A multi-speed gear hub that includes a hub shaft, a hub sleeve mounted about the hub shaft and at least one planetary gear mechanism for providing a plurality of transmission paths. A bearing is mounted about the hub shaft such that an annular gap is created between the bearing and the hub shaft. A transmission sleeve is disposed in an annular gap for introducing a rotational shift movement into the interior of the gear hub. The configuration of the transmission element does not limit the rotation of the transmission and thus the shifting travel or the shifting angle for each gear ratio is not limited.