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3X3 Nine internally geared hub promises performance with ZERO maintenance

3X3 Nine NO maintenance internal gear hub, Gates belt drive detail
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All internal gear hub fans know the simple promise of reduced maintenance compared to a conventional derailleur drivetrain, but the 3X3 Nine hub promises literally NO internal maintenance. No gear adjustments, not even an oil change. This sucker is built to run for life, trouble free and even under exceptionally high ebike loads!

3X3 Nine internal geared hub needs NO maintenance

3X3 Nine NO maintenance internal gear hub, full-suspension eMTB mountain bike

There’s a new derailleur killer in town.

On the outside it looks a lot like the several-decade-running, made-in-Germany benchmark internally geared hub from Rohloff (although it opens on the driveside for service instead.)

Inside things get a bit different.

Tech Details – What’s New? What’s Different?

3X3 Nine NO maintenance internal gear hub, planetary internals c. H+B Hightech
c. H+B Hightech

The 3X3 Nine hub is stuffed full of planetary gears that give it a wider 554% gear ratio – even wider than SRAM Eagle – but across much fewer gears.

With just 9 gears, that’s almost a 25% jump with each shift, more than double the gearing steps you might get from a tightly spaced gearbox or road or gravel cassette. For a frame of reference, an original Pinion P.18 has 11.5% steps,  Campagnolo Ekar generally has 7-17% steps.

And the 3X3 Nine hub is actually about 10-15% heavier than a Rohloff, at 2000g total.

3X3 Nine NO maintenance internal gear hub, QR setup

But what you get in return is the promise of a no-maintenance set of internals that are lubricated by longer-lasting grease and do not need regular oil changes.

3X3 even claims that it is possible to “shift gears at any time, even at standstill or under load”. That under load is an interesting one, as without a clutch mechanism… planetary gear hubs do generally require at least some reduction in load to allow a shift. But the extremely high allowable torque inputs of the 3X3 Nine hub could allow for more shifting under some continuous load.

3X3 Nine NO maintenance internal gear hub, MTB setup

You do get a maximum allowable input torque of 250Nm, making it well-suited for ebike and even e-cargo bike applications, as well. That’s much more than the 130Nm max of a Rohloff or even the 160Nm max of the latest Kindernay VII.

3X3 Nine NO maintenance internal gear hub, customizable fitting

3X3’s Nine hub can be set up for mechanical or electronic shifting, with various bolt-on torque-transferring endplates to suit many OEM or aftermarket installations. 3X3 says the Nine hub is compatible with QR or thru-axles, 160+mm disc brakes with rotors made for them by Magura, and with either chain drive or Gates-made belt drive cogs.

Nicolai Argon GX Gates belt drive bike, 3x3 Nine hub detail

They even work with each OEM bike company to develop clean customized dropout solutions for each type of application.

3X3 Nine NO maintenance internal gear hub, rotary twist grip shifter

The mechanical setup features a R9.S twist grip shifter, which also appears to split so that it can be also installed on the top of a dropbar.

3X3 Nine NO maintenance internal gear hub, mechanical hub shift

At the hub it uses a conventional 2-cable pull-only R.SB shift setup for proven simplicity and easy install.

3X3 Nine NO maintenance internal gear hub, wireless electronic MTB shifter

The electronic setup uses a wireless 2-button E.TR remote trigger shifter that can tie in with modular mountain bike cockpits.

3X3 Nine NO maintenance internal gear hub, electronic hub shifting

The E9.XP electronic shifter itself is wirelessly controlled, but wired to an internal battery in the frame, and can also be connected to an ebike’s power supply and will display your current gear via the drive system’s display.

In fact, electronic Nine systems also include an automatic shifting feature that downshifts when you are standing for an easier, smoother restart from a dead stop.

Key Stats

3X3 Nine NO maintenance internal gear hub

  • 9 gears
  • 554% gear ratio
  • 23.76% gear steps
  • 250Nm max. input torque
  • 2kg hub weight
  • chain or belt drive
  • 160/180/203/220mm brake rotor compatibility
  • 32 or 36-hole J-bend spoke lacing
  • 135QR/142×12/148x12mm axle compatibility
  • mechanical rotary shift or electronic shift control
  • 100% made in Germany, with automated manufacturing

3X3 Nine gear hub availability

Nicolai Argon GX Slide gets 3X3 Nine MY23, drop bar twist shifter

In the end 3X3 isn’t actually a start-up, but a new bike drive brand offshoot of specialized metalworking company H+B Hightech, who in one way or another have been in industrial metal manufacturing since 1901. And all of the 3X3 components are manufactured and assembled in their Adelmannsfelden, Germany factory.

