Rohloff Speedhub

[1] The Speedhub 500/14 has 14 equally spaced, sequential, non-overlapping gear ratios operated by a single twistgrip.

[3][4] It is therefore mainly used in expensive touring bicycles and in mountain bikes, where its lack of (vulnerable) external components is useful.

Either of the above comes with the following three options: There also two types of axle available: As of 2014[update], the Speedhub is available in three colours: silver, red or black.

The first two gear series provide seven ratios, and the third a complete range reduction, doubling the number of speeds to fourteen.

Shifting is achieved by locking a certain combination of suns, using pawls, and engaging or releasing each of the two clutches.

When the final stage's ring gear is held stationary, the result is speed reduction at the planet carrier output.

In other words, when the final reduction stage is in direct drive, the freewheeling contribution will put the planetary system into reverse overdrive with the planet carrier now the input and the ring gear the output that has no load.

[dubious – discuss] The Speedhub is provided with a twist shifter for shift operation, with one cable pulling in each direction.

As with all hub gears, there is a torque reaction that must be countered if the internals are not to rotate, and this is routed to the bicycle's frame by means of specially designed wheel dropout slots (OEM versions), or a torque bar bolted to the frame (EX) or the disc brake mount (DB).

Until the hub is broken in the rider may experience some noise or vibrations when the reduction-gear is in operation (gears 1–7).