
All the benefits of a fixed and spring tensioner combined!

Please note: We have made a small change to the spring on the trials tensioner. It now uses the same 'hook' fitting as the BMX race tensioner to attach the spring to the nose of the skid. We found that this improves arm movement, reduces deflection of the skid when the tensioner is under load, and make it much easier to fit! All tensioners will now be supplied with this hook style fitting. If you have already bought a tensioner from us, we can send one of the new springs to you free of charge on your next order. Just leave a reminder in the order notes!

New! The BMX Race / MTB RD Hybrid Tensioner

- The BMX Race / MTB version features the same skid as the Trials version, but with some changes in spring and arm design to better suit these disciplines!
- The BMX Race / MTB tensioner uses a completely new design of arm. Straight, with no bends, the BMX Race arm is designed for narrower chain lines and tighter chain stay clearances.
- The exaggerated 'hook' design of the BMX Race tensioner arm allows the tensioner to sit lower relative to the rear wheel axle, and more inline with the chain stay for reduced tension / drag, and tuck the tensioner neatly underneath the chain stay for better clearance, which is often an issue with current race BMX tensioners.
- A bespoke spring hand made from 2mm stainless steel spoke, with less tension helps to reduce chain friction, and a simple hook design to attach at the nose of the skid makes replacement easy.
- Suitable for use on single speed Mountain Bikes, and any other bike needing a tensioner for single speed use.
-Please note: For trials bikes, we recommend the Trials version of the tensioner, which features a 'thicker' stronger arm, carefully formed to suit trials bike chain lines, and uses a stronger spring for maximum tension.

- Designed by Tarty Bikes founder, Adam Read, with testing and development input from Ben and Charlie.
- The RD Hybrid Tensioner combines the best features of fixed and sprung tensioners! A fixed mounting arm eliminates movement, and the sprung skid maintains a constant chain tension, even if your chain has loose and tight spots - a limitation of sprocket / chainring / freewheel manufacture, and a common gripe with many riders.
- Works with horizontal and vertical dropouts for a wide range of frame compatibility. Please note: The RD Hybrid Tensioner is only compatible with standard 10mm axle hubs or 10mm bolt in hubs, not through axle hubs. If you would like to fit one to a different axle diameter, please get in touch as we have the capability to custom make or expand the options available here.
- Super easy to fit! Our unique 'hook' design mounting arm means you don't even have to remove the wheel to fit the tensioner. A skid plate rather than a pulley wheel makes removing the chain easy if needed, and won't clog up with chain gunk over time. Surprisingly, the skid seems to make a very similar amount of noise to pulley wheels, too.
- Each mounting arm is made from 2mm thick SAE 304 stainless steel, and laser cut right here in Bamber Bridge! The mounting arms feature an etched Tarty Bikes logo, and are bent to shape by us in house. The offset from the inside of the tensioner arm to the centre of the skid channel is approximately 10mm, meaning the distance from the inside face of the dropout on your frame to the centre of your chain should be ~12mm. If you require a mounting arm which offers more or less offset, please let us know the horizontal distance from the inside of the dropout face on your frame to the centre of your chain in the notes when you order, and we can supply a custom offset mounting arm for you instead.
- The RD Hybrid Tensioner skid is made from a car engine timing chain tensioner slider, which we then modify in house to better ensure chain retention. This item is designed to have an engine timing chain to running over it for hundreds of thousands of miles at high speed, which gives it excellent wear resistance! Our prototypes showed no discernible wear at all during testing.
- Channel thickness in the skid is 12mm, meaning the average 3/32" chain will have just over 4mm of 'free' space, allowing the tensioner to cope with varying setups and chain lines.
- The spring is a carefully coiled plain gauge, stainless steel spoke shaped to fit exactly using a custom-made jig created by Adam. Stainless steel spokes are ideal for use as the spring due to their excellent elasticity, and tensile strength. Multiple coils ensures tension is provided through a wide range of angles, without permanently deforming like similar tensioners which use a flat piece of steel.
- Fully rebuildable with basic tools, with all parts of the tensioner held in stock if spares are needed.
- Please note: Modification of the skid, and assembly, is all done in house by us. There may be small marks to the tensioner arm and skid from assembly. Modifications are done by hand using milling tools and, due to the nature of the skid production, no two skids are exactly the same finish.
- Weight: 47.5g (Trials version) / 45.8g (BMX Race version)

Tidy tensioner

Posted by Gary

Nice tensioner, low profile, light, and easy to fit. This paired with the axle blockers has cured the issues with the axle slipping forward and the chain being out of tension all the damn time. I had to bent the bracket slightly to get it to clear the frame and line up with the chain, but the stainless is thin enough to bend in a vice, and it now sits perfect. Thanks guys!!

Reply from TartyBikes

Hi Gary

Thanks for the great review! Although the tensioner arms come with a 'pre-set' bend, they are really easy to tune, good to hear you found that to be the case!

Ben