Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14 (for mid drive)

I'm wondering what the most efficient 3 speed hub would be and that's an easy replacement for the SRAM dual drive II ?

Someone said the rohloff speedhub ?

I noticed a drag on the bike and put it down to the weight after not having an electric bike but cycling the Raleigh bike with just 9 speed cassette confirmed the SRAM was creating a noticeable drag. I'm hoping it may loosen up over time.

I'm happy with the 9 speed cassette but need the extra 3 speeds for the steepest of hills.
 
o00scorpion00o said:
I'm wondering what the most efficient 3 speed hub would be and that's an easy replacement for the SRAM dual drive II ?
Why do you think that any other 3 speed hub is going to be significantly more efficient than the SRAM?
 
Miles said:
o00scorpion00o said:
I'm wondering what the most efficient 3 speed hub would be and that's an easy replacement for the SRAM dual drive II ?
Why do you think that any other 3 speed hub is going to be significantly more efficient than the SRAM?

I don't know that's why I'm asking. :D
 
o00scorpion00o said:
Miles said:
o00scorpion00o said:
I'm wondering what the most efficient 3 speed hub would be and that's an easy replacement for the SRAM dual drive II ?
Why do you think that any other 3 speed hub is going to be significantly more efficient than the SRAM?

I don't know that's why I'm asking. :D
Do you notice less drag when using the SRAM in second (hub) gear?
 
speedmd said:
Look at the test report bootjuice listed on page 2 of this thread. No Idea where the SRAM fits in. Would imagine it is not that good if your feeling a drag, but have no experience with them.
The innards of the SRAM Dual-Drive are the same as that of the SRAM 3 speed. The present SRAM 3 speed is basically the same as the Sachs 3 speed as Sachs were acquired by SRAM in the '90s. Efficiency is probably as good as you'll get...
 
Optibike came out with an update web site and newly defned models.

http://optibike.com/compare-models/

4 of the 6 have the Rohloff speedhub 500/14 as standard.

I found it interesting, except for the off road only 1100 model, all the others are specified at 750W or less. I take it these bikes are the same as the previous 800-850W models, but now the power is referenced to the wheel output power (after transmission losses). The 750W meets the US legal definition.View attachment 2013 Optibike Models.pdf
 
I put a Rohloff on my latest bike.
It's here: http://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=55524
I've used a few Nuvinci's and now this. Mostly I like the wider speed range of the Rohloff. The weight difference is also monumental.
Otherwise it's comparable.
I have had issues with the shifter finding the wrong gear, like it's supposed to be in 4th but is actually in 8th or something; I've gotten some loud crunch noises during partial shifts; and it can't be shifted under power. I've read that some of this will go away after it's broken in.
But on the whole it's great. I'd even like to replace the SRAM XO shifters on my regular peasant powered mountain bike.
 
id be pretty hesitant to buy a rohloff for that, it seems like an ideal solution i agree, so we had high hopes for an e-spire we tested with one a year or so ago.
but it was incredibly painful to use: the top speed was 45kph in 14th so each gear is worth about 3.2kph, you cant change under the 1kw of load (and there are clear instructions NOT to change with the throttle on, sooo you can amagine how the lamest of hub motors still left you pissing around with throttle off/change throttle on/+3.2kph etc 14 times, it was kinda funny unless you were the guy who paid for one.

but the real drama was the crunching and waiting for gears to happen, and it turned out the rohloff's were the main cause for e-spire warranty..
shame that, cos the rohloffs are such a good thing on normal bikes.
-also i tried a red band 8speed nexus as the jackshaft with a few kw and it stripped gears (from rpm?) similar to others have found.
 
Toolman, I did not know you had to shift one gear at a time with the rohloff? Are you saying you can not just go from 5th to 14 th in one jump? If this is the case I can scratch this hub from my wish list for sure.
 
waynebergman said:
Toolman, I did not know you had to shift one gear at a time with the rohloff? Are you saying you can not just go from 5th to 14 th in one jump? If this is the case I can scratch this hub from my wish list for sure.

