For cyclists seeking a departure from the traditional, often messy, bicycle chain, Belt Driven Bikes offer a compelling alternative. These innovative drivetrains are gaining popularity, especially among commuters and urban riders, thanks to their significant advantages in maintenance and cleanliness. Unlike conventional chains that demand regular cleaning, lubrication, and are prone to rust and wear, belt drives present a more hassle-free experience.
While chain drives have been the standard for generations, belt driven bikes are stepping into the spotlight, particularly with advancements in materials and design. The most recognized belt drive system in the cycling world is the Gates Belt Drive, though other options are emerging, providing riders with choices to suit their needs.
This article delves into the world of belt driven bicycles, explaining how they function, outlining their benefits and drawbacks, and exploring the different systems available. We’ll also consider their application in electric bikes and help you determine if a belt drive bike is the right choice for your cycling style.
How Belt Drive Bicycles Work: A Closer Look
Gates Carbon Belt drive on Volt Lite folding ebike
Instead of the familiar bicycle chain, belt driven bikes utilize a toothed belt to transmit power. This belt performs the same fundamental task as a chain, connecting the crankset to the rear wheel and propelling the bike forward. A toothed drive or cog, analogous to a traditional chainring, is mounted to a standard crankset, and the belt runs over this. At the rear, this belt connects to another toothed metal sprocket.
The belts themselves are constructed with plastic teeth and reinforced with carbon fibers. This carbon fiber reinforcement is crucial, preventing stretching and ensuring durability over time. While most belts are manufactured as a single, continuous loop for maximum strength, splittable belts are also available, joined with a rivet for easier installation on certain frames.
Maintaining the correct belt tension is vital for optimal performance and longevity of a belt drive bike. Proper tension ensures efficient power transfer and minimizes wear on the belt and other drivetrain components.
The Pros and Cons of Belt Drive Bicycles: Weighing Your Options
The Precede comes complete with a rear rack that’s rated to a weighty 25kg load capacity
Like any technology, belt driven bikes come with their own set of advantages and disadvantages compared to traditional chain-driven bicycles. Understanding these pros and cons is key to deciding if a belt drive bike aligns with your cycling needs.
Advantages of Belt Drives:
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Low Maintenance: This is arguably the most significant advantage of belt driven bikes. They are virtually maintenance-free. Belt drives are immune to rust, eliminate the need for regular cleaning and lubrication, and do not stretch like chains. While occasional cleaning to remove accumulated dirt is still recommended, it’s a far simpler task than chain maintenance.
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Extended Lifespan: Belt drives generally outlast chains considerably. Leading bicycle manufacturers like Tern Bikes suggest that a belt drive can last up to an impressive 40,000 kilometers. In contrast, chains are susceptible to stretching and typically require replacement every 5,000 kilometers or so to maintain optimal drivetrain performance. This longevity translates to less frequent replacements and lower long-term running costs.
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Cleanliness: The absence of chain lubricant is a game-changer for cleanliness. Belt drives eliminate the risk of greasy residue transferring to your clothing. This makes belt driven bikes a particularly attractive option for commuters and casual riders who want to arrive at their destination without oil stains and grime.
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Reduced Sharp Edges: Traditional chainrings and sprockets on chain drive bikes have sharp teeth that can cause injury if you accidentally brush against them. Belt drive systems, on the other hand, feature smoother tooth profiles, significantly reducing the risk of cuts or scrapes when handling your bike.
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Lightweight Design: Carbon belts are notably lighter than their metal chain counterparts. In fact, a belt drive can be up to three times lighter than a chain drive system. Canyon, for instance, reports a carbon belt weighing approximately 87 grams compared to a metal chain at 300 grams. This weight reduction can contribute to a slightly more agile and responsive ride.
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Quiet Operation: When properly set up and clean, belt drives can operate more quietly than chains. This smoother, quieter ride enhances the overall cycling experience, especially in urban environments.
Disadvantages of Belt Drives:
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Higher Initial Cost: Bikes equipped with belt drives typically come with a higher price tag. While belts are common in other industries, they remain a niche option in cycling. This lower production volume and specialized components contribute to a higher cost for belt drive systems.
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Increased System Weight (with gears): Belt drive bikes with multiple gear ratios often utilize an internal gear hub. While offering gear versatility, hub gears are generally heavier than derailleur gear systems. Alternative gearbox systems like Pinion, although compatible with belt drives, also add weight compared to traditional derailleurs.
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Greater Friction: A well-maintained and lubricated chain is highly efficient in power transfer. Belt drives inherently experience slightly greater friction due to the wider teeth of the belt and gear wheels. While this friction is generally minimal, it can be a factor for performance-focused cyclists.
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Complex Setup: Similar to chain tension on a single-speed bike, correct belt tension is crucial for smooth operation and preventing skipping. Achieving and maintaining this precise tension can be more intricate than adjusting chain tension.
