Soul‑Kozak offers a flexible licensing model for innovative bicycle hub technologies. From a CFO's perspective, it is predictable, scalable, and minimizes risk: it involves fixed, transparent subscription fees (operating expenses – OPEX) instead of large one-time investments in in-house R&D (CAPEX).
The monthly license fee is directly linked to technology usage—it increases only as production grows. The innovation advantage allows you to increase the product price and market share, while avoiding uncertainty regarding research results, patent processes, and time-to-market delays.
At Bike Patents, we’re dedicated to pushing the boundaries of bike technology. Our innovative solutions have revolutionized the industry, making biking safer, more efficient, and more enjoyable for riders of all levels.
| Feature / Area | FREE – Open Standard Free | OEM – 1 Brand €1,000 / month | ENTERPRISE – Premium €10,000 / month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application | StandardOne™ – open axle standard for frame and shock absorber manufacturers. (free only in the context of axle implementation – integration into hubs requires a license) |
StandardOne™ + LoopsDrive™ OR StandardOne™ + M‑netic™ for 1 brand products. |
StandardOne™ + LoopsDrive™ OR StandardOne™ + M‑netic™ for products up to 3 brands (OEM group). (negotiations for more than 5 brands) |
| Production volume | No limit (open standard – any number of frames/forks with StandardOne™ axle) | Up to 10,000 units / year (>10,000 – additional OEM subscription) | Up to 100,000 units / year (>100,000 – additional Enterprise subscription) |
| Number of brands | – (industry standard, without OEM license) | 1 brand (one product line covered by the license) | 3 brands (several lines/brands in one group, >3 brands – individual terms) |
| Technical support | Access to StandardOne™ documentation (axle specifications) | 2 hours of technical consultation included (additional support: €100 / hour) | Unlimited consultation and priority support (included in the license price) |
| Materials / CAD | StandardOne™ informational materials (specifications, guidelines) | LoopsDrive™ or M‑netic™ documentation for integration with StandardOne™ | Ready-made 3D models (hub from M‑netic™) + full CAD documentation |
| Role in development | – (open standard – no membership) | – (license user) | Standard Council (co-creation of StandardOne™ development directions, strategic partner’s vote) |
| Termination Conditions | – (does not apply to licenses) | One-month notice (or product withdrawal from the market – whichever occurs first) | One-month notice (or product withdrawal from the market – whichever occurs first) |
Explore how our patented components can be integrated into your production lines. Whether you need a standalone standard or a complete hub solution, we provide a flexible architecture.
Industry standard 25 mm axle (shaped axle mount to frame/fork). Free of charge when implemented in frames and shocks (we want this standard to become widespread in bicycle designs – no license is required here).
Note: In any other context—e.g., using StandardOne™ in hub designs with a proprietary mechanism—it is subject to licensing (protected by Soul‑Kozak patents). StandardOne™ can therefore be considered part of all paid licenses when it comes to hubs/wheels.
New axle + ultra-fast freewheel mechanism. The license (OEM or Enterprise) covers the right to use the StandardOne™ axle standard together with the LoopsDrive™ mechanism in the production of bicycle hubs.
This is our flagship solution: customers receive a complete package for building hubs/testing new bicycles, combining greater axle stiffness with the instantaneous response of the LoopsDrive™ drive (up to 780 engagement points).
New axle + magnetic clutch. License (OEM or Enterprise) to use StandardOne™ together with the M‑netic™ mechanism in hubs.
An alternative to the above – here, customers can build hubs with greater axial stiffness and a simplified, highly reliable magnetic freewheel resulting in lower resistance and extremely quiet operation.
The LoopsDrive™ freewheel mechanism without changing the axle standard. In certain cases, customers may wish to adapt LoopsDrive™ to their own hub design without changing the axle standard (e.g., by retaining the traditional 148 mm axle).
The Soul-Kozak license permits such use—in this case, the license applies only to the LoopsDrive™ mechanism. Its integration into your own architecture is carried out with our support.
The M‑netic™ magnetic mechanism without changing the axle. Similarly, we allow licensing of the M‑netic™ clutch alone for integration with your own axle (e.g., the customer wants to keep the classic axle and simply eliminate the pawls).
This application is also fully covered by the OEM/Enterprise license packages.
LoopsDrive™ and M‑netic™ are alternative mechanisms. Only one of them is ever used in a single hub design. We never combine LoopsDrive™ and M‑netic™ together within the same architecture.
