Alangordon
New Member
Has anyone put a Rohloff Speedhub on sofrider? Can it be done and what components would be needed ie wheel rebuild, new crankset etc?
Rohloff Speedhub on Sofrider
- Thread starter Alangordon
- Start date
chrisblessing
Well-Known Member
Rohloff hub
I can't imagine there'd be anything complex about adding a Rohloff. I recently added a Nuvinci hub with no significant issues. At worst you have to build/buy a new wheel around the hub, and may have to add a chain tensioner of some sort unless you keep a double or triple, but everything else is pretty standard.
I don't have a Silvio, but I'm on my third recumbent, and I can tell you that an IGH on a recumbent is a godsend.
Good luck, and post photos.
Chris
I can't imagine there'd be anything complex about adding a Rohloff. I recently added a Nuvinci hub with no significant issues. At worst you have to build/buy a new wheel around the hub, and may have to add a chain tensioner of some sort unless you keep a double or triple, but everything else is pretty standard.
I don't have a Silvio, but I'm on my third recumbent, and I can tell you that an IGH on a recumbent is a godsend.
Good luck, and post photos.
Chris
ivan_a_101
New Member
Rohloff parts for Sofrider V2
I added a new Rohloff several months ago and can provide you with some details.
The key is that the Sofrider has a Horst-link suspension so you need to have the OEM2 Axle plate and either the Speedbone or Monkeybone adapter to transfer the torque to the frame. The Speedbone and the Monkeybone fill the same function, but the Monkeybone was designed by CycleMonkey and makes everything look a bit nicer (I just noticed that Rohloff now sells Monkeybone on its website as parts 8553 and 8554). I also chose to add a front disk brake, so I had to use the external gear mechanism - I don't know if the external gear mech is required for a Sofrider with rim brakes.
My build included the black Speedhub with a 36-hole drilling, bolt-on version (TS OEM2), and a disk brake hub cap and external gear mechanism (DB). I added an Avid BB7 mechanical disk brake and replaced my rim with a new 26" Mavic XM 719 (non-disk version in case I switch back to v-brakes). I also chose the 17-tooth rear sprocket rather than the default 16-tooth.
You'll certainly need to rebuild your wheel since you're replacing the hub. I had CycleMonkey do all the work with the wheel build, so I'm not exactly sure about the spoke lengths, but I might be able to find that info if I dig through my paperwork (it would only apply to the 36-hole 26" rim, though). And when I got the wheel I brought it all to my LBS to install the shifter and the disk caliper (I'm no mechanic). Cycle Monkey did a great job (I think they're the only authorized service partner for Rohloff in the US). My LBS did a good job except I think shifter cable routing could have been better - I'm planning to take it back to be re-routed.
The additional Rohloff parts needed to fit it to the Sofrider were:
Part#8227 : OEM2 Axle plate (NOT the OEM Axle plate and NOT the long torque arm)
Part#8550 : Speedbone adapter OR Part# 8554 : Monkeybone adapter (assuming a 180 rotor)
And because I was going with a front disk brake, I chose:
Part#8287 : 180mm 4-hole disk rotor for Avid (you need a Rohloff-specific rotor; 6-hole or center-lock rotors are not compatible)
Note that I kept the double chainrings in front so I skipped the chain tensioner (Part#8250) - I just kept the original rear derailieur to take up the slack when I shift in front.
This link walks you through some choices and produces a parts list for you: http://www.rohloff.de/en/products/speedhub/speedhub_finder/index.html
And here's a link to the Rohloff installation instructions: http://www.rohloff.de/uploads/media/1_General_use_En_2013_10_web.pdf
Also check out JonB's posts as he added a used Rohloff and a 203" disk rotor to his Freerider some time ago (and inspired me to do the same!)
Finally, note that I have a Sofrider V2 (the 16-speed with the curved down tube and the silver paint). I doubt that there's any significant differences between the Softrider versions with respect to Rohloff installation, but I'll defer to John, Doug, or anyone else who knows better than I.
I added a new Rohloff several months ago and can provide you with some details.
The key is that the Sofrider has a Horst-link suspension so you need to have the OEM2 Axle plate and either the Speedbone or Monkeybone adapter to transfer the torque to the frame. The Speedbone and the Monkeybone fill the same function, but the Monkeybone was designed by CycleMonkey and makes everything look a bit nicer (I just noticed that Rohloff now sells Monkeybone on its website as parts 8553 and 8554). I also chose to add a front disk brake, so I had to use the external gear mechanism - I don't know if the external gear mech is required for a Sofrider with rim brakes.
My build included the black Speedhub with a 36-hole drilling, bolt-on version (TS OEM2), and a disk brake hub cap and external gear mechanism (DB). I added an Avid BB7 mechanical disk brake and replaced my rim with a new 26" Mavic XM 719 (non-disk version in case I switch back to v-brakes). I also chose the 17-tooth rear sprocket rather than the default 16-tooth.
