Rohloff started production of the SPEEDHUB 500/14 in 1996 for long-distance road touring bikes. In 2017, the company introduced the SPEEDHUB 500/14 for e-bikes with the Rohloff E-14 shifting system.
The SPEEDHUB 500/14 is installed on premium e-bikes and easily costs over $1,000 extra compared to other drive trains. Consumers cannot buy the hub separately as it is only sold to original equipment manufacturer (OEM) e-bike manufacturers or made available as an aftermarket option with the installation by a certified bikeshop. The product is designed for reliability and endurance.
A Long-Distance Workhorse for Electric Bicycles
We have selected the SPEEDHUB 500/14 with the electronic shifter for our long-distance e-biking tours. In 2019, the first SPEEDHUB reached the distance from the earth to the moon with a distance of 238,855 miles (384,400 km). This is an enormous accomplishment and speaks highly of the precise engineering of the gearbox.
The 300,000th SPEEDHUB 500/14 was produced in 2020. This represents an estimated retail value of over $300 million since production of the hub commenced!
The Registration of Rohloff Hubs
Rohloff hubs have a registration number engraved directly into the shell (after serial number 75000). Older models have a sticker with the serial number.
The hub needs to be registered with Rohloff to be serviced. The company also flags a serial number if a Rohloff is reported stolen. The company manages to return approximately 50% of all stolen hubs to their rightful owners.
To register your Rohloff Hub, visit https://www.rohloff.de/en/service/my-speedhub/registration
Maintenance of the Rohloff Hub
The hub only requires an oil change once a year or every 3,106 miles (5,000 km), whatever comes first. An oil change is easy. See the instruction video below.
We recommend that you purchase the oil changing set from Rohloff’s service provider in the US: https://www.cyclemonkey.com. As unexpected things happen on the trail during long distance rides, we carry a spare oil change kit.
An oil change kit is approximately $50, including postage. The oil is rapidly biodegradable. The internal gears only need 7 ml. of oil to operate, and the rest of the oil reduces the noise of the gearbox. Due to altitude and temperate differences, pressure changes may cause minor oil “sweating” of the hub. This is perfectly normal.
Transport an e-bike with a Rohloff hub straight up, not flat, to avoid oil leakages. Also never submerge the hub as water may enter the gearbox. If this happens, you need to change the oil immediately to flush water from the hub.
E-bike Range with the Rohloff Hub
The SPEEDHUB 500/14 has 14 gears and a 526% range of gears. In other words, gear #14 is 5.26 times greater than gear #1. Each gear provides a range increase of 13.6%. Combined with a Bosch motor’s four driving modes (Eco, Tour, Sport/EMTB, and Turbo), you have 64 different biking modes.
Image source: Rohloff
This is sufficient for the most demanding riders and especially useful if you tow a trolley or carry heavy panniers on inclines.
The range-to-weight ratio of this reliable hub is truly phenomenal and the reason we selected the SPEEDHUB 500/14 for our most demanding tours, including the 2022 cross-country e-bike tour. As an extra bonus, once the sensors note the e-bike has come to a stop, the E-14 system will automatically shift down to a pre-programmed gear.
After Market Installation
At present, the E-14 system is still limited to Bosch e-bikes and was initially only offered to manufacturers for integration into new bikes. However, Rohloff has recently authorized the system as a retrofit option for e-bikes that are equipped with Bosch motors.
Cycle Monkey can now help your local shop retrofit your Bosch e-bike with electronic shifting. By offering E-14 as an aftermarket kit, Rohloff has opened the door to additional options from small frame builders.
The Weight of the SPEEDHUB 500/14
Although hubs are heavier than a derailleur, e-bikers can be more forgiving when it comes to the weight of components. The Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14 weighs 120 grams per gear, and it is the lightest gear hub on the market. We are not concerned about the weight of the SPEEDHUB 500/14 on our e-bikes.
Noise of the SPEEDHUB 500/14
Not all gears of the SPEEDHUB 500/14 generate the same noise. We noticed that gear # 7 is noisier. This is normal according to the manufacturer. The “break-in period” of the gearbox is 621 miles (1,000 km). After this, the gears should be making less noise. You do not need to change the oil after the first 621 miles as it only needs to be replaced after 3,106 miles (5,000 km) or one year, whatever comes first.
Efficiency of the Rohloff Hub
The SPEEDHUB 500/14 is very efficient in all gears, and in many ways, it is as efficient as a chain with a derailleur. The figure below compares the hub with with a derailleur and 7-8 speed hubs.
Image source: Rohloff
The efficiency of the hub is essential for long-distance e-bikers as every watt lost in friction over thousands of miles affects an e-bike’s range.
Conclusion
The SPEEDHUB 500/14 by Rohloff is an incredibly robust and well-engineered German gearbox. You cannot buy a Rohloff. It comes with an e-bike. They easily add over $1,000 to the costs of a new e-bike but are worth the extra money if you value reliability, quality, and efficiency during long-distance e-biking.
We have selected the SPEEDHUB 500/14 with electronic shifting for E-bike Lovers' most demanding tours, including the 2022 Cross-Country E-bike Ride.