A predictable, scalable licensing model designed to minimize capital risk and maximize return on investment. Explore why Soul-Kozak is a sound financial decision.
Instead of investing capital in uncertain and costly in-house development projects, you pay a current, flexible subscription fee. From a financial standpoint, this is easier to account for and less risky – fees can be allocated to operating costs and quickly reduced if necessary.
Faster implementation means faster revenue. Instead of spending years on R&D, you launch a new product within months. This gives you a 1-2 year head start, generating additional profit that alone exceeds the cost of the license.
With full utilization, it’s ~€1.2 per hub (OEM or Enterprise). This minimal cost per product delivers a significant leap in quality, allowing for price increases that elevate your margin well above the licensing cost. The license quickly pays for itself.
The 10k and 100k-unit limits ensure the licensing model grows proportionally as your production scale increases. You won’t overpay. When you start to reach the limit, we plan an upgrade together—only when your success justifies the investment.
By licensing, you transfer most risks to us: technical (functionality guaranteed), legal (patents protect you), and market-related. You can focus on your core competencies and marketing, minimizing unforeseen losses.
Start with the FREE package (open StandardOne™). Once trust is built, naturally progress to the OEM – 1 Brand package: a low-cost option that's easy to approve within the budget to get the project started.
When expanding to other brands or large lines, we recommend the Enterprise package. We bundle licenses, offering a volume discount (unit cost remains ~€1.20). Benefit from centralized support and co-creation of standards.
We are open to individual arrangements (e.g., >100k volumes, multi-brand licenses, semi-annual billing). You won’t be stuck in restrictive terms—we can always adjust the terms together as your business circumstances change.
Soul‑Kozak provides groundbreaking hub technologies – StandardOne™, LoopsDrive™, and M‑netic™ – under a licensing model that is technically user-friendly (full support, immediate access to ready-made solutions) and financially secure (transparent costs and no long-term commitments). Each license is tied to your success: you pay when you earn, with the assurance of legal and technical stability. We develop and protect the technology, and you use it to succeed in the market.
StandardOne™ A 25mm-diameter axle standard, made available free of charge as an open standard for integration into frames and suspension to enable widespread adoption. However, the use of StandardOne™ in hubs (as part of the drivetrain) is always subject to a license
LoopsDrive™ & M‑netic™ Typically licensed together with StandardOne™. However, we allow standalone licenses for integration into existing hub designs. Important: Licensing configurations must be selected separately. LoopsDrive™ and M‑netic™ never appear together in a single license or product—they are strict alternatives.
Predictable, scalable, and risk-free OPEX models. Choose the tier that matches your production volume and brand portfolio to generate significant revenue and margins.
Access to StandardOne™ and pre-launch materials for frame and shock absorber manufacturers.
Complete solution: StandardOne™ + LoopsDrive™ OR M-netic™ for 1 brand.
Complete OEM package for large manufacturers and brand groups.
Perfect to get started and explore the basic features.
Everything you need for growing your daily business.
For power users who need the absolute maximum.
An innovative freehub concept designed for bicycles, featuring ultra-high points of engagement (POE) and a unique tension-only mechanism. This advanced engineering breakthrough aims to enhance cycling performance and reliability, setting a new standard in freehub technology.
A meticulously engineered hub system for bicycles, designed to deliver exceptional durability and performance. Utilizing advanced manufacturing techniques, this hub system features optimized engagement and high-quality materials, ensuring superior reliability and smooth operation for demanding cyclists.
An advanced bicycle hub system featuring a magnetic mechanism designed for superior engagement and performance. Utilizing cutting-edge technology, this system ensures smooth, reliable operation and enhanced durability, making it an ideal choice for demanding cyclists seeking top-tier performance.
Welcome to our website, where we showcase the latest patented bike technologies designed to elevate your cycling experience. From cutting-edge materials to innovative designs, our featured bike patents offer unmatched performance, comfort, and style.
Experience the future of cycling with our patented bike technologies that revolutionize the way you ride.
Discover a range of patented bike technologies that optimize performance, comfort, and safety.
Explore our collection of patented bike technologies that push the boundaries of cycling innovation.
Browse through our curated selection of bike patents that offer unique and practical solutions.
Experience the future of cycling with our groundbreaking bike patent designs.
Polish hub maker Soul-Kozak’s new LoopsDrive concept is a completely unique solution for creating fast-engagement bike hubs.