You'll certainly need to rebuild your wheel since you're replacing the hub. I had CycleMonkey do all the work with the wheel build, so I'm not exactly sure about the spoke lengths, but I might be able to find that info if I dig through my paperwork (it would only apply to the 36-hole 26" rim, though). And when I got the wheel I brought it all to my LBS to install the shifter and the disk caliper (I'm no mechanic). Cycle Monkey did a great job (I think they're the only authorized service partner for Rohloff in the US). My LBS did a good job except I think shifter cable routing could have been better - I'm planning to take it back to be re-routed.
The additional Rohloff parts needed to fit it to the Sofrider were:
Part#8227 : OEM2 Axle plate (NOT the OEM Axle plate and NOT the long torque arm)
Part#8550 : Speedbone adapter OR Part# 8554 : Monkeybone adapter (assuming a 180 rotor)
And because I was going with a front disk brake, I chose:
Part#8287 : 180mm 4-hole disk rotor for Avid (you need a Rohloff-specific rotor; 6-hole or center-lock rotors are not compatible)
Note that I kept the double chainrings in front so I skipped the chain tensioner (Part#8250) - I just kept the original rear derailieur to take up the slack when I shift in front.
This link walks you through some choices and produces a parts list for you: http://www.rohloff.de/en/products/speedhub/speedhub_finder/index.html
And here's a link to the Rohloff installation instructions: http://www.rohloff.de/uploads/media/1_General_use_En_2013_10_web.pdf
Also check out JonB's posts as he added a used Rohloff and a 203" disk rotor to his Freerider some time ago (and inspired me to do the same!)
Finally, note that I have a Sofrider V2 (the 16-speed with the curved down tube and the silver paint). I doubt that there's any significant differences between the Softrider versions with respect to Rohloff installation, but I'll defer to John, Doug, or anyone else who knows better than I.
Alangordon
New Member
Many thanks for your replies
Many thanks for your replies and particularly your comprehensive response Ivan. I have the latest Sofrider so it sounds like it is a proposition.
The only downside here in Australia is the cost of components, particularly the Speedhub. It is probably cheaper to buy the hub overseas however, as I am not a bike mechanic I will need to have it all fully fitted by an experience Rohloff dealer. I think there are a couple here in Melbourne. Needless to say Ivan a lot of the technical terms you use don,t mean much to me but it will be a good guide for me if/when I speak to a mechanic.
Based on my research I guess I could be looking at a couple of grand to have this conversion done so my concern that I may be overcapitalising an entry level recumbent.
Many thanks for your replies and particularly your comprehensive response Ivan. I have the latest Sofrider so it sounds like it is a proposition.
The only downside here in Australia is the cost of components, particularly the Speedhub. It is probably cheaper to buy the hub overseas however, as I am not a bike mechanic I will need to have it all fully fitted by an experience Rohloff dealer. I think there are a couple here in Melbourne. Needless to say Ivan a lot of the technical terms you use don,t mean much to me but it will be a good guide for me if/when I speak to a mechanic.
Based on my research I guess I could be looking at a couple of grand to have this conversion done so my concern that I may be overcapitalising an entry level recumbent.
Kim Tolhurst
Well-Known Member
Rohloff on Sofrider
Hi Alangordon,
I know a chap in Melbourne who converted his Sofrider to Rohloff.
He maybe able to help. If you would like his contact details, e-mail me, cruzbiking@yahoo.com.au
best,
Kim Tolhurst.
www.cruzbiking.com.au
Hi Alangordon,
I know a chap in Melbourne who converted his Sofrider to Rohloff.
He maybe able to help. If you would like his contact details, e-mail me, cruzbiking@yahoo.com.au
best,
Kim Tolhurst.
www.cruzbiking.com.au
Charles.Plager
Recumbent Quant
As long as you could move the
As long as you could move the Rohloff to another bike, I don't think it's an unreasonable investment on the Sofrider. If you end up riding for thousands of miles on the Sofrider you win. If you move it to another bike and ride it there, you win.
(I am fundamentally a cheap ********, so I completely understand the question: Is it worth putting a wheel worth more than the bike on a bike. But if you want what a Rohloff has, then I think the answer really is yes.)
One last option:
Chris Blessing really likes his Nuvinci 360 on his Cruzbike conversion. If it were me, I'd consider one of those with a triple crank up front. Cheaper than the Rohloff, you can get the same gear range, and the Nuvinci is continuous, so you never need to worry about the next gear being too far away.
As long as you could move the Rohloff to another bike, I don't think it's an unreasonable investment on the Sofrider. If you end up riding for thousands of miles on the Sofrider you win. If you move it to another bike and ride it there, you win.
(I am fundamentally a cheap ********, so I completely understand the question: Is it worth putting a wheel worth more than the bike on a bike. But if you want what a Rohloff has, then I think the answer really is yes.)
One last option:
Chris Blessing really likes his Nuvinci 360 on his Cruzbike conversion. If it were me, I'd consider one of those with a triple crank up front. Cheaper than the Rohloff, you can get the same gear range, and the Nuvinci is continuous, so you never need to worry about the next gear being too far away.
