The Rohloff E-14 2.0 has landed at Electric Bikes Brisbane, and it is easily one of the most interesting drivetrain updates we have seen in years. Alexander, our head technician, has spent time on the first bikes to arrive and filmed a complete walkthrough of the new Rohloff E-14 electronic shifting system, including the three new shifting modes. At EBB we have been Brisbane's Bosch accredited eBike specialist since 2013, and in that time the Rohloff hub has become the drivetrain we point to whenever someone asks what the gold standard looks like for premium touring and commuter eBikes. The 2.0 update keeps that bulletproof foundation and adds automatic shifting modes that genuinely change how the bike feels to ride.
Watch Alexander's Full System Walkthrough
Alexander runs through the hub, the new shifter, the display integration and all three shifting modes on a Riese & Müller fitted with the Rohloff E-14 2.0 and the Bosch Smart System.
What Is the Rohloff Hub?
If you have not come across Rohloff before, start with the hub, because everything else is built on top of it. A Rohloff Speedhub is a 14-speed gearbox built entirely into the rear wheel. Instead of a cassette, derailleur and hanger sitting exposed on the outside of the bike, all 14 gears and every moving part live sealed inside the hub shell, protected from water, dust, road grime and impact.
As Alexander puts it: "It is a virtually indestructible gearbox — really reliable, really heavy duty, and awesome for touring, commuting, whatever you want to use it for."
Maintenance is almost nothing. "It's super low maintenance," Alexander says. "We just change the oil every now and then, and that's about all there is to it." No cable adjustment, no derailleur alignment, no worn cassettes. Rohloff hubs are designed to cover tens of thousands of kilometres, which is exactly why they end up on bikes that get ridden every single day.
The E-14 2.0 — What's New
The E-14 is the electronic shifting layer that sits on top of the Rohloff hub. The 2.0 version keeps the same proven gearbox and updates the electronics platform around it. Here is what has changed:
- • A better shifter position. The new shifter sits in a much more ergonomic spot on the handlebar than the previous version. It is button operated, so there is no cable friction to push through, no twisting and no spinning. This matters more than it sounds: if you have arthritis or reduced hand strength and you are starting to struggle with the shifter on your current bike, this is one of the easiest drivetrains on the market to operate.
- • An upshift trigger option. As well as the standard downshift and upshift buttons, the upshift can be pulled as a trigger from the front — so you can shift whichever way suits your hand position.
- • Full Bosch display integration. The system is integrated into the Bosch Smart System, so the bike always knows what the drivetrain is doing. Your current gear is shown on the Bosch display at all times — gear 7 of 14 on the demo bike — and every shift is reflected on screen instantly.
- • Auto-return to your starting gear. When the bike comes to a complete stop, it automatically shifts itself back to a preset take-off gear. The factory default on our demo bike (Riese & Müller Charger5 Rohloff, 28.1 kg) is gear 7 — fully configurable so you can set whichever gear you prefer to pull away in. No more fumbling at the lights.
- • Three shifting modes. The headline feature of the 2.0 update, and the part the previous system simply did not have. More on that next.
Three Shifting Modes — Manual, Automatic, and Manual Plus
The biggest change in the E-14 2.0 is the addition of three distinct shifting modes. You cycle between them by pinching both shift toggles together at the same time, and a small mode indicator — M, A or M+ — appears on the display so you always know which one you are in.
M — Manual Mode
Full rider control, and the closest thing to a traditional setup. "The bike is only going to change gear when I request it from the shifter," Alexander explains. Nothing happens unless you press a button, which is exactly what a lot of riders want — predictable, no surprises, and no second-guessing what the bike is about to do.
A — Automatic Mode
In automatic mode the bike shifts itself to hold a target cadence, which you set yourself (see the cadence section below). It is genuinely useful on long tours and daily commutes — it is one less thing to think about, and it frees you up to focus on the road, the traffic and where you are going rather than the gearbox.
Importantly, you never lose control. Manual override is always available in automatic mode: if you want to punch up a short rise, drop down an extra gear or two, make good power over the top, then let the bike settle back to your cruisy standard setting afterwards.
M+ — Manual Plus Mode
This is Alexander's personal favourite, and it is the cleverest of the three. While you are pedalling, you choose the gears — it behaves exactly like manual mode. But the moment you stop pedalling, whether you are gaining speed down a hill, losing speed up one, or rolling to a stop at a set of lights, the system pre-selects the correct gear for you so that when you resume pedalling you are already in a gear that works.
Alexander's example says it best: "Especially if you're off-road riding those river crossings at the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail — you come down into that dip into the creek, and when you start pedalling again to punch back up the other side, it'll just be ready to go. No 'I'm in the wrong gear, I've stuffed it, I've got to try again.'"
Setting Your Cadence Target
Both Automatic and Manual Plus modes work to a target pedalling speed, and you get to choose it. To find the setting: hold the enter button on the Bosch controller, scroll one screen across, and you will land on the cadence setting for the electronic shifting.
| 65–70 RPM | Comfortable, cruisy pedalling. Ideal for commuting, touring and easy trail days. |
| 75–80 RPM | Sportier riding. Gets more power out of both you and the Bosch motor — recommended on harder rides. |
The menu times out on its own, or you can simply navigate back out of it. It is well worth experimenting with, because we all have a natural pedalling speed — and once the setting matches yours, the shifting effectively becomes invisible.