While pretty much every geared bicycle’s hub ever made transfers pedal input through compression loads inside a freehub (or freewheel), the LoopsDrive concept uses a series of rings (or loops) pulled in tension to transmit the rider’s power into the rear wheel. And by pulling this point of power transfer out of the tiny environs of the freehub, the Soul-Kozak LoopsDrive promises less drag, improved resistance to dirt, dust & debris, lighter overall weight, and ultra-fast engagement.
Think a minimum of 65 POEs, or as many as 780 points of engagement with no reduction in durability. Or it could even go as high as 1500 POEs when ultra-fast engagement were a priority!
The trick is, LoopsDrive is just a concept. Soul-Kozak has patented the idea. And they’ve created a working prototype that combines elements from several different cycling component makers. But for the LoopsDrive idea to really take hold, Soul-Kozak needs even more hub, cassette, and wheel manufacturers to get on board.
OK, so what really makes this idea special?
The LoopsDrive freehub clutch really comes down to two basic concepts:
Pretty much every freewheeling system works by using a mechanism that jams in between the separately spinning outer hubshell that is laced into the wheel, and the freehub body that holds the cassette. Whether it’s a series of pawls or a ratchet mechanism, teeth slam together transferring the force of your pedal input via compression from the chain/cassette to the hub/spokes/rim/tire.
The LoopsDrive solution hangs loop springs (green) off the biggest cog of a cassette (purple) that then catch hooks machined into an externally toothed ring (silver) fixed to the driveside of the rear hub shell. As the cyclist coasts ahead, the loops glide over the top of the hooks. And when the rider pedals, these gently spring-loaded loops get caught by the hooks creating a load path (silver-green-purple) in tension to transfer pedal input to forward motion at the ground.
In this system, the loop in tension (green) can be theoretically made from a relatively low-cost carbon composite or plastic material that works well in tension. And they could be cheaply and easily replaced as they wear out over time.
Soul-Kozak’s inspiration for LoopsDrive came from nature, in the humble Burdock’s hooked burrs that inevitably get stuck to your clothing. Much like how they inspired Velcro, the hook and loop interface can be simple and strong.
(Just to clarify, the mock-up model in the video above has the silver teeth facing the opposite direction of a bicycle drivetrain. All the other photos that I took of a mock-up model and the rideable prototype wheel have these teeth in the opposite direction to propel a bike forward and coast forward. I hope that makes sense.)
Soul-Kozak’s overarching idea behind the LoopsDrive uni-directional clutch mechanism is separating the freewheel function from the bearing and sealing precision needed to make a bicycle wheel spin smoothly in all conditions.
A bike hub and its bearings needs to be manufactured to super tight tolerances to ensure wheel stiffness, reliable handling, and smooth operation. Then, those bearings must be precisely sealed, both so they are durable, but also so there is no unnecessary drag added to the system. Fitting a freewheeling clutch into the hub means everything has to be super tiny to fit in and around the bearings. And all of those tiny parts need to be incredibly well sealed away from the elements. (Have you looked inside and seen how tiny the springs & pawls in most hubs are?)
By moving the clutch mechanism about 10cm away from the axle, the teeth of the Soul-Kozak LoopsDrive system can be much bigger
The LoopsDrive 52 teeth in this mockup are about 5mm tall vs.1mm tall teeth in my DT 36SL Ratchet EXP hub. And spaced 1cm apart vs. 3mm.
Those much bigger teeth (even with ~1.5x as much engagement) mean that the level of manufacturing precision required is much lower. And an easier-to-machine material can be used – aluminum vs. steel, in this comparison. But carbon or composite structures are also possible.
Soul-Kozak assures that the open LoopsDrive system is designed in such a way that it will be self-clearing of debris. Again they look to nature and the flower cluster of hazel shrubs for a light open structure. That sounds a little bit like a scary concept when we are talking about a freehub clutch exposed to the elements. But the loop interface does not require lubrication, so it won’t attract grime. And putting it next to the cassette-chain interface is a quick reminder that this system already works quite well, fully exposed.
Sure, your cassette will get dusty, dirty, or even super grimy depending on how you lube your chain and what conditions you ride in. But in reality, it works as self-clearing/cleaning most of the time. And is easy to clean further whenever needed.
Pretty much every high-end hub maker touts how fast their hubs engage. Either talking about how many points of engagement (POE) they have (often, but not always, the same as number of teeth) or their angle (°) of engagement. The general idea is: faster engagement means a more responsive feel between your pedals and the power delivered to the ground through the rear wheel tire. Faster engagement is great when you want to get a bike up and over an obstacle (most often off-road) with a quick partial turn of the cranks.
