This version is particularly suitable for rear suspension frames. In order to compensate for the altering chain length as the rear triangle moves, an external chain tensioner will also be required. Both CC (hollow, quick-release) and TS (M10x1 threaded) axle versions can be used with this style dropout.

This version consists of two basic elements: - the dropout (brazed/weldet to the main bicycle frame) and the dropout insert which is bolted to it. This version is typically used on hardtrail bicycle frames where the chain/belt length does not alter.

The chain tension is altered by moving the dropout insert back and forth, within the actual brazed dropout section. To tension the chain, one simply loosens the securing bolts and pulls the wheel backward until the desired tension is achieved. The bolts are then tightened again to prevent the wheel moving forward under load. The only thing one really needs to check, is that the wheel remains central between the chainstays.

The dropouts may also be machined/drilled and tapped, for mounting a luggage rack and fender.

The OEM2 axle plate can be used in two versions with a support screw:

1. The frame has a disc brake mount, but no disc brake is installed. Use M6 screw.
2. The frame has an M5 luggage carrier thread and the distance to the center of the axle is 39.9 mm. Use OEM2 adapter with M5 screw.

Both versions have in common the position behind the imaginary line through the axle slot. In addition, both need the distance to the center of the axle of 39.9 mm. The exact dimensions are shown on the technical drawing OA47.

OEM2 axle plate; bicycle frame with disc brake mounts of International Standard (IS-1999)*, and a mounted disc brake.

Dropout with disc brake mount (International Standard IS-1999): If a disc brake is mounted, the torque can be anchored to the frame using the CC OEM2 or TS OEM2 axleplate, in conjunction with either the SPEEDBONE or Monkeybone.

*Dimension information: Dropouts built to International Standard IS-1999 feature 16.3mm distance between the inner face of the dropout and the brake disc itself.

Frames with a Postmount (PM) direct caliper mount: The Rohloff PM Axleplate in combination with the PM Bone offers an alternative method of anchoring the hub torque to frames with a 135mm, 142mm, 148mm, 170mm or 177mm spacing. The PM Axleplate/PM Bone combination is recommended when mounting a SPEEDHUB to frames with an integrated Postmount direct caliper mount. The threaded holes of the direct caliper mount will be used to secure the PM Bone.

See also the corresponding chapter in our Speedhub manual.

The installation conditions for 12mm thru axle frames can be found in our compatibility check for equipping a 12mm thru axle frame (142/148/177/197mm) with a Rohloff SPEEDHUB A12 hub: just click here

The Rohloff E-14 is the electronic shifting system for e-bikes combined with the Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14. You can find detailed information about the Rohloff E-14 here in our manual.

The Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14 is controlled via the external gear mech. The external transfer box must be positioned so that an optimal cable routing is achieved. The shifting box can be rotated in 30° increments to achieve this perfect cable routing.

The Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14 is available with either 32, or 36 spoke holes forming a hole diameter of 100mm. 26“-wheels therefore, require shorter spokes which are slightly more difficult to source.

The large spoke hole diameter of the SPEEDHUB flange, means spokes enter rims at far more acute angles than on regular derailleur wheels. It is therefore worthwhile considering the use of rims where nipple holes are specially drilled to compensate for this flatter spoke angle. Such rims are available form:

Suitable, rims are available from:

www.ryde.nl
Rigida RYDE Andra 30/40/210/321

www.rad15.bike/en
Touring, eBike, Cargo Bike ...

Along with the SPEEDHUB, we are also able to provide Sapim Race spokes 2.0/1.8/2.0mm with spoke bend length 2.9mm in all even lengths between 220mm and 282mm. These are available in silver and black.

The table below shows the required spoke lengths for the most commonly used ERD values. As the hub flange is symmetric, all spokes required for lacing the Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14 will be the same length:

The Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14, when laced into a 32 or 36 spoke rim, will create a stronger wheel than a traditional dished derailleur hub wheel.
The SPEEDHUB 500/14 wheel stability corresponds to that of a Tandem wheel with 48 spokes!

• The spoke flanges of the Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14 are symmetrical. The rim is therefore centrally placed between the hub flanges, the spokes radiate from both sides of the hub at an equal angle to the rim and the resulting wheel is not dished. All spokes from a Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14 wheel will therefore be of the same length and should have exactly the same spoke tension (min. 1000-1300N).

