Rohloff Speedhub 500/14 A12 DB OEM2 XL – 177 mm
The Rohloff Speedhub 500/14 A12 DB OEM2 XL (177 mm O.L.D.) is the 14-speed gear hub with a 12 mm thru axle, disc brake hub cap and OEM2 axle plate – for frames with an IS2000 disc brake mount and wide 177 mm rear spacing. 14 evenly spaced gears, a 526% range and a sealed oil bath give you a drivetrain that works with a chain or a Gates belt and needs little more than a yearly oil change.
Why the Speedhub 500/14 A12 DB OEM2 XL?
14 gears, 526% range. The top gear of the A12 DB OEM2 XL is 5.26 times the lowest – enough for loaded climbs and fast flats. Rohloff gives about 13.6% between neighbouring gears, so every shift feels the same. 
Gears in oil, out of the dirt. Rain, mud and dust stay outside: the gearbox of the A12 DB OEM2 XL runs in an oil bath behind seals. Service is an oil change every 5000 km or once a year. 
Belt or chain. With a single rear sprocket the A12 DB OEM2 XL runs a chain or a Gates Carbon Drive belt; for the belt, Rohloff prescribes the lock-ring splined carrier (8540L or 8540SL). 
Torque support on the brake mount. The OEM2 axle plate anchors the hub torque on the rearmost hole of an IS2000 brake mount. With a disc brake it is combined with a SPEEDBONE or Monkey Bone. 
Disc brake hub cap. The DB hub cap carries a special Rohloff 4-hole rotor, 160 to 220 mm, for 1.8, 2.0 or 2.3 mm brake systems. The rotor mounting screws come with the hub. 
Shift standing still. The twist shifter works through two cables, and you can change gear while rolling or stopped – handy at traffic lights or on a steep restart. Ease off the pedal pressure as you shift.
12 mm thru axle, measured to your frame
Thru-axle dropouts differ between frame makers (Shimano, DT/Maxle, Syntace, SRAM UDH and others). Rohloff therefore requires the frame to be measured with the A12 dropout measurement kit (8600) before an A12 hub is fitted; the result tells you which reduction sleeves and spacers (8592–8599) you need.
The DB hub cap places the rotor 16.3 mm from the dropout, as the IS1999 standard asks. Send us your frame details – as an official Rohloff service centre we check the fit with you.
Wide 177 mm rear spacing
Rohloff builds the A12 DB OEM2 XL with the same kit contents as the 142 mm A12 DB OEM2 version, but with a 177 mm O.L.D. for wide rear ends – only in black, with 32 spoke holes and a disc brake hub cap.
For service, the XL hub uses its own axle-plate screws (8236XL) and paper gaskets (8714XL); the sprocket remover tool is the standard 8508.
Speedhub and Gates – our daily work
Massive Bikes started in Budapest in 2013 with Gates belt and gear hub conversions – today our BoodaBike Pulse touring bike rolls on a belt and a Rohloff Speedhub.
For a Carbon Drive sprocket Rohloff specifies the lock-ring splined carrier (8540L for the standard or 8540SL for the slim chainline); the 16-tooth sprocket in the kit is for chain use. Tell us your frame and we help you pick the carrier and sprocket.
Who is it for?
- Long-distance tourers. A sealed hub with no exposed gears keeps working through rain, mud and dust, far from the next bike shop.
- Gravel and MTB riders with thru-axle frames. The A12 axle brings the Speedhub to 12 mm thru-axle frames with 177 mm spacing.
- Fat-bike and wide-tyre builders. The 177 mm O.L.D. matches wide rear ends; this version is made in black with 32 spoke holes.
- Year-round commuters. Salt, slush and grit do not reach the gears; the yearly oil change is the main job.