Soul-Kozak says their LoopsDrive will come in 65 POE as a baseline with 65 teeth. 195 POE with the same number of teeth but 3 sets of loops offset from each other. 780 POE is also possible with 12 offset loop positions, or even 1500 POE with a 125T ring and 12 offset loops. (This mock-up model features 52 teeth, and 156 POE with 3 offset loops.)
Industry Nine’s latest Hydra hubs tout 690 POEs. Hope’s Pro 5 delivers 108 POEs. DT Swiss’ latest DEG hubs top out at 90 POE (more on those very soon!) And Chris King RingDrive delivers 72 POEs. But a lot of regular high-quality hubs hit a sweet spot around 35 points of engagement.
But you see, faster isn’t always better – even here in Soul-Kozak’s LoopsDrive concept. First off, ultra-fast hubs exaggerate the feeling of pedal kickback in many full-suspension mountain bike designs. That’s the reason OChain systems exist in gravity mountain bike racing. Plus, more POEs typically adds drag to the hub. And generally, squeezing more POEs inside a hub shell will reduce long-term durability.
Let’s start with the middle-of-the-road 36T engagement that’s common on premium hubs like Shimano XTR or DT Swiss 240s. If we talk about a 29er mountain bike with a 2.4″ tire, those 36 POEs translate to 65mm/2.5″ along the ground. That’s how far your tire could roll back before your freehub would engage. Or If you’re looking at a 170mm crank arm, that means your pedal could move down 30mm/1.2″ before the wheel would start to move forward.
If you are trying to get over a sharp-edged or slippery obstacle on the ground, that might not cut it. Imagine getting on top of a small wet log or big slick root 100mm/4″ in diameter where you come to a stop. And your rear wheel could roll back 65mm? You likely would have a hard time getting up and over it. On the other hand, the 65 POE LoopsDrive wheel could only roll back 36mm or let your crankarm drop 16mm. Tripling that 195POEs, the tire could move back just 12mm or crankarm drop just 5mm. Either of which could make it easier to get up an over something on the trail.
Interestingly, it looks kind of like diminishing returns in my head the higher engagement gets. The Industry Nine Hydra hub cuts tire movement to just 3.4mm, and pedal movement to just 1.5mm. LoopsDrive’s 780 POE option would be 3.0mm & 1.4mm, respectively.
The jump from 36 POE to 65 or 195 are all pretty big. But I doubt many riders would feel any benefit going from ~200 POEs to 690, 780, or even Loops’ theoretical top out at 1500 POEs.
That’s the million-dollar question that I asked Soul-Kozak about their new LoopsDrive tech. Right now, this is just a concept. Albeit, an interesting idea in my mind.
Soul-Kozak has a patent pending on the LoopsDrive concept. But this is not a product they want to produce on their own. They could in theory machine all the hooked aluminum hubs, make the loops themselves, and even machine the matching cassette if they needed too. And the hub maker hinted that we’ll likely see a more developed solution from them, as early as this summer into autumn.
But Soul-Kozak knows that it would be much more efficient, and LoopsDrive would become more widely-adopted, if they could get more brands on-board.
Wheels are already a mix of manufacturers, so that doesn’t seem like a huge stretch. This rideable prototype gravel wheel is already made up of at least 8 different elements produced by several different manufacturers. Soul-Kozak’s silver centerlock disc hub with the toothed ring machined into an ultra-high driveside hub flange. Soul-Kozak custom-machined purple big cog that supports the loops bolted to a modular silver Garbaruk cassette. Then, straight pull stainless spokes and hidden alloy nipples from Sapim, laced to a third-party open mold carbon rim. Lastly topped off with a Continental gravel tire and butyl inner tube.
They then hope to license their LoopsDrive patent to other hub and cassette manufacturers. That way they could get more people to try the concept. Soul-Kozak explains LoopsDrive manufacturing could be both simple/low-cost or with more precision for higher-end performance. Maybe anything from a low-cost city bike wheel to a premium mountain bike racing setup.
Now we just have to wait and see if anyone joins in on the fun.