We’ve been told that OEM bikes are the first place consumers will get their hands on a new Nine hub gear system. Only after that will they likely be available for aftermarket conversions. The first production manufacturer to use the new gear hub is Nicolai, on this bike we saw in our Gates Carbon belt-drive roundup.

Nicolai Argon GX Gates belt drive bike
Nicolai Argon GX Slide gets 3X3 Nine for MY23

For model year 2023, Nicolai will launch their alloy cross/gravel/touring bike as the Argon GX Slide built around a 3X3 Nine hub and the mechanical rotary shifter (GripShift-style) that can be fit on the tops of a drop bar.

3X3 Nine NO maintenance internal gear hub, Nicolai G1 EBOXX eMTB
not yet production Nicolai G1 EBOXX eMTB with a 3X3 Nine electronic setup

3X3 said the Bosch-powered e-enduro Nicolai G1 EBOXX ebike we saw fitted out with their Nine hub was something they would love to see in the near future, but likely not for at least another model year.

3X3.bike

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Brad
Brad
2 years ago

Reminds me of the Nuvinci 360 hub from years ago. It was a CVT though. 12 pound rear wheel. Which in this day and age of ebikes, guess doesn’t matter, but back then was a bit too much to deal with for anything other than commuting.

Dinger
Dinger
2 years ago
Reply to  Brad

The Nuvinci is still made. It’s changed names to Enviolo and they are popular for e-bikes and cargo bikes.

JEREMY MOORE
JEREMY MOORE
2 years ago
Reply to  Brad

I had a fat bike with one and I loved it. I’d do 4-6hr rides with fair regularity with it

Smokin Paul
Smokin Paul
1 year ago
Reply to  JEREMY MOORE

Was your bike an eBike or pedal only?
I’m considering fixing up my old gravel bike with a Nuvinci hub and would rather not add a mid-drive.

Mark
Mark
2 years ago

That 250nm of torque is a big deal for ebikes. With mid drives like the CYC X1 Pro Gen 2, you could upgrade the controller, run a 72v battery and still be confident you’re not going to destroy your drivetrain. Very interesting.

Andrew
Andrew
2 years ago
Reply to  Mark

Is that 250Nm of static torque or dynamic? Big difference in my experience. I tested a hub with 400Nm+ of static torque capability on the workbench but failed under less than 100Nm or dynamic torque.

Mark
Mark
2 years ago
Reply to  Andrew

Don’t know, but I’m keeping an eye on this one to see how it develops!

Alex
Alex
2 years ago

I see no mention of price. I also see no mention of Alfine hubs, though Alfine hubs have a much narrower range.

pocman
pocman
2 years ago

Although the Rohloff has a smaller transmission range, the number of speed steps is greater, and the steps between them are smaller.

steve w bergman
steve w bergman
2 years ago

Wil there be a 197 mm size to fit Fat tire ebikes? and sold to USA?

Andy
Andy
2 years ago

Hi, I am a large (Heavy) 130Kg rider, much heavier than the average MTB rider and have a high torque crank-motor EMTB. I don’t race and use the bike for trail riding on local legal lanes I used to ride my KTM Enduro bikes on as well as marshal for Enduros and long-distance horse events and even on routes used for a recent local World Down Hill MTB event. I am very interested in converting my chain mid-drive EMTB to belt drive with a rear gear hub. I was looking at a Shimano Anfinie but your hub with electronic button gear changes is obviously far more suitable for my needs. I’d be more than happy to buy the hub and gear change add-ons if you give guidance on the set up conversion to belt drive and tuning of the hub and I would gladly provide feedback on it’s use as well as video and data logging of distances, terrain and conditions as well as returning the hub to you for inspection when required and converting the bike back to chain drive again while it is with you… I am rather large and determined to get places I used to ride the KTM Enduros and it may provide you with valuable data. Regards Andy

lance
2 years ago

can be used with non e bike this 3×3 nine speed hub hmmm?

Craig
Craig
1 year ago

Any word on 12×197 TA version that would clear 5″ tire?

Ceaser
Ceaser
1 year ago

Anyone know if they make an off-road e-bike or moped with the following design,
26” or bigger tires
Front forks with adjustable lock outs
4 caliper hydraulic disc brakes
Rear internal shifter
1500 watt mid drive
52volt 24 amp hour or bigger Lu-ion battery
And a motocross motorcycle seat ,

Paul Walker
Paul Walker
1 year ago

You said it weighed 2000gms, then the table says 2 kilos.

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