The check before a conversion

Fitting a Rohloff hub and a belt drive needs a chain and belt line accurate to the millimetre. Before we order the valuable parts, we examine the frame — which is also your guarantee that everything will work perfectly and safely.

What we check

• The dropout spacing — 135, 142 or 148 mm (Boost), for example — and whether the frame uses a quick release, a bolted axle or a thru-axle.
• The brake mount — IS or Direct PostMount — because the hub’s torque can also be taken up through it.
• The torque support mounting points on the chainstay, if the long torque arm stays.
• The chain or belt line, and for a belt drive the frame as well: it needs an opening for the belt and a stiff enough rear triangle.

12 mm thru-axle frames: the A12 check

With the A12 system a Rohloff SPEEDHUB fits 12 mm thru-axle frames with 142, 148, 177 and 197 mm spacing. The frame’s own thru-axle is no longer used: bushings go into the dropout holes, and the hub is held by original Rohloff A12 bolts with Nord-Lock washers.

The only thing that is not standardised is the dropout thickness, so it has to be measured. The fit is right when a gap of 0.5–1.0 mm remains between the bushing and the hub’s axle plate.

• With dropouts that are too thin, the wheel is not clamped, it can move in the frame, and the bolt reaches too deep — it can jam the shift shaft.
• With dropouts that are too thick, the bolt does not reach deep enough and can break.

Within limits, spacer washers or special bushings can make a frame compatible — the measurement decides. We measure with the Rohloff A12 test kit (Art. no. 8600).

Caution

On an A12 hub use only original Rohloff bolts and original Nord-Lock washers; the washers may be tightened no more than four times.

After the check we tell you which hub version and which adapters (OEM, OEM2, PM) suit your frame. See also Converting to a Rohloff hub.