Rohloff upgrader's-You need to make a cable routing decision!

237 views
Skip to first unread message

Jim_Kirk

unread,
Nov 20, 2009, 10:13:55 AM11/20/09
to Optibike Owners Group
There are a number of you who are having the factory upgrade your
bikes with a Rohloff and I was thinking that you will want to choose
one of two shift cable routing's.

One routing is along the chainstay as Cakey has done:
http://www.jakirk.com/850XLi_1/850XLiRohloff/Rohloff_05.html
And the other is along the top tube:
http://www.jakirk.com/850XLi_1/RohloffInstall/Rohloff_42.html

I prefer the top tube mounting because:
1. There are less cable bends so there is less friction in shifting
[and this is noticeable because if you just turn the handlebars to the
left on my bike it is harder to shift than when the bars point
straight ahead].
2. You can keep your kickstand if you use one.
3. For offroad use the Ext. Gear Mech [the "gizmo" the shift cables
go into at the rear of the bike] is up higher so it's more protected.

No matter which routing you use I suggest you request the Rohloff
twist shifter be setup so that the Rohloff shifter indicated gear 14
is fast gear [rotating the handle towards you] and indicated 1 is
slowest gear [rotating the handle away from you]. Yes this is
different from your SRAM but this arrangement gives gear numbers that
are the common language of all the Rohloff users so you will be better
understood if you have Rohloff questions. By the way if you simply
reverse the shift cables at the Ext. Gear Mech [don't you just love
these German descriptions] the indicated gears are reversed. It works
fine either way but 14=fast gear is the most common numbering.

Jim Kirk

lowco2

unread,
Nov 20, 2009, 10:28:03 AM11/20/09
to Optibike Owners Group
I've ordered the upgrade from Opti and they did not mention this.
Craig, if you're there, I'd like the "top tube" routing that Jim
describes.
Thanks,
-John

Randi Sparkler

unread,
Nov 20, 2009, 10:56:33 AM11/20/09
to Optibike Owners Group
Keeping almost on the topic...
If you are upgrading to a Rohloff and dont want a surprise you may
wish to ask which of the three colours your bike will arrive with (BTW
red on red & gold is 'look at me' hot).
http://www.rohloff.de/en/products/speedhub/

Paul_G

unread,
Nov 23, 2009, 7:43:21 AM11/23/09
to Optibike Owners Group


On Nov 20, 10:13 am, Jim_Kirk <j...@jakirk.com> wrote:

>
> No matter which routing you use I suggest you request the Rohloff
> twist shifter be setup so that the Rohloff shifter indicated gear 14
> is fast gear [rotating the handle towards you] and indicated 1 is
> slowest gear [rotating the handle away from you].  Yes this is
> different from your SRAM
> Jim Kirk

I did that at first and hated it, I had the bike dealer reverse it so
fast is forward
same as the old pattern. no need to look at the numbers as I found I
ride by feel and 1 being fast is fine :)

Paul G

Jim_Kirk

unread,
Nov 23, 2009, 8:00:45 AM11/23/09
to Optibike Owners Group
Paul,
Nice thing about the Rohloff pull-pull shift cable arrangement is
it works well either way you do it. When I first installed the
Rohloff I also used the SRAM motions as standard and set the Rohloff
up so 1=fast speed. Then I started emailing Remf to talk about speeds
in various gears and he talked about going 40 mph or so downhill in
14th gear and I said "wow, Remf must have 36" legs :) and 600 rpm
cadence, wonder what he does in gear 1?" Soon came to the conclusion
[very soon, actually] that maybe I ought to reconsider the cable
positions as something wasn't quite right in our communication [no
offense, Remf].
Really doesn't matter one way or the other just more a question
of consistency in communication.
Jim Kirk

Charles Duffy

unread,
Dec 14, 2009, 10:15:49 AM12/14/09
to Optibike Owners Group
I went by Opti last week while vacationing in Colorado, and took a
look at one of their existing Rohloff installs. They're running the
cables down the top tube and then transitioning them down to the
bottom tube fairly far back -- it looked like something which would
need only minor adjustment (if any) to be compatible with the
kickstand, and Jim asked me to ship the kickstand with the bike so
they could make sure it works.

On Nov 20, 9:28 am, lowco2 <jcsageb...@mac.com> wrote:
> I've ordered the upgrade from Opti and they did not mention this.
> Craig, if you're there, I'd like the "top tube" routing that Jim
> describes.
>

cakey

unread,
Dec 14, 2009, 12:03:23 PM12/14/09
to Optibike Owners Group
What colours are you ordering or is black the standard. Rode a santos
belty drive with a rohloff at weekend , wonderfully quiet and slick .

Charles Duffy

unread,
Dec 14, 2009, 12:24:55 PM12/14/09
to Optibike Owners Group
They never asked about color when I was ordering, and the one they had
on hand when I came by was black, so I'm presuming that's what it'll
be.