You can switch a whole handful of gears in one twist, but with a caveat: When you cross the boundary between low range (gears 1-7) and high range (gears 8-14), if there is a heavy torque on the gears, the hub will momentarily shift into gear 14, the highest ratio. This is because of a make-then-break priority switching order in the gear mechanism, and is the preferred alternative to possibly having the pedals drop out as the hub momentarily jumps to a radically lower gear.

If the load on the hub is not heavy at the moment the 7-8 shift occurs, then it reacts normally and quietly.

I love my Rohloff hub, but I would probably prefer a NuVinci in a power assist application because of its always-in-gear characteristic.
 
actually yes, from memory you could (and wanted to) change a fair few gears at a time but there was often a big delay, you look down to see what gear youve asked for and then a change in load would allow a nice crunchy change.
if you took a lot of time and care with throttle and gear changes it was ok, but within an hour we gave it back thankful it didnt break the hub.
chalo is correct.
 
My wife & I have recumbent trikes with Rohloffs for the last 5 1/2 years.
Done over 20000km, non-electric.
Last 3 months, I've put Cyclone 580W/24V on, done 1400km so far.
Wife has done 500km on hers, done 6 weeks ago.
We drive them a bit like manual car.
In lower gears, can apply (moderate) power and shift up/up/up.
I prefer to drive like manual: accelerate, back off a bit, change, repeat.
Often changing up 2 or 3 gears at a time.
Always be off the power a bit on 7th to 8th (otherwise get the 14th gear thing).
Never find gear changing or "positive engagement" to be a problem.
Trikes have a lot of chain, so we find the Rohloff's single sprocket gives a straight chainline and saves wear and tear.
We get lots of km from sprockets & chains, and quieter running, than derailleur-equipped trikes.
Love my Rohloff, would never put anything other than an IGH on a recumbent trike.
BTW, swap the wheel with Rohloff onto my Birdy folder when I need to use that instead. Neat. One (expensive) hub, 2 very different rides.
 
Correct on "assist" - hills and headwinds and getting home in a hurry in foul weather.
Today I threw my front chain and lost one of my Wipperman Links (crank boom was not tight as it should be, so chain was too sloppy).
Didn't have a spare linik with me and the bike shop I stopped right outside didn't have one for 8 speed chain.
Lucky I could get home just using the motor, up and down through the gears, zig-zagging on steeper hills (back-streets, so could get away with it).
I had the CA current limit set to 10A, so was pretty amazed I got all the way home with no pedalling at all.
Could have upped the current limit to avoid zig-zagging, but couldn't be bothered.
I do like the Rohloff's gear spread and even gear increment.
I reckon it'd be good for 1kW peaks if I had to and backed off to change gears, but I can already exceed 40km/h School Zone speed limit, so why bother sucking so much power?
Any more power and the police might notice I'm running more than our legal limit of 200W (without pedelec).
Anyway, all good now bolts are tightened up properly and chain reconnected.
 
solar.g,

Glad to hear your rig is all back together.

"I reckon it'd be good for 1kW peaks if I had to and backed off to change gears, but I can already exceed 40km/h School Zone speed limit, so why bother sucking so much power?"

Yeah. I just don't get the drag race from stoplight to stoplight thing.

Yesterday was a dark, nasty day here. I was grumbling that it wasn't nice enough to ride...42 degrees F, overcast and damp. I went down to the mailbox to get the mail, and noticed my crazy buddy (with the Leaf and PV panels) had their laundry hanging out. That was enough to get me out for a ride. Three "towns" (they have post offices and not much else), two counties, 40.6 miles @ 19.3 mph average. I smiled and sang the whole time.
 
waynebergman said:
Toolman, I did not know you had to shift one gear at a time with the rohloff? Are you saying you can not just go from 5th to 14 th in one jump? If this is the case I can scratch this hub from my wish list for sure.

With my Rohloff and both Nuvinci's I cut power while shifting and plow through a large portion of range at a time. It's not a problem. I would be fine with the Nuvinci for a street-only application, maybe, but the weight of the Rohloff off road is nice. Plus, taking the wheel off to manage flats with the Rohloff is much easier. And both of my Nuvinci's spewed oil under high torque situations so I couldn't trust them to go the distance.
 
Good to know, I will put this hub back on my wish list. I don't think Santa will come through this year however.
 
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