Possible to upgrade R&M Delite Rohloff from mechanical to electronic gearshifter ?

[elbikefun]

Hi guys and garls.

Anybody who knows if its possible to retro-upgrade from ordinary/mechanical gear-sifter to the electronical variant ?



I Might buy a R& M Delite GX Rohloff HS which comes with the ordinary/ manual gearshifter. I would consider seriously to upgrade if this is possible.

 

[Deleted member 18083]

Rohloff are aware of the demand for upgrades but are not making conversion kits available yet.

• Rohloff E-14 Info & FAQs

It is expected that Riese & Müller will publish details of their 2019 ebikes (including E-14 for all Rohloff models?) at the beginning of September 2018 - just a few more sleeps.
... David

 

[dblhelix]

It is expected that Riese & Müller will publish details of their 2019 ebikes (including E-14 for all Rohloff models?) at the beginning of September 2018 - just a few more sleeps.
... David

I’d love to hear how current owners feel about this. Is it reasonable to expect people to buy a new bike every year because RM isn’t interested in supporting the “aftermarket” —- which is what you are called right after you plunk down thousands of dollars.

I have been wrestling with upgrades to my current bike vs a new model. I am leaning to the former. Would like to hear other opinions. I just don’t find E-14 or E-Harmony compelling enough to justify thousands of dollars to land up with multiple Thudbusters, another weak braking system and the return to “aftermarket” status.

Same with the new Bosch display. It’s optional? Not offered to the “aftermarket”? Haha, foolish me — i thought I would get a free upgrade with a note “sorry to make you wait this long, love Bosch.”

Just say Nein.

 

[Dionigi]

I’d love to hear how current owners feel about this. Is it reasonable to expect people to buy a new bike every year because RM isn’t interested in supporting the “aftermarket” —- which is what you are called right after you plunk down thousands of dollars.

I have been wrestling with upgrades to my current bike vs a new model. I am leaning to the former. Would like to hear other opinions. I just don’t find E-14 or E-Harmony compelling enough to justify thousands of dollars to land up with multiple Thudbusters, another weak braking system and the return to “aftermarket” status.

Same with the new Bosch display. It’s optional? Not offered to the “aftermarket”? Haha, foolish me — i thought I would get a free upgrade with a note “sorry to make you wait this long, love Bosch.”

Just say Nein.

Do automobile manufacturers offer upgrades on existing models? R&M is not in the DIY business nor would they want the liability.

 

[dblhelix]

Do automobile manufacturers offer upgrades on existing models? R&M is not in the DIY business nor would they want the liability.

A bike is not an automobile.

Again, this is about spending thousands/yr on a bike to obtain features which could ce delivered by kit and installed by dealers that specialize in the brand.

 

[Dionigi]

A bike is not an automobile.

Again, this is about spending thousands/yr on a bike to obtain features which could ce delivered by kit and installed by dealers that specialize in the brand.

It’s very doubtful they would have an interest.

 

[dblhelix]

Do automobile manufacturers offer upgrades on existing models? R&M is not in the DIY business nor would they want the liability.

I have been reading about E-14 since at least 2014.

We’ve gone through several iterations of displays “on the way” that turned out to be vapor.

I wouldn’t categorize this as DIY but understand that opinions may vary.

 

[dblhelix]

It’s very doubtful they would have an interest.

Who is “they”? I have seen some very interesting upgrade projects at the dealer — quite intricate in fact. I agree with you that some projects are probably not worth the hassle, but a Purion to Intuvia, for example, has not been uncommon, and an aftermarket E14 has been out in the open a long time.

 

[Dionigi]

Who is “they”? I have seen some very interesting upgrade projects at the dealer — quite intricate in fact. I agree with you that some projects are probably not worth the hassle, but a Purion to Intuvia, for example, has not been uncommon, and an aftermarket E14 has been out in the open a long time.

Rohloff made it clear the E-14, at this time, is only available to OEMs.

 

[dblhelix]

Rohloff made it clear the E-14, at this time, is only available to OEMs.

Right. That is the stated policy after partnering with Bosch.

Full circle: for all those who can afford a yearly RM, I look forward to your stories. I won’t be in this group. One solution would be a frame/drivetrain option but I’m sure there are umpteen reasons why this would not be possible. Cheers.

 

[Dionigi]

I’m guessing Rohloff wants to have control of this new product, the electronic shift is unknown territory for a gear company. In reality it might be equivalent to a beta test, who knows what issues will surface. Maybe it’s best to sit back and wait.

