We Are Pinion
We are a team of engineers, technicians, thinkers, and doers. What drives us? A love of bicycles and a passion for helping to shape sustainable mobility.
CHRISTOPH LERMEN
Founder & Managing Director
“In founding Pinion, I am living my dream.
Developing sophisticated products, together with a great team, which contribute to the improvement of the bicycle: it fills me with pride, and it’s a lot of fun!”
MICHAEL SCHMITZ
Founder & Managing Director
“We have turned our 2006 vision, of developing automotive transmission technology for bicycles, into reality. The fact that more than 100 bicycle manufacturers are now convinced by our interpretation of bicycle gear shifting motivates me every day.”
MADE IN GERMANY
We develop
gearbox technology
to the highest standards
Centrally integrated in the bicycle frame, Pinion gearboxes offer unique cycling dynamics and unparalleled shifting performance. Modeled after proven automotive transmission technology, Pinion gearboxes are ideally suited to the rigors of cycling. Virtually wear-free and requiring no adjustments, the gearbox provides long term reliability under even the toughest conditions.
Awards for Pinion and innovative Pinion-equipped bikes
RENNSTAHL 853 PINION
GERMAN DESIGN AWARD 2019
ZERODE KATIPO
DESIGN & INNOVATION
AWARD 2020
TOP 3 COMPANIES
German Founders Award 2017
Pinion C-Line
Innovation Award, the state of Baden-Württemberg 2016
Pinion C-LINE
EUROBIKE AWARD 2016
PINION TECHNOLOGY
BIKE MILESTONE 2011
“We’re bringing cutting-edge automotive technology to bikes,
and offering a whole new riding and shifting experience.”
Thomas Raith, Managing Director
We champion in-house
Engineering, Design and Testing
Every beginning brings new ideas. Our engineers and product designers develop and conceive, question and improve our products, processes and materials every day anew.
Assembled by hand
100 % in Germany
A Pinion gearbox consists of about 140 component pieces, which are assembled like clockwork by experienced fitters and technicians. The gearbox components we design are manufactured to our specifications by our regional network of mid-sized automotive industry partners.
“Your gearbox is in good hands with us. With our wealth of knowledge and
years of experience, we’ll get things rolling again.”
ANDRÉ, Technical Support
Pinion Milestones
2006
The idea is born
- Christoph Lermen and Michael Schmitz come up with the idea for a gearbox-based bicycle shifting system at Porsche’s development center in Weissach, Germany.
2007
First patent applications
- Lermen and Schmitz decide to develop a production-ready gearbox.
2008
Foundation of Pinion GmbH
- Test ride of the first gearbox prototype, which was still built with three gearing sub-units.
2010
Endurance test on the test bench
- Commissioning of an in-house developed gearbox testing rig. The first employee is hired.
2010
Endurance test in practice
- Extreme cyclist Felix Fröhlich crosses the Himalayas with a Pinion gearbox prototype. The gearbox works flawlessly.
2011
Pinion P1.18
- The first bicycle manufacturers begin frame development for the gearbox, which now bears the official name P1.18.
2012
serial production
- Move to the company headquarters in Denkendorf and start of serial production.
2013
Pinion Bicycles
- By this time, 30 bicycle manufacturers offer the P1.18 gearbox in production models.
2014
More gearbox variants
- Three more gearbox variations are added: P1.12, P1.9CR, P1.9XR, which are designed for specific applications.
2015
More bicycle manufacturers
- By this time, around 50 well-known bicycle manufacturers are building bikes with Pinion gearboxes.
2016
Presentation of the C-Line
- Pinion introduces its second line of gearboxes. Pinion gearbox technology is now accessible in upper mid-range bikes.
2017
Facility in North America
- Pinion North America becomes the sales and service partner for the North American market.
2018
Pinion set to grow
- Thomas Raith joins the previous founding duo as the third managing director. By this time, more than 100 bicycle manufacturers from around the world offer Pinion bicycles and E-bikes.
2020/2021
New company headquarters
- Pinion moves into a new company headquarters in Denkendorf, where more than 50 employees now work.
July, 2022
PINION SMART.SHFT
- The proven Pinion Gearbox – now with electric shifting.
August, 2022
NEW MAJORITY OWNER
- Pinion with new majority owner BRP. BRP is a global leader in powersports products & drivetrain systems.
November, 2022
PINION IN NORTH AMERICA
- VPL is new partner for Pinion Sales and Service in North America
JUNE, 2023
PINION MOTOR.GEARBOX.UNIT
- Pinion introduces revolutionary e-bike drive system. The Pinion MGU, it combines motor and gearbox into one unit.