Mel - fantastic video! Thank you so much for taking the time to post this. I've been curious to hear people's experience using the 3x3 since it was announced, but it remains tough to find firsthand perspectives online. You answered so many questions I've had, and the commenter/reply about efficiency was on my mind as well. Minor question - you mentioned the two are similarly noisy out of the box. I tried a friend's Rohloff and noticed that the upper gears were substantially quieter, which was nice because most riding on flat terrain seemed to be in (quieter) gears 8 or 9. I think there was even one gear (7?) that was much noisier than the rest. Is the 3x3 is also quieter in the upper range?
My experience was that if you’re in the proper gear for the speed you’re traveling, it’s fine. But, if you’re in a climbing gear while flying down a steep, it makes a racket as soon as your gear up (7-9), it sounds perfect. Mine has less than 1000 miles on it. says it gets better over time.
Great video thank you. Do you have an opinion on the efficiency of the hubs? While an enviolo has a poor (~80%) efficiency and a Rohloff a great (~95%) efficiency, close to a derailler. What about the 9?
Excellent question. I never asked. And I see it’s not on the website. When I talk to our distributor, I’ll ask them to forward that question 3x3. I ride without a motor, so it matters to me. Most of our customers ride with motors. It doesn’t matter to them
@@RecumbentPDX Here is the anwer of 3x3 ! "We don´t have the number of efficency, because you can not compare them. We did a test with incline testing at Dekra and got 15% more mileage compared to enviolo"
There could be reasons why that's a European requirement, but not in the US. Our distributors, Vapor Propulsion Labs, specifically state "no maintenance". If that changes, you'll hear about it right here!!
we don’t offer uprights, so take my opinion with a grain of salt: I think either is great. likely, the same pros and cons I cite for trikes applies to uprights.
Another excellent informative video. Thanks Mel.
thank you
Mel - fantastic video! Thank you so much for taking the time to post this. I've been curious to hear people's experience using the 3x3 since it was announced, but it remains tough to find firsthand perspectives online. You answered so many questions I've had, and the commenter/reply about efficiency was on my mind as well. Minor question - you mentioned the two are similarly noisy out of the box. I tried a friend's Rohloff and noticed that the upper gears were substantially quieter, which was nice because most riding on flat terrain seemed to be in (quieter) gears 8 or 9. I think there was even one gear (7?) that was much noisier than the rest. Is the 3x3 is also quieter in the upper range?
My experience was that if you’re in the proper gear for the speed you’re traveling, it’s fine. But, if you’re in a climbing gear while flying down a steep, it makes a racket as soon as your gear up (7-9), it sounds perfect. Mine has less than 1000 miles on it. says it gets better over time.
Great video thank you. Do you have an opinion on the efficiency of the hubs? While an enviolo has a poor (~80%) efficiency and a Rohloff a great (~95%) efficiency, close to a derailler. What about the 9?
Excellent question. I never asked. And I see it’s not on the website. When I talk to our distributor, I’ll ask them to forward that question 3x3. I ride without a motor, so it matters to me. Most of our customers ride with motors. It doesn’t matter to them
@@RecumbentPDX Here is the anwer of 3x3 !
"We don´t have the number of efficency, because you can not compare them.
We did a test with incline testing at Dekra and got 15% more mileage compared to enviolo"
So the hub should definitely be more efficient than the enviolo, which is good news
Hi Mel, for the 3x3 lubricant grease is recommended to be replaced every 15,000 miles according to European websites.
There could be reasons why that's a European requirement, but not in the US. Our distributors, Vapor Propulsion Labs, specifically state "no maintenance". If that changes, you'll hear about it right here!!
So what would you ultimately recommend for a regular bike? A Rohloff or a 3x3?
we don’t offer uprights, so take my opinion with a grain of salt: I think either is great. likely, the same pros and cons I cite for trikes applies to uprights.
If you change the front gear 1-2 teeth does the chain length need to be changed?
dunno. I suppose as long as you have sufficient chain tension that it doesn’t bounce off the ring or sprocket, you should be fine.
can we shifting underload in 3X3 ?
I’ve experienced no load issues, but I’m old. I’ll have to wait till we’ve got a stronger rider or mount a motor w/o a shift sensor to test
Kindernay VII is the best IGH for mid drive motor ebike ever created. Unfortunately they are out of business.
I’ll take your word for it. They went out of business before we could lay our hands on one