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Precise Alignment Requirements: Proper alignment along the entire length of the belt is essential. Misalignment can lead to accelerated wear on the belt and increase the risk of skipping or derailment. This requires careful installation and occasional checking.
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Limited Parts Availability: While bike chains are readily available at virtually any bike shop, finding replacement parts for belt drives might be more challenging. This could potentially lead to longer downtime for your bike if repairs are needed.
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Not Field-Repairable: A skilled cyclist with the right tools can repair a damaged bike chain on the roadside. However, a damaged belt drive is not user-repairable and requires replacement. This necessitates carrying a spare belt or relying on professional assistance in case of damage during a ride.
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Compatibility Primarily with Hardtails: Most full-suspension systems alter the distance between the bottom bracket and rear hub as the suspension compresses. Chain-driven bikes utilize derailleurs or chain tensioners to accommodate this change and maintain chain tension. While a few full-suspension belt drive MTBs exist with tensioners, the vast majority of belt driven bikes are hardtails.
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Reduced Efficiency at High Power Output: Chains are generally more efficient than belts at very high power outputs. This makes chain drives a preferred choice for racing bikes, mountain bikes, and high-torque electric mountain bikes (eMTBs) where maximum power transfer is critical.
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Specific Frame Design Requirements: Unlike replacement chains that can be joined after threading through the frame, most belts are continuous loops. This necessitates bike frames designed with a split in the rear triangle to allow belt installation. Alternatively, some designs use an open rear frame. This means belt drives cannot be easily retrofitted to frames designed for chains.
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Increased Stress on Bearings and Axles: The higher tension typically required for belt drives puts more stress on crankset and rear wheel bearings. This increased stress can potentially lead to faster wear of these components over time.
Despite the longer list of potential drawbacks, it’s important to note that bike manufacturers designing belt drive bikes often engineer solutions to mitigate many of these cons. Ultimately, the low-maintenance and clean nature of belt driven bikes remains a significant draw for many riders.
Types of Belt Drive Systems: Gates and Veer
Shand Leveret Gates belt drive
The Gates Belt Drive system stands out as the most prevalent and recognized in the belt driven bike market. Gates utilizes a carbon fiber reinforced toothed belt. This belt meshes with toothed single chainrings and sprockets at both the crankset and rear wheel.
Gates offers a range of belt drive systems tailored to different cycling disciplines, from high-performance MTB and eMTB applications to more affordable systems for entry-level bikes. All Gates systems employ continuous belts, requiring frames specifically designed for belt drive compatibility.
Veer belt with rivets
Veer emerges as a primary competitor to Gates in the belt drive arena. In addition to continuous belt systems, Veer offers a distinctive split belt design. This innovative belt can be joined using a metal rivet, similar to chain links. The split belt allows for retrofitting to standard bike frames without a split rear triangle, expanding the applicability of belt drive technology.
Veer claims that their belts require lower tension compared to Gates systems. This potentially translates to less critical setup and easier maintenance in the long run.
Belt Drives on Electric Bikes: A Practical Pairing
The Canyon Precede ON CF 9 eBike is fitted with the Bosch Performance Line CX (Gen 4) motor
Belt drives have become a favored option for electric bikes, particularly city hybrid ebikes. They enhance the practicality of ebikes, and the electric motor assistance minimizes the impact of the slightly lower drivetrain efficiency compared to human-powered bikes.
While not all belt drive systems are engineered to handle the increased power output of an electric bike, both Gates and Veer offer specific products designed and tested for ebike applications, ensuring reliability and performance under higher torque loads.
Are Belt Driven Bikes Right for You? Making the Decision
Despite the list of potential disadvantages, belt driven bikes present a highly attractive alternative to chain-driven bicycles, especially positioning themselves among the best bikes for commuting and urban riding.
The low-maintenance and grease-free design is perfectly suited for cyclists who prioritize convenience and cleanliness, particularly when riding in everyday clothing. Bike manufacturers specializing in belt-driven bikes actively address potential drawbacks through careful design and component selection.
When paired with a suitable internal gear hub, such as those from Rohloff, a belt drive becomes an excellent choice for long-distance touring bikes. The low maintenance aspect is particularly valuable for extended journeys where regular chain maintenance can be challenging. However, it’s important to consider the potential difficulty in sourcing replacement parts in remote locations should a problem arise.
Conversely, if you are comfortable with the routine cleaning and maintenance required to keep a chain running smoothly and possess the necessary tools, a chain-driven bike remains a highly efficient option. For performance-oriented cycling disciplines like road biking, gravel riding, or mountain biking, a chain-driven bike is still likely to be the more efficient and lighter choice, especially for multi-speed setups.
Ultimately, the best choice depends on your individual cycling needs and priorities. If low maintenance and cleanliness are paramount, and you primarily ride in urban environments or for commuting, a belt driven bike is definitely worth considering.
