Internal gear hubs don’t need to be adjusted as frequently as derailleur gears, but this doesn’t mean they are maintenance free. Like any other moving part they require periodic maintenance to ensure a long, trouble-free lifespan. The good news is that itโs often a straightforward job and that 12-18 months is fine for most commuters.
Different types of Internal Gear Hubs
There are several different brands and types of internal gear hub (IGH). Shimano makes both grease-based and oil-based IGHs. The grease-based versions range from a 3 to an 8 speed. All are straight forward to service. Shimanoโs only oil-based offering is the Alfine 11 speed. Sram makes a range of gear hubs from 3 to 9 speed with which are more variable with respect to reliability and serviceability. The old 3 speed Sturmey Archer hubs are bombproof and require very little attention. Newer Sturmey Archerโs are prone to being problematic. And finally, there is the pinnacle of IGH technology, the touring-spec Rohloff. The Rohloff is a 14 speed oil-based hub that functions quite differently from the Shimano 11 speed. It is more robust than the Shimano and as a result better suited to touring.
Servicing requirements for IGHs
Broadly speaking, grease based internal gear hubs will require cleaning out, inspecting and re-greasing about every 12-18 months.

The two oil based hubs both require periodic oil changes. The Alfine 11 speed will also wear through two seals over time, both of which we keep in stock.
We are fully equipped to service Rohloff hubs. The oil change itself is easy and we are happy to sell you the kit if youโd like to do it yourself. Beyond this, we do a full range of Rohloff work. We work with Rohloff Australia and carry a full range of spare parts, so we can do repairs that many other shops do not do. For instance, we often replace the main seals in these hubs, replace their index bearings and have extensive experience diagnosing leeks.
We recommend replacing the shift cables periodically or at the first sign of mis-shifting on any IGH other than a Rohloff. This is critical because on most hubs the shifter controls the alignment of all of the planetary gears and a damaged or lagging cable can prevent the elements inside from aligning properly, leading to damage and accelerated wear. Rohloffโs control their indexing between gears in the hub rather than the shifter so this is less of an issue with the Rohloff. A damaged or lagging shift cable in a Rohloff will just feel nasty but isnโt causing any damage.
We stock a full range of Rohloff IGH hubs and accessories as well as Shimano hubs. Click here to book in a hub service. Contact us to discuss an IGH wheel build today.
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Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14 CC DB EX OEM2$1,895.00
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Gates CDX Rohloff Splined Sprocket$130.00 – $150.00
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Ergon GP2 Rohloff/Nexus$65.00
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Rohloff 8540 Splined Sprocket Carrier$50.00
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Rohloff Cable Manager Kit$10.00
That time we built a totally epic custom painted, custom spec, Rohloff equipped Salsa Fargo but it was a Christmas surprise and we had to wait til Boxing Day to post it. ๐ฅบ๐ฅณ
Somewhere out in the wild today Chrissy is rolling round on this thing rocking a VERY big smile. ๐๐๐
#commutercustoms #destinationrohloff
Anthony's absolutely LOADED Soma Wolverine is a great way to round out a pretty wild year of custom builds. ๐ฅณ๐คฏ๐
Huge thanks to everyone that's let us be a part of their projects this year. We love you all! ๐ฅฐ
#commutercustoms #destinationrohloff
#DestinationRohloff is in full effect at Commuter this week ๐๐ผ๐บ
Three of these are slated for @tumbleweedbikes, @surlybikes Ogre and @somafab Wolverine builds with one hanging out for stock as usual. And with the full range of spares, tools and the experience and knowledge to go with them, we've got your back on everything Rohloff. ๐