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GEARBOX ROHLOFF IN CYCLO-HIKING
On the What-bike-in-cyclo-hiking ? page, we reviewed the criteria for choosing the type of bike and the main technologies.
The major technological choice of the transmission applies to both Classic Bikes and EABs.
This is why this special page is dedicated to the ultimate in transmissions: The ROHLOFF gearbox.
The ROHLOFF, (bicycle gearbox), is a pure marvel.
- On a hike it is classic to find yourself facing a steep slope at the bend of a change of direction; or to have to stop in a hurry when you were on a big development. With a classic derailleur transmission, the problem is to start again by lowering the gears (sprockets… and chainring!). The worst being facing a nasty slope. In extreme cases, you have to turn back to bring the gears down. With the ROHLOFF, no more problems: the gear change can be done while stationary, so whatever the surprises of the terrain, you can start again with ease.
- On slopes with fluctuating gradients, one must change speed regularly. With derailleur gears, the problem is when you have to change the chainring as well. Because when changing the chainring, you also have to juggle changing the sprocket to get the right development. Loaded with 25kg of luggage… it's sporty… not to say, often, a pain.
With the ROHLOFF no more problems: all its 14 speeds (as many USEFUL speeds as on a 3x8) can be shifted continuously, smoothly, without jerking with a single lever and with an extremely regular gear spacing between speeds. See the Comparison diagram between derailleur gears and Rohloff gears.
- When it rains, the best protection is the cape that goes up to the handlebars. But this hides the control levers. With derailleur gears, you don't know which chainring you're on… so there's a risk of chain crossing, risk of derailment… this is not good at all.
With the ROHLOFF, you don't care where you are: it's too hard so you downshift, it's too easy so you go up a gear… no questions asked, no risk of damaging anything… From speed 1 to speed 14 it's a continuous click-clack, I increment or decrement according to the feeling, the need!
The ROHLOFF for Classic Bikes is the same as the ROHLOFF for EAB, except that the control is mechanical by cable for the former and electrical for the latter.
ROHLOFF - CLASSIC BIKE - MECHANICAL OPERATION
Mechanical cable control by means of a twist grip on the handlebar.
The rotating handle is graduated from 1 to 14, allowing easy and precise reaching of each of the 14 speeds.
CAUTION: indexing takes place in the external control cassette located on the side of the hub. In case of disassembly of the rear wheel (example: change of tire) the external control cassette is disassembled by its knurled screw. When reassembling it is necessary to check immediately if a de-indexing has not occurred. This may happen, for example, if the rotating handle is acted on unexpectedly when the external control cassette is disconnected from the hub. In this case, the speed indicated on the handle no longer corresponds to the actual speed of the hub. The verification consists of handling the rotating handle in the full range of speeds 1 to 14. If there is a de-indexing, one or more extreme speeds (1 or 14) will no longer be reached. In this case it is necessary to:
- Disassemble the control cassette
- Put the rotating handle to its max at speed 14
- With an 8 mm flat wrench, turn the control box shaft counter-clockwise to the end of the stroke. It will then be like the handle in speed 14.
- Reassemble the control box.
ROHLOFF - EAB - ELECTRIC DRIVE
On the e-bike, and with the SpeedHub E14, the gearshift is electric.
The handlebar control is a double button. This allows for sequential gear change:
- Key + : to switch on the next larger ratio (to 14)
- Key - : to switch on the next smaller ratio (towards 1)
There is a choice between a single speed selection, by a short press, or a multiple selection (called Multishift) by a long press.
Long press + or - to change several gears in 3-speed sequences, until the last 14 or 1 gear is reached. Between each sequence, the system pauses for 0.5 seconds.
In combination with the Bosch assistance, the Rohloff E-14 automatically switches on a start-up speed after stopping the bike for more than 3 seconds. This ratio will be selected from 1 to 9 in the configuration and the function will be automatically activated.
ADVANTAGE: Hyper-fast gear shift with a simple thumb movement.
DISADVANTAGE: In winter, with gloves, pressing the buttons is not easy. The problem is either to press next, or to press 2 buttons at once. On the other hand the natural position of the thumb is under the handle. You must move the thumb to reach the double button.
NEW ELECTRICAL CONTROL 8801-04H - 2025
New feature for 2025, ROHLOFF launched a new electric control system in October 2024:
Trigger-Shifter 8801-04H.
With this novelty the double disadvantage, mentioned above, disappears. Indeed the + and - controls are well separated and moreover the position under the handle allows to reach it naturally by the thumb in one direction and the index finger in the other.
Changing by yourself is super easy, no need to go to a bike workshop.
It is compatible with ALL generations of SpeedHub E14.
NEW OIL QUANTITY
In September 2023, a new ROHLOFF recommendation for the amount of oil used for oil changes was discreetly released.
From the page of Web site ROHLOFF :
" Rohloff are delighted to announce that following long and exhaustive testing in both commuter and touring cycling conditions, we are so confident in the performance of the "SPEEDHUB All Season Oil', that we have now taken steps to reduce the volume of oil used, from 25ml, to just 12.5ml. This amendment will not only have zero negative affects upon SPEEDHUB function and durability, but will also aid the reduction of waste. SPEEDHUB Oil set article numbers will be amended to show this revised oil volume, as a change in the running series and as such, should start to be noticed in shops as of October 2023, regardless of the age of the hub."