Service Schedule for Rohloff Bikes

Service schedule for models purchased later than January 2017 only.

Updated: September 3, 2020

Perform these checks before riding the bike after initial assembly and after each re-assembly

CHECK BRAKES
Stand on the left side of the bike, hold both brake levers and try to push the bike forward. You should not be able to.

CHECK CROWN & HEADTUBE CONNECTION
Repeat the above step but only hold the front brake on. With the other hand, hold the area between the fork crown and the headtube. Rock the bike. There should be no movement.

GREASE PEDAL THREAD
Ensure there is sufficient grease in the pedal thread. If no grease is added then the pedals may become very difficult to remove in the future and will be more prone to rust. Simply add a dab of grease to your finger and wipe it around the thread then install the pedals.

RATTLE DROP CHECK
Stand beside the bike and three or four times lift the bike 3 cm off the floor and drop it listening to the sounds. Nothing should rattle or sound loose.

STEM TO FORK CONNECTION
Stand in front of the bike facing it with the wheel between your legs and hands on the outer parts of the handlebars. Whilst gripping the wheel between your legs try very hard to turn the handlebars. They should not turn. The stem-to-fork connection must be firm and secure or you may lose control of the bike and possibly die.

LIGHT CHECK
While the switch on the headlight is in the down position, stand beside the bike, raise the front wheel off the ground and have someone spin it to see that both lights are working.

CHECK ECCENTRIC BOTTOM BRACKET
Check that the main screw in the EBB (eccentric bottom bracket) in its current position, is tight. 5-8Nm.

CHECK TYRE AIR PRESSURE
Check the air pressure. The size of each tyre is printed on its tyre wall. The rim decal gives a maximum pressure for each tyre size in bars. 1 bar = 14.5psi. Refer to the website discussion on tyre sizes and air pressure if in doubt. Also associate your preferred levels with the finger squeeze test in case you are without a gauge.

Weekly Checks

CHECK TYRE AIR PRESSURE
Check the tyre air pressure as per the above remarks. Look for any glass or other road debris in the tyre treads and remove any with something like a sewing pick.


Milestone Checks

Perform these checks twice within the first 500km

CHECK ATTACHMENT TIGHTNESS
The four attachment points for the rear carrier, the two for the kickstand, and at least one on each brake caliper. If anything is coming loose check that there is light grease, check that the washers are there, recheck more frequently until it is stable.

CHECK GEAR CABLE SLACK
The cables might stretch a little in the first few rides. Or the housing ends settle in a bit. This causes a bit of cable slack. Move the shift levers so the chain is on the smallest cogs front & rear. Now use the barrel adjusters on the downtube to remove any cable slack. At first make only quarter turns so you can tell which way is tightening the cable

CHECK ECCENTRIC BOTTOM BRACKET TIGHTNESS
The main screw in the EBB (eccentric bottom bracket) in its current position, is tight. Recommended to be 5-8Nm.

CHECK ROHLOFF EXTERNAL GEARBOX PLATE COVER
Check the thumb-screw is finger-tight.

Perform these checks every 500km

CHECK ATTACHMENT TIGHTNESS
The four attachment points for the rear carrier, the two for the kickstand, and at least one on each brake caliper. If anything is coming loose check that there is light grease, check that the washers are there, recheck more frequently until it is stable.

Perform these checks every 1,000km

CHECK SPOKES
Feel each spoke to see if there is a broken one and replace it if there is (this will probably never happen).

CHECK FOR OIL ON THE HUB
A little oil leaks from the hub. It is normal. Wipe it off to prevent it getting as far as the brake pads.

Perform these checks every 5,000km

CHECK BRAKE PADS
Remove the brake pads and check the wear level, Replace if close to being worn right down at any point. Check your stock of pads.

CHECK TYRE WEAR
When the colour of the puncture protection starts to show you normally have a few thousand kms available before you start to get punctures.

CHECK CRANK ATTACHMENT
Use the 8mm hex (allen) key with pipe extender from your set of tools. Torque should be 40Nm or 350 inch pounds.

CHECK BELT TENSION
Reset the belt tightness if it has lost tension. The day after recheck the EBB’s tightness to see it has held.

CHECK SPROCKET
Check the tightness

ROHLOFF HUB OIL CHANGE
Use Rohloff Art.Nr. 8410 and check your stock of this oil change kit.

Perform these checks every 20,000km

CHECK SPROCKET
Check for signs of wear.

*Your own observations should take precedence. The above list is minimum service only. If you notice something then check it straight away. Do the bounce test for rattles. Be ready to notice the earliest sign of brake pads wearing down to the metal. Never ride with such worn pads. Have spare pads in stock. Become familiar with derailleur adjustments. They only take seconds when your fingers learn what to do.