01 Axle spacing

The Kindernay gear hubs are available in 135/10, 142/12 and 148/12 axle spacings. Note that the hubs can be easily converted between the 135-142-148mm standards by using the conversion kits that we have available.

02 Brake disc size

The Kindernay XIV comes with a custom brake disc, in either 173, 193 or 216mm: The custom 173mm disc is for bikes with 160mm stock, the 193mm is for bikes with 180mm stock, and the 216mm is for bikes that come with 203mm stock. The extra 13mm diameter of the Kindernay specific rotors comes from the extra height that the custom caliper mount/torque reaction bracket adds to the mounting point of the caliper. The Kindernay VII uses IS 6-bolt rotors.

03 Weight

Total system weight is approx. 1990g for the Kindernay XIV, and 1370g for the Kindernay VII. In order to compare that with a derailleur setup, one must add the weights of the following parts: derailleur(s), shifters(s), shifter cables and housing, cassette, lockring and rear hub.

04 Chainline

135/142/148mm versions: 48.5mm

05 Shifting under load

Upshift: It is possible to upshift (to a higher gear) under close to full pedal power.
Downshifts: It is possible to downshift (to a lower gear) under load, but the rider must slightly reduce the load on the pedals during the shift. Note that the added torque of eBike motors, shifting under load on such bikes is more difficult than with traditional bikes.

06 Gear ratios

The numerical ratios on the Kindernay XIV from 1 through 14 are as follows: 1: 0.272 2: 0.309 3: 0.353 4: 0.402 5: 0.458 6: 0.521 7: 0.594 8: 0.676 9: 0.770 10: 0.878 11: 1.000 12: 1.138 13: 1.297 14: 1.477 Total range/span: 543%. The numerical ratios on The Kindernay VII from 1 through 7 is as follows: 1: 0.484 2: 0.616 3: 0.785 4: 1.000 5: 1.274 6: 1.623 7: 2.068 Total range/span: 428%.

07 Efficiency

In general: a single speed setup usually has an efficiency of around 97%, while a typical derailleur system will be at around 96% efficiency, since the chain has to go through the pulleys of the derailleur cage. Note that clutched (1X) derailleurs have slightly lower efficiency due to the higher spring rate required. Internal gear hubs will range from low 80% up to approx. 95% for the most efficient internal gear hubs. We will have official efficiency data for the Kindernay XIV when our own in-house dyno is ready; we are working on designing and building our own dyno for efficiency testing. However, from a theoretical point of view, due to the internal layout and (low) number of interfering cogs, etc. it should be as efficient or more efficient than any other IGH on the market. Feedback from Kindernay customers who own several types of IGHs confirm that.

01 Warranty

The Kindernay gear hubs come with a 2-year warranty against manufacturing defects.

02 Shipping

We ship by DHL Worldwide Express. The shipment is fully insured and tracked. Note that shipments are subject to local import taxes, depending on the country of destination.

03 Maintenance

With the hub internals in a sealed oil bath, there is very little wear on the these components, so the need for replacing planetary gears, etc is practically non-existent, even after very extended use. The internals are not user serviceable, but like a gearbox in a car, replacement of these components is not common. The (external) drive cog is a standard Shimano DX type, and is available from virtually any bike shop, typically at a cost of less than $10. The only scheduled maintenance is an oil change every 5000km (3100 miles) or once a year, whatever comes first.

04 Cleaning

Do NOT use a pressure washer, and if you use a garden hose, avoid directing the spray at the bearings/seals, as water will get into the internals. Also, do not use any chemicals harsher than soapy water.

05 Is it noisy?

The Kindernay XIV hub uses straight cut gears in order to ensure its substantial torque handling capability and high efficiency. This is the sort of gears that are used in gearboxes in most racing cars. As is the case in a racing car gearbox, these gears exhibit a somewhat higher sound level than traditional, helical cut gears.

06 What about oil leaks?

All oil lubricated internal gear hubs will sweat a small amount of oil through the oil seals due to variations in temperature and resulting pressure differences. In order to minimize oil loss, it is a good idea to store the bike as upright as possible, as this will prevent oil from collecting over one of the seals. If the bike is transported laying on its side, return it to an upright position as soon as possible, and be aware that some oil might drip from the hub when it is laying on its side.

07 Why hydraulic shifting?

The Kindernay gear hubs are hydraulically activated for many of the same reasons that performance braking systems on bicycles, motorcycles and cars are hydraulic, and not cable operated. The hydraulic system is sealed against the elements, and not affected by corrosion, mud, sand, etc, ensuring a consistent level of performance over time. With mineral oil as the hydraulic fluid, virtually no maintenance is required. Hydraulics make cable routing much easier, as hydraulic cables can be routed through tight bends, etc. without affecting performance, unlike steel cables, which see a significant rise in friction and wear rate, if routed through a tight bend. Hydraulic hoses and oil is significantly lighter than traditional steel shifter cables and housing. Last, but not least, the hydraulic setup is able to transfer much more force than a cable operated system, this allows the Kindernay XIV to shift gears under much higher load than would be possible with a cable operated system.