Why Premium E-Bikes Use the Rohloff E-14
Sealed, Protected Drivetrain
All 14 gears are enclosed inside the hub, which makes them immune to the things that regularly destroy external derailleurs: water, mud, dust and impact. In Brisbane's subtropical climate — summer storms, humidity, wet season commuting — and on SE QLD trail rides, a sealed drivetrain simply keeps working. On all Riese & Müller models, Rohloff gearing always comes paired with a carbon belt drive — no chain lubrication, no chain stretch, no replacements. And if you are on an older E-14 model, note that the 2.0 is a complete new unit and is not retrofittable from earlier E-14 versions.
Near-Zero Maintenance
An oil change roughly once a year, and that is essentially the service list. No cable adjustments, no derailleur alignment, no cassette replacements because the chain has started skipping. Riders covering serious kilometres — daily commuters and tourers especially — claw back a good chunk of the premium price in saved service costs over the life of the bike.
14 Evenly Spaced Gears — 526% Total Gear Ratio
You get a total gear ratio of 526% — comparable to or exceeding a high-performance derailleur setup, with evenly spaced steps and none of the fragility. That covers everything from steep Brisbane hills on the commute home to a fully loaded touring setup on the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail.
Bosch Motor Integration
Because the Rohloff E-14 talks directly to the Bosch Smart System, the motor briefly reduces its torque output at the moment of each gear change. The result is clean, precise shifts even under load — you do not need to ease off the pedals or time your shifts, which is a noticeable difference from shifting a derailleur under mid-climb power.
Who Is the Rohloff E-14 For?
Daily commuters who want a bike that just works, every day, without fuss. Long-distance touring riders who need a drivetrain that will not let them down a long way from a bike shop. High-mileage cyclists who are tired of replacing chains, cassettes and derailleurs. Riders with arthritis or limited hand strength who find conventional shifters hard to operate. And anyone who would rather buy one drivetrain that outlasts three or four conventional ones.
See It at EBB
We stock Riese & Müller models with the Rohloff E-14 2.0 in store: Charger, Delite, Homage, and Superdelite. The E-14 2.0 is also available on the Nevo, Load, and Multicharger via custom order through Riese & Müller. Alexander and the team are happy to walk you through the shifting modes in person at our Milton store — the fastest way to understand Manual Plus is to ride it. Come in, set your own cadence target, and feel the difference between M, A and M+ for yourself.
See Riese & Müller eBikes Book a Test Ride
Frequently Asked Questions — Rohloff E-14 2.0
What is the Rohloff E-14 2.0 electronic shifting system?
The Rohloff E-14 2.0 is an electronic shifting system built on the Rohloff 14-speed internal gear hub. It replaces mechanical cable shifting with electronic button-operated shifting integrated directly into the Bosch Smart System. The 2.0 update adds three shifting modes — note that the 2.0 system is not upgradeable from older E-14 models; it requires a new complete unit — Manual, Automatic and Manual Plus — and a redesigned, more ergonomic shifter.
What are the three shifting modes on the Rohloff E-14 2.0?
The Rohloff E-14 2.0 offers three modes, selected by pinching both shift toggles together: Manual (M), where the bike only shifts when the rider presses the button; Automatic (A), where the system shifts automatically to maintain a target cadence set by the rider; and Manual Plus (M+), where the rider controls gears while pedalling but the system automatically pre-selects the correct gear when the rider stops pedalling, so they are always in the right gear when they resume.
How do I set my target cadence on the Rohloff E-14 2.0?
Hold the enter button on the Bosch controller and scroll one screen across to reach the cadence setting menu. For comfortable, cruisy riding, EBB's head technician Alexander recommends 65–70 RPM. For sportier riding where you want more power from both rider and motor, 75–80 RPM is recommended. The setting applies in both Automatic and Manual Plus modes.
What is Manual Plus mode on the Rohloff E-14?
Manual Plus (M+) is a semi-automatic mode where the rider controls gear selection while pedalling, but the system automatically pre-selects the correct gear during coasting — when descending, braking or stopping. This means the bike is always in a suitable gear when pedalling resumes. It is particularly useful for off-road riding with frequent stops, such as trail crossings or Brisbane Valley Rail Trail river crossings, where getting caught in the wrong gear on a steep restart can be difficult.
How often does the Rohloff hub need servicing?
The Rohloff internal gear hub requires only an oil change once a year or every 5,000 km. EBB's Milton workshop can perform this as part of a standard or major service. — no cable adjustments, derailleur alignment or cassette replacements. This extremely low maintenance requirement makes it ideal for high-mileage riders, daily commuters and anyone wanting a long-term, low-cost drivetrain. EBB's workshop in Milton, Brisbane can perform Rohloff oil changes — book this as part of your standard or major service at EBB's Milton workshop.
Does the Rohloff E-14 work with the Bosch eBike Flow app?
Yes. The Rohloff E-14 integrates directly with the Bosch Smart System, and the current gear is displayed on the Bosch display at all times. The system also synchronises with the Bosch motor, which briefly reduces torque during gear changes for clean, precise shifts even under load. Full app features including navigation and ride mode customisation remain available through the Bosch eBike Flow app.
