Offering nine speeds and a 554-percent range, the 3X3 NINE is a burly gear hub that’s compatible with a chain or belt and promises thousands of trouble-free miles. Find an introduction to the German-made system here…

We first spotted the 3X3 NINE gear hub on a cargo bike at last year’s Bespoked show in Dresden. It caught our attention once again on the Drust tandem at Bespoked Manchester last month, so we figured it’s time to highlight the distinctive made-in-Germany planetary gear system.

  • Bespoked Dresden 2024
  • Bespoked Dresden 2024

With a 554-percent range and nine speeds with approximately 24-percent jumps between gears, the 3X3 NINE gear hub was designed to offer an intuitive, powerful, and maintenance-free experience. It can shift multiple gears at once, even when stationary. The hub can handle the power of large electric motors with up to an impressive 250 Nm of input torque, but it’s also at home on analog bikes.

According to its creators at H+B Hightech, the 3X3 NINE is “completely maintenance-free” and doesn’t require oil changes or maintenance, unlike other internal gear hubs. We’re curious how this claim will stand up to the test of time. They also say the gears are “calibrated for life.”

3X3 NINE Hub
  • 3X3 NINE hub
  • 3X3 NINE hub
  • 3X3 NINE hub

The 3X3 NINE works equally well with chain or belt-drive systems, can be shifted with a grip shift or e-paddle, is compatible with quick-release or thru-axle standards, weighs in at 2 kilograms (4.4 pounds), comes in 32 and 36-hole versions. Rotors of all common sizes will pair with it. Here in the United States, 3X3 products are available through Colorado’s Vapor Propulsion Labs. The hub itself costs around $900, and the other pieces of the system (shifter cog, mount, etc.) are priced individually. Full mechanical and e-shift kits are available for $1,485 and $1,765, respectively.

Find more details about the 3X3 NINE and find dealers over at 3×3.bike.

Further Reading

Make sure to dig into these related articles for more info...

FILED IN (CATEGORIES & TAGS)

Dispatch

New Components

Please keep the conversation civil, constructive, and inclusive, or your comment will be removed.