08 What kind of hydraulic fluid is used in the HYSEQ shifter unit?

The HYSEQ shifters use mineral oil. Do not, under any circumstance, use DOT fluid, as it will damage the seals and void the warranty.

01 Available Extras

• Extra SWAP shell(s) for use on multiple bikes or wheelsets • Extra cogs • Chain tensioner • Extra brake rotors • Gear oil (we use a special formulation, custom made for the hub)

02 Gear Oil

For best performance and longevity, we recommend that you use our specially formulated Kindernay oil. The hub is delivered with oil (shipped in a bottle due to shipping regulations). Recommended (hub) oil change interval is 5000km or 1 year, and we also recommend an initial oil change after 500km to flush out particles, etc. from break-in. We sell oil change kits that consist of flushing/cleaning oil and lubricating oil.

03 Belt drive

Belt drive is possible. As of now, there is one Gates cog that will fit, the 22T so called 6 bolt cog: https://shop.carbondrive.net/shop/rear-sprocket/cdx-9-spline-6-loch.html?___store=en&___from_store=de Note that we are now cooperating with Gates in order to develop more cog sizes that will work with our hub.
Note: The beltline with the above Gates cog is 45.5mm

04 Bleed kit

What you need is: Two plastic syringes and two short sections of thin plastic hose. Note that the system is delivered pre-bled, so no need to bleed unless you want to cut/shorten the hoses.

05 SWAP shell

The SWAP shell/cage is currently available in 28h, 32h, and 36h versions. Note: Due to the short spokes (due to 100mm hub flanges) and symmetric build of the wheel (ie. spoke lengths and spoke tension is equal on both sides), our 28h wheels are often stronger than a traditional 32h wheel, and our 32h wheels are stronger than most traditional 36h wheels.

06 Chain tensioning

Some form of chain tensioning is necessary, for example: • Frame with sliding dropouts • Eccentric bottom bracket • Single pulley chain tensioner (OK for hardtail frames) • Dual pulley chain tensioner (required for most full suspension frames, and will work great on hardtails too. In fact, it is often easier to get a clean install with a dual pulley tensioner, as it can be tucked closer to the chainstay than is the case with a single pulley tensioner.)

01 Will you offer a version with 170/177mm spacing?

We are working on this, but release date is not yet scheduled.

02 Will you offer a single sided shifter?

We have launched our HYSEQ Onesie shifter in September, and it is already available for order on our webshop.

03 Will you offer an electric shifter?

We are working on an electric shifter, but release date is not yet scheduled.

04 Will you offer a twist shifter?

We are working on a twist shifter, but release date is not yet scheduled.

05 Will it work on a tandem?

Yes, it will work on a tandem, and is currently in use on tandems.

06 Will you offer 40h or 48h SWAP shells?

Not in the immediate future, but note that our new 36h wheels will likely be stronger than most 40+ spoke wheels, due to its symmetric lacing pattern and short spoke lengths.

01 Expedition use

The Kindernay gear hubs are built to withstand very high loads. However, we do not yet recommend them for expedition use, as the hub shell is sealed, so service in the field is not possible.

02 What type of chain should I use

Pretty much any 5-speed to 11-speed chain can be used. It is likely that some single speed chains as well, but note that some of them are too wide.

03 Kindernay shifters on drop bars

Our own clamp is currently limited to the MTB handlebar standard of 22.2mm. We are getting many requests for this, so we might consider making a 31.8mm clamp so that the levers can mount on top of the bars.

04 Kindernay use on a Brompton bike

It is possible to use Kindernay XIV on a Brompton, but it requires a custom rear frame triangle from Kinetics. (http://www.kinetics-online.co.uk/folding-bikes/brompton/)

05 Use on a frame without discbrake mount

The Kindernay torque reaction bracket is made to mount on a disc brake frame, but there are adapters out there that might work: https://www.wiggle.co.uk/a2z-universal-disc-mount/

06 Will it fit a (insert bike Brand/Model)?

The Kindernay gear hubs will bolt onto most standard frames on the market. Note that on some bikes, some simple modifications to the torque arm and/or torque reaction bracket might be necessary.

07 Use on a 135mm frame

The Kindernay gear hubs can be fitted to pretty much any normal 135mm frame; the 135/10 option is in fact one of the most common ones that we sell.

08 Drive cog

The drive cog on the Kindernay gear hubs is a standard Shimano DX type.
Available from most bike shops.

09 Lockring tool for the drive cog

To remove the cog, you will need to use a chain whip and a 38mm socket. Note: grind down the outer flange of the socket somewhat, so that it is flat and provides more overlap and a better grip on the locknut.We will offer a special 38mm tool later, but a slightly modified socket 38mm socket works extremely well.