Velomobile Drivetrain
updated 2 March 2007
| Velomobile | Crankset (Crankstel, Kurbelsatz) | Mid-drive (tussenas, Zwischengetriebe oder Zwischenantrieb) | Rear wheel cassette (sprocket block, cluster) or other - (Cassette, Kassette) | Other options | Drivetrain protection (bescherming van de aandrijving; Abdeckung des Kettenlaufs) |
| Aerorider | none | none | 8-speed Shimano Nexus | has electric motor | enclosed |
| Alleweder (Alligt A3) | 3-speed derailleur | none | 7-speed cassette | poor | |
| Alleweder (Alligt A4) | 65 tooth or smaller chainwheel | none | Rohloff (14-speed hub) or Sram Dual Drive (3 speed hub with 8 speed cassette) | With the Rohloff hub the chain is almost completely enclosed. | |
| Alleweder (Alligt A5) | |||||
| Alleweder (Flevobike) | chainwheel (various sizes) | none | various cassettes | people have installed Sram Dual Drives or Rohloff hubs | poor - chain exposed around chainwheel - possible to add a shield. |
| Alleweder (US Flevo) | 52 T chainwheel | none | Sram Dual Drive (3 speed hub with 8 speed cassette) | ||
| Aurora | triple chainring | Sram Dual Drive | 18-tooth ring on right axle | completely enclosed | |
| Butterfly | unspecified chainring | 3-speed gearshift at mid-drive | 9-speed cassette | ? | |
| Cab-Bike (original) | centrally-mounted chainring | none - but mounting point provided for possible addition of assist motor (behind and below seat). | 14-speed Rohloff (7 on some early Cab-Bikes) | completely enclosed | |
| Cab-Bike (2006-2007 updated version) | centrally-mounted chainring | mid-drive to improve chain line and allow change of gear range without having to change the front chainring (which is difficult) | Hub gears - Rohloff, Shimano, Sram und Sturmey Archer | completely enclosed | |
| go-one3 (carbon) | Shimano Tiagra 52-42-30 | none | Shimano Tiagra 25-23-21-19-17-16-15-14-13 | not enclosed. | |
| go-one3 (fiberglass) | 52-42-30 | none | 25-23-21-19-17-16-15-14-13 | A Dutch owner had Velomobiel substitute a 3x9 Dual Drive in the rear. | not enclosed, but with the un-enclosed rear wheel, it just sprays all the dirt off, according to one velomobilist who was probably on the receiving end of this chain-cleaning system. |
| Leiba | Single chainwheel. | mid-drive, interchangable cogs available (possible mounting point for an assist motor). | SRam Dual Drive 3x7 | SRam Dual Drive 3x8 or 3x9 | |
| Leiba Briese | |||||
| Leitra (with mid-drive) | single chainwheel. (At least one has been seen with a second, smaller chainwheel, apparently with the "Flintstone" derailleur.) | mid-drive | Sachs 3x7 | Rohloff | Marco on the German Velomobil-Forum switched from the 3x7 Dual Drive to the Rohloff to allow for full enclosure of the drivetrain. |
| Leitra (without mid-drive) | single chainwheel. | none - this appears to be an option with the Leitra Sport. Some riders feel that a mid-drive increases the chances of chain derailment. It may (according to one writer) also be difficult to obtain cogs with long, un-profiled teeth any more. | Sachs 3x7 | Rohloff | According to Mikus, (a Leitra dealer): "In the new Leitra-Sport without a mid-drive, the drivetrain also has an enclosed run and for part of the way is also inside a Teflon tube, and at the Rohloff chainring, there is a cover. The dogleg is in front by the bottom bracket rather than in the rear below the frame." |
| Mango | standard is no front derailleur; Mikus and Bluevelo have installed a Schlumpf Speed Drive, and a triple crank is possible. | none | 8-speed 12-26 derailleur | 3x8, 3x9 speed, different cassette, Dual-Drive, Rohloff | Fully-enclosed for protection from water and dirt, with a long expected life; chain-oiling required only once every 2000 km. |
| Quest (26" - current model) | Shimano 105 triple 52/42/30(hollowtech) | none | Shimano 9-speed 11/12/13/14/16/18/21/24/28 | Any Shimano 9-speed cassette can be used | Fully-enclosed for protection from water and dirt, with a long expected life; chain-oiling required only once every 2000 km. |
| Quest (20" - low floor) | 52 tooth chainwheel (could be changed) | A mid-drive with a modified derailleur allowed the use of a standard cassette, driving an 18 tooth wheel to the rear. | 18 tooth freewheel | Fully-enclosed for protection from water and dirt, with a long expected life; chain-oiling required only once every 2000 km. | |
| Quest (20" - flat floor) | |||||
| Sorcerer | Rohloff, 14-speed | ||||
| Stormy Weather | Truvativ Blaze 22/32/44 | mid-drive with 8-speed cassette | 8-speed cassette | ||
| Sunrider | 8-speed Shimano Nexus hub | 14-speed Rohloff | |||
| Thunderstorm | |||||
| Versatile | 14-speed Rohloff | fully-enclosed | |||
| WAW | 32-42-52 | none | 11-12-14-16-18-21-24-28 | Rohloff hub gear, Schlumpf Mountaindrive or SRAM 3x9, or others. | |
| new 2007 WAW | none |