Rohloff Speedhub 500/14 CC DB XL – 170 mm
The Rohloff Speedhub 500/14 CC DB XL (170 mm O.L.D.) is the 14-speed gear hub with a quick-release axle, disc brake hub cap and Standard axle plate – for touring and trekking bikes with classic dropouts and wide 170 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 CC DB XL?
Wide range, 14 steps. A 526% range means the highest gear is 5.26 times the lowest. The 14 steps of the CC DB XL are evenly spaced at about 13.6%, so you never hunt for the right gear. 
Gears in oil, out of the dirt. Rain, mud and dust stay outside: the gearbox of the CC DB XL runs in an oil bath behind seals. Service is an oil change every 5000 km or once a year. 
Made for a Gates belt. Belt-drive frames are usually built around a Speedhub. Fit a Carbon Drive sprocket on the Rohloff lock-ring carrier for a clean, quiet drivetrain. 
Standard axle plate. The most universal Rohloff configuration, supplied with its mounting hardware and the Rohloff chain tensioner. 
DB hub cap for disc brakes. Disc brakes mount on a special Rohloff 4-hole rotor (Ø160–220 mm, for 1.8, 2.0 and 2.3 mm brake systems). Rotor screws are in the box; the rotor itself is ordered to suit your brake. 
One shifter, no front mech. All 14 gears sit on one twist shifter with two cables – no front derailleur, no chain jumping between rings. Shift while rolling or standing; ease off the pedals as you do.
Quick-release axle for vertical dropouts
The CC hub has a hollow axle for a standard quick-release skewer. Wheel removal stays simple: the external gear mech comes off by loosening one screw, then the wheel comes out like any other.
This standard kit already contains the Rohloff chain tensioner for frames without their own chain tensioning.
Wide 170 mm rear spacing
Rohloff builds the CC DB XL with the same kit contents as the 135 mm CC DB version, but with a 170 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.
Built for belt drive
Belt plus Speedhub is the drivetrain we know best: Massive Bikes began in 2013 fitting Gates belts and gear hubs, and the BoodaBike Pulse is built around exactly that pair.
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?
- Expedition and world tourers. Fewer parts to wear out on the road: no derailleur hanger to bend, no cassette to replace far from home.
- Riders with quick-release frames. The CC axle takes a standard quick-release skewer, so the wheel comes out without special tools.
- Fat-bike and wide-tyre builders. The 170 mm O.L.D. matches wide rear ends; this version is made in black with 32 spoke holes.
- Riders who value comfort. Shifting at a standstill and one simple twist shifter make every ride relaxed – useful in town and on long climbs.
Compatibility and specifications
| Model | Rohloff Speedhub 500/14 CC DB XL |
|---|---|
| Rohloff part numbers | 8022XL – 32-hole, black (the 170 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 | Hollow quick-release axle (CC) |
| O.L.D. (rear spacing) | 170 mm |
| Torque support | Standard axle plate – the classic Rohloff setup: the kit comes with the Standard axle plate and the mounting hardware. |
| Suits | Frames with vertical dropouts and a quick-release rear wheel |
| 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 |
| 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 quick-release 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); Standard axle plate; chain tensioner and mounting hardware; twist shifter, shifter cables and housing with ferrules; 16-tooth splined sprocket; flange support rings |
| Order separately | Rohloff 4-hole brake rotor that matches your brake (rotor not included; the rotor mounting screws are included) |
| 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 |
CC (quick-release) disc-brake versions compared
| CC DB | Standard axle plate, 135 mm. The classic Rohloff setup: the kit comes with the Standard axle plate and the mounting hardware. |
|---|---|
| CC DB OEM | OEM axle plate, 135 mm. Made for frames with reinforced, elongated vertical dropouts that are designed for the Speedhub. |
| CC DB OEM2 | OEM2 axle plate, 135 mm. Anchors the output torque of the hub to the rearmost mounting hole of an IS2000 disc brake mount. |
| CC DB PM | PM axle plate, 135 mm. Anchors the output torque to the rearmost mounting hole of a Postmount disc brake mount, via the PM Bone. |
| CC DB XL – this product | Standard axle plate, 170 mm. The classic Rohloff setup: the kit comes with the Standard axle plate and the mounting hardware. |
| CC DB OEM XL | OEM axle plate, 170 mm. Made for frames with reinforced, elongated vertical dropouts that are designed for the Speedhub. |
| CC DB OEM2 XL | OEM2 axle plate, 170 mm. Anchors the output torque of the hub to the rearmost mounting hole of an IS2000 disc brake mount. |
| CC DB PM XL | PM axle plate, 170 mm. Anchors the output torque to the rearmost mounting hole of a Postmount disc brake mount, via the PM Bone. |
| CC DB OEM2 XXL | OEM2 axle plate, 190 mm. Anchors the output torque of the hub to the rearmost mounting hole of an IS2000 disc brake mount. |
Frequently asked questions
Is the standard version the right one for my frame?
The Standard axle plate suits frames with vertical dropouts and a quick-release rear wheel. If your frame has an IS2000 or Postmount brake mount or special Rohloff dropouts, another plate may suit it better. Send us a photo of the rear, non-drive-side dropout – Rohloff uses the same check.
Is it belt-drive compatible?
Yes – the CC DB 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 170 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.
What does the hub need over the years?
Mainly oil: change it every 5000 km or once a year with Rohloff cleaning and all-season oil. Wear parts – seals, sprocket and carrier, shifter grip rubber, rotors – are replaced as needed; the hub itself carries a two-year Rohloff warranty from purchase.
Can it go on a tandem or cargo bike?
Rohloff approves the Speedhub 500/14 for tandem and cargo use in dedicated versions (article suffix T or C), with a maximum input torque of 130 Nm at the hub sprocket. This listing is the standard version – ask us for the T or C version.
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.