The people who created Soul-Kozak products noticed that the solutions used so far, such as 9, 12, 15 or 20 mm axles, have one thing in common – they come from structures designed for standard, metal frames and fork legs. What is the only and right thing does not necessarily mean the best – in the era of widespread use of carbon fiber, the use of axles operating on the principle of compressing two halves of the rear triangle or fork leg not only causes unnecessary increase in material overload, but also does not allow carbon fibers to demonstrate their full potential in terms of load transfer and vibration and vibration damping. That’s right – the solutions used for years come from a completely different era than the possibilities of today’s materials, which is why bicycle manufacturers are unable to use the potential offered by modern material engineering. It is also worth noting that any hub mounting solutions based on pressing elements to the frame or fork dropouts will never be exceptionally stiff – especially since the entire industry has currently focused on the maximum wheel axle diameter of 15 mm in MTB.
So how do we solve this problem? Soul-Kozak focused primarily on the design of upside-down forks based on carbon fibers. STANDARDONE – this is the name of the wheel mounting standard, which is to replace the previously used axle mounts. What does it involve? In short, the design was designed so that specially extruded collars on the hub axle are adjusted from below to the sockets in the fork legs (or frame – in the case of the rear wheel), and then tightened with clamps from below (just like we mount the handlebar). The design does not require a lot of force to press and lock the wheel in the sockets – the shape of the collars and sockets themselves stabilizes the wheel, preventing sideways movement (a phenomenon similar to the increasingly used seatpost yokes of a shape other than round).
Mounting the wheel in the STANDARDONE system solves several problems at once. Firstly – the connection is very stiff without the need to use large forces – the actual diameter of the STANDARDONE wheel axle is as much as 25 mm. Secondly – the hub sockets and flanges are always positioned in an optimal position, which on the one hand improves the smoothness of the fork, and on the other allows for the maximum use of the absorption properties of carbon fibers, which are not subject to compression by the wheel axle clamp. Such a system is also lightweight – the hub is actually a construction without a clamp, and the core of the construction is the hub axle itself.
Does the new system have a chance of breaking through on the market? Soul-Kozak has never hidden the fact that it is not interested in mass production and expansion into the world of bicycles other than the most advanced designs for technocratic perfectionists. There will certainly be a manufacturer who will want to use the potential of new technology in the construction of a bicycle and fork – the effects can be stunning… and certainly extremely interesting.
Does the new system have a chance of breaking through on the market? Soul-Kozak has never hidden the fact that it is not interested in mass production and expansion into the world of bicycles other than the most advanced designs for technocratic perfectionists. There will certainly be a manufacturer who will want to use the potential of new technology in the construction of a bicycle and fork – the effects can be stunning… and certainly extremely interesting.
All SOUL-KOZAK hubs feature a one-way clutch engagement system that is unique, exceptional and patented in Poland, Europe and the USA.
The M-netic system is a revolutionary rear hub clutch system built with ring magnets that evenly press the clutch gear ring against the clutch housing. It is a project of the company’s owner and chief engineer – Mariusz Kozak.
The idea was born in 2007 after his brother, a scientist from CERN, visited Switzerland. While visiting the world’s largest electromagnet (superconducting solenoid) generating a strong magnetic field in the CMS experiment and the LHC accelerator located 100 meters underground, Mariusz Kozak learned that most experiments at CERN use a magnetic field. The LHC accelerator is a device in which hadron beams are precisely controlled using a strong magnetic field. Inspired by the possibilities of the magnetic field, Mariusz decided to use its advantages in the latest design of the rear hub clutch mechanism. After performing calculations, a prototype of the rear hub clutch with two ring magnets was created. Operational tests confirmed the reliability of the M-netic system, especially in conditions of heavy contamination and high torque. The hub with the M-netic system is a product that reflects the technological advancement and attention to detail of SOUL-KOZAK.
The M-netic system has enabled the construction of a failure-free rear hub with a simpler design by reducing the number of components, significantly lighter due to the elimination of the three-pawl and spring system, and the new clutch body design allows the use of larger and more durable bearings.
Compared to classic solutions, the hub with the M-netic system is failure-free, lighter, transfers greater torque, engages quickly and securely by eliminating small pawls and springs sensitive to overload and dirt. Unlike springs and pawls, the magnetic field does not corrode and contamination of the entire system does not reduce its efficiency and does not increase the wear of parts. Large and hard teeth of the ring and clutch body made of appropriately hardened steel ensure failure-free operation of the rear hub clutch. The rear hub with the M-netic system is made of fewer components and is easy to service.
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If you have any questions or need further assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Email: m.kozak@soul-kozak.com
Phone: + 48 605 832 182
Address:
SOUL-KOZAK
Franciszków ul.Szeroka 3
21-040 Świdnik
Poland