How does a SPEEDHUB differ from a derailleur in everyday riding?

One turn of the twist shifter takes you to any of the 14 gears — even standing still. The gear unit runs sealed in an oil bath, so apart from a yearly oil change you only look after the chain, chainring and sprocket.

The SPEEDHUB 500/14

The Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14 is a hub gear: the entire gear system runs inside the rear hub, in a sealed shell, in an oil bath. One turn of the twist shifter takes you to any of the 14 gears — pedalling, freewheeling or standing still.

A cutaway model of the SPEEDHUB 500/14

In numbers

Feature	Value
Gears	14
Gear range	526%
Gear steps	evenly about 13.6%
Lubrication	sealed oil bath, oil change every year or 5,000 km
Dropout width	135 to 197 mm
Axles	quick release (CC), threaded (TS), 12 mm thru-axle (A12)

Even shifting

What makes shifting feel right is the step between neighbouring gears. The SPEEDHUB’s 14 gears follow each other in even steps of about 13.6% — no overlaps and no duplicate gears, unlike a derailleur. With the 526% overall range, that means smooth pedalling on the flat, in the hills and on a loaded touring bike. How the gearbox produces the 14 gears is shown in Planetary gearing.

Remarkably little maintenance

A quick oil change once a year — that is all the gear unit asks for. Beyond that you only look after the chain, chainring and sprocket; no wearing cassette, no delicate derailleur, no narrow chain that stretches fast. That also makes the SPEEDHUB cheaper in the long run: every kilometre improves its balance against a derailleur. See Maintenance plan.

Indestructible

A round-the-world tourer’s kit laid out on a square

The SPEEDHUB is so tough that even pre-series gearboxes are still in use, and one hub has passed 500,000 km. That is why the world’s touring cyclists swear by it — there is hardly a place on Earth a SPEEDHUB has not been. For getting ready for a long trip, see Preparing for a long tour.

Made in Germany

SPEEDHUB hub shells in production

Rohloff AG is an owner-managed, medium-sized company near Kassel. 99% of the SPEEDHUB’s parts are made in Germany, and every part is fitted only after a thorough quality check.

On an e-bike: Rohloff E-14

With the electronic E-14 shift actuation, the SPEEDHUB shifts at the press of a button and works together with the e-bike motor: the motor eases off its torque for the moment of the shift, and the new gear engages in 180 ms. Details: Rohloff E-14.

Read on

Which SPEEDHUB fits your frame: Variants
How the system is built: Modular system
Where it all comes from: The Rohloff story

Frequently asked questions

How does a SPEEDHUB differ from a derailleur in everyday riding?: One turn of the twist shifter takes you to any of the 14 gears — even standing still. The gear unit runs sealed in an oil bath, so apart from a yearly oil change you only look after the chain, chainring and sprocket.