Compatibility and specifications
| Model | Rohloff Speedhub 500/14 A12 DB OEM2 XL |
|---|---|
| Rohloff part numbers | 8097ZXL – 32-hole, black (the 177 mm version is made in black with 32 spoke holes only) |
| Gears / range | 14 gears, 526% total range, three planetary gear sets in an oil bath |
| Axle | 12 mm thru axle (A12) |
| O.L.D. (rear spacing) | 177 mm |
| Torque support | OEM2 axle plate – anchors the output torque of the hub to the rearmost mounting hole of an IS2000 disc brake mount. |
| Suits | Modern frames with 12 mm thru-axle dropouts, with an IS2000 disc brake mount |
| Brake | Disc brake (DB) hub cap for a special Rohloff 4-hole rotor (Ø160–220 mm, 1.8 / 2.0 / 2.3 mm); rotor not included |
| Gear mech | External gear mech with twist shifter and two shifter cables; Rohloff also builds this version with the electronic E-14 gear mech (separate article) |
| Belt drive | Gates Carbon Drive compatible with the Rohloff lock-ring splined carrier (8540L / 8540SL) and a Carbon Drive sprocket |
| In the kit | Speedhub 500/14 hub with thru axle; disc brake (DB) hub cap for the special Rohloff 4-hole rotor, with rotor mounting screws; external gear mech (transfer box and cable box); OEM2 axle plate; twist shifter, shifter cables and housing with ferrules; 16-tooth splined sprocket; flange support rings |
| Order separately | SPEEDBONE (8550) or Monkey Bone (8553 for 160 mm / 8554 for 180 mm rotors, IS to PM adapter) – needed when the OEM2 plate is used together with a disc brake; A12 reduction sleeves / spacers (8592–8599), worked out with the Rohloff A12 dropout measurement kit (8600) – a correct A12 mount is not possible without them; Rohloff 4-hole brake rotor that matches your brake (rotor not included; the rotor mounting screws are included); Chain tensioner – not included; needed if the frame has no chain tensioning of its own (Rohloff names horizontal dropouts shorter than 25 mm and full-suspension frames with chain growth) |
| Tandem / cargo | Approved in dedicated T (tandem) or C (cargo) versions, max. 130 Nm input torque – on request |
| Service tool | Sprocket remover tool 8508 (135/142/170/177 mm hubs) |
| Spokes | 32 holes; spokes with a 2.9 mm head length required |
A12 (thru axle) disc-brake versions compared
| A12 DB OEM2 | OEM2 axle plate, 142 mm. Anchors the output torque of the hub to the rearmost mounting hole of an IS2000 disc brake mount. |
|---|---|
| A12 DB PM | PM axle plate, 142 mm. Anchors the output torque to the rearmost mounting hole of a Postmount disc brake mount, via the PM Bone. |
| A12 DB OEM2 XL – this product | OEM2 axle plate, 177 mm. Anchors the output torque of the hub to the rearmost mounting hole of an IS2000 disc brake mount. |
| A12 DB PM XL | PM axle plate, 177 mm. Anchors the output torque to the rearmost mounting hole of a Postmount disc brake mount, via the PM Bone. |
| A12 DB OEM2 XXL | OEM2 axle plate, 197 mm. Anchors the output torque of the hub to the rearmost mounting hole of an IS2000 disc brake mount. |
Frequently asked questions
What else do I need for the OEM2 axle plate?
With a disc brake the OEM2 plate is used together with a SPEEDBONE (8550) or a Monkey Bone (8553 for 160 mm, 8554 for 180 mm rotors). Rohloff also notes that the frame manufacturer must approve torque support on the brake mount; otherwise it is at the rider's own risk. These parts are sold separately in our shop.
Do I really need the A12 measurement kit?
Yes. Rohloff states that A12 frames must be measured with the dropout measurement kit (8600) to work out the reduction sleeves (8592–8599); without them the hub cannot be mounted correctly. We supply the sleeves and help with the measurement.
Is it belt-drive compatible?
Yes – the A12 DB OEM2 XL takes a Gates Carbon Drive sprocket on the Rohloff lock-ring splined carrier (8540L / 8540SL). Ask us for the right sprocket size for your gearing.
Why is the XL hub only in black and 32-hole?
Rohloff makes the 177 mm XL hubs only as 32-hole disc-brake versions in black. For service use sprocket remover tool 8508, and the XL/XXL axle-plate screws (8236XL) when changing the axle plate.
How much maintenance does it need?
An oil change every 5000 km or once a year. Rohloff notes the hub keeps working even if some oil is lost, but delaying the oil change can damage the gears. The warranty is two years from purchase; wear parts such as seals, sprockets, shifter grip rubber and rotors are excluded.
About Rohloff
Rohloff AG is based in Fuldatal, Germany, and makes the Speedhub 500/14 – a 14-speed gear hub known for its wide range and its sealed oil bath – together with its shifting parts, axle plates, spokes and service tools.
BoodaBike (Massive Bikes, Budapest) is an official Rohloff service centre trained by Rohloff and an official European distributor of Rohloff hubs and parts. We fit, convert and service Speedhubs and help you choose the right version for your frame.