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 it’s 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 3, 5, 7, 8 and 11 speed hubs. All are fairly straight forward to maintain. 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 Archer’s 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 grease inside this hub used to be white. It was long overdue for a clean and regrease.
Shimano 5 to 8 speed hubs need an ‘oil bath’ every 12-18 months to keep the internals lubricated. Shimano Alfine 11 speed hubs get the oil changes via a port on the outside. We try to keep most common hub seals in stock so we can replace them if you are having leaking issues. Get in touch if you are having leaking issues and quote the hub model and we can see if we have the right seals in stock.
We recommend replacing the shift cables periodically or at the first sign of mis-shifting on any IGH (other than Rohloff hubs). 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. Rohloff’s 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 isn’t causing any damage.
Will recently picked up a new @surlybikes Krampus in Salmon Skin Silver and wasted no time making upgrades to ensure all the contact points are just right👌 It’s looking classy!✨
MKS Pretzel pedals Brooks B17 saddle Ergon GP1 Biokork grips Wilde x Nitto Country handlebars Crane Mini Suzu bell
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Tumbleweed Sun Liner, Large Cane Creek 40 headset Ritchey RL1 Stem Ritchey RL1 seatpost Jones H-Bar Loop handlebar Ergon GP1 Evo BioKork grips Ergon SM Comp saddle Shimano Deore XT groupset MKS Always pedals Schmidt SON 28 Dynamo front hub DT Swiss 350 rear hub DT Swiss XM481 29” rims Vittoria Mezcal 29×2.6” tyres K-Lite UTRA Adventure MTB front light K-Lite QUBE rear light K-Lite Micro USB charger Quad Lock Out Front mount Quad Lock Adjustable Stem Cap mount Revelate Mag-Tank Jones H-Bar handlebar bag Old Man Mountain Hemlock bags with FLiP Cages Tumbleweed Mini Pannier 355mm rear rack
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Beyond legend, forged in steel, The Legend of Big Fork is the rowdiest drop bar machine to escape the minds of @konabikes and the wilderness of the PNW🌲✨
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Formerly named Commuter Cycles, Off Course Bike Shop is Melbourne's destination store for Commuting, Touring and Adventure Cycling. Surly Bikes, Kona, Salsa, Tumbleweed, Wilde & Pelago and Australia's largest range of Bikepacking gear. Come visit us in the heart of Brunswick, or browse over 6000 bikes, parts & accessories in our online shop and get them shipped to your door post haste.
Off Course acknowledges the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation as the Traditional custodians of the lands and waterways in the area now known as Brunswick, and pays respect to their Elders past, present, and emerging, as well as to all First Nations’ communities in Australia.
Gates CDX Rohloff Splined SprocketFrom $170.00
Ergon GP2 Lock On Grips for Rohloff/Nexus$70.00
Rohloff Cable Manager Kit – 5201$10.00