 

[Alaskan]

I’m guessing Rohloff wants to have control of this new product, the electronic shift is unknown territory for a gear company. In reality it might be equivalent to a beta test, who knows what issues will surface. Maybe it’s best to sit back and wait.

Wise counsel this. Electronic gremlin or dead battery you have a very heavy single speed bike to pedal home. My manual shift took 2 days to master. Now I wouldn't trade it for an e14, at least not for another year or 2 of proving.

 

[Dmitri]

Don't forget there's another, possibly larger, group of people waiting for E-14: the people on mechanical bikes. The reason for all of this is that the mechanical shifter is so abysmally bad. But something tells me that an E-14 will always be Bosch-only and, furthermore, will be unusable on newer bikes without firmware updates... which are fine if you can actually go and visit your dealer, but sadly won't work for me.

 

[Alaskan]

Don't forget there's another, possibly larger, group of people waiting for E-14: the people on mechanical bikes. The reason for all of this is that the mechanical shifter is so abysmally bad. But something tells me that an E-14 will always be Bosch-only and, furthermore, will be unusable on newer bikes without firmware updates... which are fine if you can actually go and visit your dealer, but sadly won't work for me.

Not sure why you find the manual Rohloff shifter so wanting. Has yours been problematic from day one? Mine has almost 2000 miles on it now and it works just fine.

In fact I wouldn't trade it for an E-14 until they offer it with manual override/mode in the event of firmware glitch or battery issues. I want to see some significant history of reliability before I rely on it.

 

[dblhelix]

Don't forget there's another, possibly larger, group of people waiting for E-14: the people on mechanical bikes. The reason for all of this is that the mechanical shifter is so abysmally bad. But something tells me that an E-14 will always be Bosch-only and, furthermore, will be unusable on newer bikes without firmware updates... which are fine if you can actually go and visit your dealer, but sadly won't work for me.

I think you are right because I seem to remember it was available as an aftermarket kit some years ago for mechanical bikes. It had a different name, but it does not look too different. I can’t remember the details, but it was at a time that I was considering a Rohloff for a mechanical bike and thought to myself “at least I have this option to avoid the horrible (mechanical) shifters. I can’t guarantee that it wasn’t eBay-only, but I do know it disappeared once I saw the venture with Bosch announcement ca. 2014 or so.

@Alaskan, I do not know what is on your bike, but a majority of Rohloff users on mechanical bikes have long complained about the stock shifters. I remember web pages of suggested alternatives back when I was researching the hub. @Dmitri is not wrong about this.

 

[Alaskan]

@dblhelix I did not say Dimitri was wrong but cited my own recent but trouble free experience with a stock, manual shifter. I did ask him to elaborate on what specifically he had problems with. I would like to know if I should be anticipating problems and what they might be or if they have modified/improved their shifter recently.

 

[dblhelix]

@dblhelix I did not say Dimitri was wrong but cited my own recent but trouble free experience with a stock, manual shifter. I did ask him to elaborate on what specifically he had problems with. I would like to know if I should be anticipating problems and what they might be or if they have modified/improved their shifter recently.

In fact, the current twist shifter is not the original model, IIRC.

I think it’s more a style issue — would you want your twist shifter on a roadie? Genuinely curious.

 

[Alaskan]

In fact, the current twist shifter is not the original model, IIRC.

I think it’s more a style issue — would you want your twist shifter on a roadie? Genuinely curious.

Given that I do not ride a road bike, the question is not really relevant to my situation. I find current "twisty" perfectly workable to the point that I never think about it. One man's experience.

 

[dblhelix]

Given that I do not ride a road bike, the question is not really relevant to my situation.

OK, but why worry about how mechanical bike owners feel, then? Perhaps it is your experience that is irrelevant.

Case in point:

https://bicycles.stackexchange.com/...f-twist-shifter-is-too-slippery-when-sweating

A big selling point in the e-bike space is that we don’t get too sweaty — making us irrelevant to this rider.

 

[Alaskan]

OK, but why worry about how mechanical bike owners feel, then? Perhaps it is your experience that is irrelevant.

Case in point:

https://bicycles.stackexchange.com/...f-twist-shifter-is-too-slippery-when-sweating

We are not talking about a mechanical road bike here. The question is about a Riese & Mulller Delight Rohloff and whether a mechanical shifter can be retrofitted to it. My bike is a Riese & Muller Homage with a drive train identical to the bike in question (Bosch HS Performatnce Drive with Roloff Speed Hub.