Cool beans re the belt drive; there are a few in my local shops,
though it looks like they have a similar issue as my shaft drive in
terms of not having any kind of quick release mechanism... though at
least changing a rear tire doesn't look as messy as it is with the
Dynamic shaft drive mechanism).

lowco2

unread,
Dec 16, 2009, 2:34:32 PM12/16/09
to Optibike Owners Group
Just and update: My bike is at Optibike and in the careful hands of
their technicians. Next time I see it, it will be Rohloff'ed! Can't
wait... Well, actually I can since there's 3' of snow around my house
right now and the days are short. That and this "work" thing had me on
the trainer at 5:30 this am.
Cheers,
--John
> > > > > Jim Kirk- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Jim_Kirk

unread,
Dec 17, 2009, 7:56:33 AM12/17/09
to Optibike Owners Group
Don't forget that after you get your Rohloff you can switch to an
alternate Rohloff approved twist grip shifter [cables do not even have
to be removed, all changes are done at the handlebar]. Keep this
alternative in mind after you get some experience with the shape and
feel of the shifter that will be on your bike. I found I like it
better than the Rohloff supplied shifter.

http://bit.ly/85vJxC

lowco2

unread,
Dec 17, 2009, 11:05:00 AM12/17/09
to Optibike Owners Group
Thanks, Jim. I'll wait and see how it all works first, but I've made
note of the Toxaholics.
I use the Ergon grips and generally try to keep my hands off the
existing Sram shifter unless I'm shifting, so I'll see.
Either way, 14 speeds of fun should be just fantastic.
Cheers,
--John

> > > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -

lowco2

unread,
Jan 5, 2010, 5:23:57 PM1/5/10
to Optibike Owners Group
Quick update... word from Optibike is my bike should ship back end of
this week! Can't wait.
--John

remf

unread,
Jan 5, 2010, 5:41:15 PM1/5/10
to Optibike Owners Group
Nice John! Do you know if it's a Monkeybone, Speedbone or Torque arm
install?

lowco2

unread,
Jan 5, 2010, 11:07:33 PM1/5/10
to Optibike Owners Group
Actually, I don't know. One of those little surprises of life... we'll
see.
--J

Jim_Kirk

unread,
Jan 6, 2010, 7:46:34 AM1/6/10
to Optibike Owners Group
Hi John,
I saw some pictures of a Rohloff Opti build which has been delivered
already. The Rohloff was red and it was equipped with a Speedbone for
Torque Restraint. Sprocket size was 44T/16T. So, color may add
another surprise :).

When you get your bike can you let us know if it was equipped with the
Speedbone and what your sprocket sizes are?

lowco2

unread,
Jan 6, 2010, 9:56:45 AM1/6/10
to Optibike Owners Group
Oh, don't worry, I'll take photos and post them.
I think my hub is black with black spokes and a black ZTR Flow rim.
That's a custom that I added because I like those rims as they're
designed to run tubeless which I prefer.
More news as soon as I know it.
--John

cakey

unread,
Jan 6, 2010, 10:51:39 AM1/6/10
to Optibike Owners Group
Looking at craigs piccys they are using the rohloff speedbone the same
as mine

lowco2

unread,
Jan 6, 2010, 11:28:41 AM1/6/10
to Optibike Owners Group
thanks... sounds like fun. Weather's been ok here so I should be able
to ride, unless it decides to start dumping snow again. Now the
trouble is the air quality's so bad due to an inversion, I can't win.
At least the inverstion is low enough I can get above it.
--John

lowco2

unread,
Jan 13, 2010, 6:08:50 PM1/13/10
to Optibike Owners Group
News update... Wife just called and FedEx apparently just dropped off
the bike. I won't get to it for a few hours, sadly.
More news as I have it.
--J

remf

unread,
Jan 13, 2010, 7:44:41 PM1/13/10
to Optibike Owners Group (open to everyone!)
Bet those seconds are ticking slowly. I can't wait to see what you think.

2010/1/14 lowco2 <jcsag...@mac.com>
--
You received this email because you have an eye for quality, performance, and style that only comes with an Optibike.

To post to this group, send email to
optibike-o...@googlegroups.com
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
optibike-owners-...@googlegroups.com
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/optibike-owners-group

lowco2

unread,
Jan 13, 2010, 11:41:17 PM1/13/10
to Optibike Owners Group
It's here, looks fantastic, didn't get home till late this pm so I
just got it out of the box, pedals on, fork re-pressurized and mostly
ready to go. Next two days look nice so I'll get it out for sure.
Photos when I can. Cheers,
--John

On Jan 13, 4:44 pm, remf <optibi...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Bet those seconds are ticking slowly. I can't wait to see what you think.
>

> 2010/1/14 lowco2 <jcsageb...@mac.com>

> > optibike-owners-...@googlegroups.com<optibike-owners-group%2B unsub...@googlegroups.com>

cakey

unread,
Jan 14, 2010, 4:29:42 AM1/14/10
to Optibike Owners Group
John
Remember to take it easy for the 1st few miles

lowco2

unread,
Jan 14, 2010, 9:12:11 AM1/14/10
to Optibike Owners Group
What is this "easy" of which you speak? :-)
Yes, I know I've got a good 500 miles to get this broken in. Winter is
really here now, so my riding will be somewhat limited a few more
weeks. Still, hard to not do something :-).
It looks great, the ztr flow rim looks great and strong (that's a DH
rim), and the entire install is really clean-looking. Will post photos
later. Took a few.
Cheers,
--John

> > > > optibike-o...@googlegroups.com...
>
> read more »

cakey

unread,
Jan 14, 2010, 1:07:46 PM1/14/10
to Optibike Owners Group
Sorry I meant for the 1st 500miles be careful with the power
changes .

> ...
>
> read more »

Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages