IN BRIEF
At Eurobike 2026, Rohloff announces that all of its fourteen-speed Speedhub hubs will be able to switch to electronic shifting — including those built over the past thirty years. The new system, presented under the name E14 Solo, works on its own, without depending on an e-bike motor. The controls sit outside the hub, so they can be fitted to units already in service. Factory fitment is targeted for 2026, with a retrofit kit announced for 2027; pricing is not known.
| Hub | Rohloff Speedhub 500/14 |
| Speeds | 14 gears |
| Gear range | 526 % |
| Hub weight | 1.7 to 1.9 kg |
| Shifting | Electronic, wired shifters (TRP, Zirbel) |
| Power supply | In the seatpost or external |
| Availability | Factory fitment 2026, retrofit 2027 |
Rohloff’s Speedhub hub has a reputation: fourteen speeds in a sealed shell, indestructible, and indestructibly expensive. At Eurobike 2026, the German manufacturer announces that all of these hubs, even the oldest ones, will be able to switch to electronic shifting.
Electronic shifting for every Speedhub, even the old ones
Until now, Rohloff’s E-14 electronic shifting only existed paired with certain e-bike motors, Bosch chief among them. The new system, named E14 Solo, breaks free of that: it works on its own, which opens electronic shifting up to bikes without assistance as well as to any Speedhub. Because the controls are external to the hub, they can be added to units already on the road.
According to coverage from the show, the power supply sits in the seatpost — or outside it — and the wired shifters come from TRP and Zirbel.
What it changes for the hub
The Speedhub 500/14 keeps its fundamentals: fourteen gears, a 526% range and a weight of between 1.7 and 1.9 kilos. Going electronic replaces the twist grip with simple buttons, without touching the hub’s internal mechanics.
When, and for whom
Rohloff is aiming for factory fitment from 2026, on new bikes, and a retrofit kit for existing hubs from 2027. Pricing has not been announced — a point that will matter, given how much the Speedhub remains an investment reserved for high-end bikes and high-mileage riders.