• To build a strong, long lasting wheel, quality spokes should be pre-tensioned with a minimum tension of 1000N (measured with an inflated tire) or 1300N (measured without a tire fitted). This value cannot always be reached with an un-dished wheel, because the spokes on the sprocket side of the hub have to be tensioned to around 1475N which can cause problems with the nipple seat at the rim. The spoke tension on an 8-speed cassette hub is usually only 600N on the opposing flange side. See the comparison to an MTB 8-speed wheel overleaf.

• Because of the larger diameter hub flange, the spokes have, despite only being double crossed, approximately the same angle to the rim as the spokes of a triple cross laced wheel with a low-flange hub. Due to the fact that the spokes coming from the Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14 radiate from a larger circle, they are not subjected to the same amounts of stress. It therefore follows that the force passed on to the rim is far less, in comparison to that passed on by the spokes of a traditional low-flange hub (Torque = Force x Lever).

• Spokes with a 2.9mm Neck/J-bend MUST be used when lacing SPEEDHUB wheels!
Double butted spokes from quality manufacturers such as SAPIM and DT-Swiss, were supplied with a 2.9mm neck/J-bend as standard, up until 2015. This standard dimension was thereafter reduced to 2.6mm. A spoke neck/J-bend of less than 2.9mm will apply excessive forces to the SPEEDHUB flange which will lead to flange failure over time.
It is imperative that OEM bicycle manufacturers source quality spokes with a 2.9mm neck/J-bend for lacing SPEEDHUB wheels!

Comparison of maximum occurring spoke tensions measured during our tests.
Values in brackets show spoke tension with quality spokes and an inflated tire.

The hub will be delivered from us with a 16-tooth steel sprocket and standard splined carrier, unless otherwise requested sizes (13, 14), 15, 17, 18, 19 and 21 teeth are also available, as is the option of a no sprocket (Carbon Drive applications with carrier L) or slim splined carrier). We recommend front chainrings with a size of 38, 42, 44 or 46 teeth, depending on how the bike will be used. We offer a special sprocket with 13 or 14 teeth for use with the Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14 on bikes with small rear wheels (for example 20“ recumbent or folding bicycles). By using this sprocket, a greater overall gear ratio can be achieved even with this size wheel. The chainline of all splined sprockets used on 135mm/142mm SPEEEDHUB units, is 58mm when mounted to a standard splined carrier, or 55mm when mounted to a slim splined carrier. All splined sprockets are designed as reversible sprockets.

The Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14 is constructed for use in races, the high loads which arise during races are therefore not sufficient to overload the Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14. The high gear-ratio (for example 42/16) transforms the low revolutions at the crank to higher revolutions at the rear sprocket and thereby reduces the input torque for the hub. For safety reasons and in order to guarantee that the SPEEDHUB gear-unit cannot be overloaded, there are certain primary transmission ratios which may not be undercut. The lowest permitted gear ratios (transmission factor 1.9 for solo cyclists under 100kg) are 32:17, 30:16, 28:15 and 39:13 = transmission factor 3.0 when mounted in a normal bicycle (i.e. not a tandem). The smallest gear of the Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14 corresponds in each case to a 20:40 ratio with derailleur gears. There are no upper limits concerning the choice of the chainring size.

The lowest permitted sprocket ratios for the Gates Carbon drive system can be found at: Manual for the Gates Carbon Drive™ System used with theRohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14

An external chain tensioner is necessary for frames where there is no other possibility to tension the chain (i.e. via an adjustable dropout, a dropout with a long slot, or an EBB). A chain tensioner is also required with dropouts where the axle has less than 25mm room for adjustment (fig. 20). This also refers to bikes with rear suspension (except models with transmission swing arms), as the chain length changes as the rear shock is activated. The tension capacity of our chain tensioner is 10 links. Rohloff chain tensioners are only suitable for 1/2" x 3/32" and 1/2" x 11/128" chains.

Disc Brake versions of the Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14 are fitted with a special hub cap and an External Gear Mech. The flange of the hub cap has 4 tapped holes M8x0.75 onto which the brake rotor can be mounted. Only brake rotors with a special 4-bolt pattern for the Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14 can be used, (65mm diameter bolt diameter, inner circle diameter 52 mm).

The Rohloff AG is able to offer (at time of press) suitable brake discs for:

160/2,0mm (Art. #8282) for e.g. Magura, Tektro...
180/2,0mm (Art. #8283) for e.g. Magura, Tektro...
203/2,0mm (Art. #8284) for e.g. Magura, Tektro...

160/1,8mm (Art. #8281) for e.g. Shimano, Hayes, Formula, Avid...
180/1,8mm (Art. #8287) for e.g. Shimano, Hayes, Formula, Avid...
203/1,8mm (Art. #8286) for e.g. Shimano, Hayes, Formula, Avid...

180/2,3mm (Art. #8278)
203/2,3mm (Art. #8279)
220/2,3mm (Art. #8280)

Magura, Avid, Hope and Formula can deliver manufacturers with disc brake packages direct with the corresponding rear disc.

Contact the brake manufacturer directly for compatibility information regarding brands other than those listed above. Brake rotors with a diameter smaller than 150mm are incompatible as the caliper will collide with the SPEEDHUB shell itself.

The OEM SPEEDHUB will be supplied in non-branded, OEM packaging and comes assembled with the correct axleplate, a standard splined carrier and 16 tooth sprocket (13, 15, 17, 18, 19 or 21-tooth sprocket or slim splined carrier as options).

If ordering a Gates Carbon Drive compatible SPEEDHUB, the splined sprocket carrier will be replaced with the lock-ring splined carrier (Art. #8540L). Supply of such hubs will only be supplied to manufacturers for fitting into a stiffness test approved frames. We will require a copy of the test protocol before we are able to supply these products.

The Carbon Drive sprocket will need to be secured to the lock-ring carrier, be tightening the lock-ring to 30Nm using the Rohloff Lock-Ring Tool (Art.#8518).

OEM supplied SPEEDHUBs are dispatched to EU addresses, pre-filled with SPEEDHUB all-season-oil (green flyer included in hub documentation)!

Also contained in the package are all components required for the respective hub version:

• twist shifter,
• gear cables in the required length (225 cm and/or 305 cm)
• internal cable routing
• bayonet fixing
• cable guide
• external cable box etc.

Also included in a clear plastic bag for the consumer are:

• Owners Manual,
• Warranty Card and Speedhub registration as QR Code
• Information on the Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14.

These last 3 items must be forwarded to the consumer when the complete bicycle is shipped.

Maintenance

In comparison to a derailleur gear system, the Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14 is relatively maintenance-free. The internal gearing runs encapsulated in an oil bath; it is protected by seals against dirt and moisture and is completely maintenance-free. All bearings are either sealed cartridge bearings or run also inside the hub within the oil bath. Therefore, maintenance of the Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14 is reduced to an annual oil change.

The indexed gearing of the Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14 is located directly within the hub.The cable tension has no effect on the gear shift precision.

On the Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14 the chain is running straight and is only driven by one large chainring. Therefore, the wear on the drive chain is fundamentally lower than with a comparable derailleur system.

Brake-in Period

All gears and coupling elements of the Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14 are manufactured from hardened steel and are machined to a high precision. The break-in period is approximately 1.000km due to the high wear resistance of all parts. The gears get finally smoothened out by the moving of the parts under pedaling force. The result of this process is less operational noise and a much smoother operation. The hub shell of the Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14 has specially constructed seals. These also take about 1.000 km to break-in; it is quite normal with a new hub, for the cranks to rotate when the bicycle is pushed, this is because the new hub seals force the sprocket to rotate with the hub. This effect recedes over time and has no influence upon riding comfort.

Operational Noise

On the Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14 three sets of planetary gears work in line to achieve 14 different speeds. The first two sets of planet gears produce seven gears (8th to 14th). When these seven gears are set against the third set of planet gears, then gears from 1st to 7th are produced. The third set of planetary gears rotate at extreme speeds, the highest RPM being in the 7th gear. The rotation of these planetary gears can be heard as a humming noise which is transmitted via the axle into the frame. Depending on frame type, material and other components fitted around the axle (fenders, luggage racks, kickstand etc) this noise is either more or less audible. The more the hub is ridden, the quieter these noises become. These high RPM planetary gears are not in use and the upper 7 speeds and the result is an almost silently running SPEEDHUB.

When coasting along, different freewheels may work depending on the gear selected. This too can result in different noises.

Oil Change

The Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14 is filled with 25ml of special gear oil (all season oil). This ensures:

• moving parts lubricated,
• steel parts protected from corrosion,
• freewheeling and gear noises subdued.