Anybody own a belt drive?
07-15-21, 10:24 AM
#26
Clark W. Griswold
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07-15-21, 10:32 AM
#27
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My Co-Motion Pngea Rohloff has a gates belt. No derailleurs and chain makes for reduced maintenance. The itsy bitsy friction that I constantly hear abut is only a thing if the complainer has a well lubricated clean virgin chain on a fixed gear or internal geared bicycle. Let's talk about weight. The shop were I bought my bicycle, had two Co-Motion Amricano's. One with derailleurs and one with the Rohloff drivetrain. They weighed each stock bicycle. The Rohloff weighed 17 ounces more than the bicycle with derailleurs. If you want a good low maintenance bicycle for touring, road, gravel, cyclocross or most any purpose a belt drive is the way to go.
I saw the Ryan Van Duzer video on how not to break a gates belt. I have had my bicycle over 7 years. The tension on my belt has never changed.
I saw the Ryan Van Duzer video on how not to break a gates belt. I have had my bicycle over 7 years. The tension on my belt has never changed.
That said, I do still like belt drive in a lot of ways. It also looks cool : )
07-15-21, 10:34 AM
#28
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I’ve got a Spot Acme with a Gates belt drive and like it a lot. Virtually no maintenance but as others have said the bike isn’t light. I did drain and replace the fluid in the hub after the first season.
07-15-21, 03:18 PM
#29
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Interesting. I've seen people say the same thing on-line, but I have a hard time reconciling it with my own un-scientific experience (i.e., my Spot bike just feels heavy) and my own back of the envelope calculations. Using rough numbers available on line, a Rohloff hub weighs about 1800 grams dry, and the belt weighs around 75 grams (total 1875). A random combination of Industry Nine Torch rear hub (259 grams), SRAM Force 1 derailleur (262), SRAM 11-speed cassette (268) and SRAM chain (250 grams) equals 1039 grams. That's a difference of 834 grams, or roughly 1.84 pounds. The difference would be less if you use cheaper chain/derailleur parts, but could also be even greater if you use lighter chain drive parts. The Rohloff is also about $1500.
08-08-21, 09:38 PM
#30
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I replaced the belt on my Spot Honey Badger mountain bike.
It performed silently over a big 63 mile 9,000 feet of climbing ride.
It was tensioned between 49-55 Hz based on multiple samples with the Gates phone app.
I've decided to increase tension up to 66 Hz, and will ride it a bunch of times this week to see how that works.
I'm saving the old belt as a backup.
It performed silently over a big 63 mile 9,000 feet of climbing ride.
It was tensioned between 49-55 Hz based on multiple samples with the Gates phone app.
I've decided to increase tension up to 66 Hz, and will ride it a bunch of times this week to see how that works.
I'm saving the old belt as a backup.
08-09-21, 07:04 PM
#31
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Seems very limited on gears. Not really something you are going use for both flats and climbs I assume. I'm intrigued by the concept, but looks more suited as a commuter or a cruiser, not something you might need a wide array of gears to maintain speed over distance.
08-15-21, 07:34 PM
#32
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Being limited on gears is the point of a mountain bike single speed! It makes riding more difficult.
08-17-21, 02:51 PM
#34
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08-18-21, 07:11 PM
#35
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Never had the pleasure of trying a belt drive bicycle. After owning about 25 chain driven motorcycles though, my last one was a Harley Davidson XL883 Sportster. I loved it. Never even needed an adjustment. No cleanup and oiling needed. Silent as can be. Worked at Destination HD Buell in Tacoma Washington before retiring in 2011. Very few belts sold. The only weakness seemed to be the rare riders who road their Harleys on gravel roads. Rocks could get thrown up and ruin a belt on occasion. And, if a rider did break a belt, though there was some kind of a kit for temporary belt repair to get you home, it was generally time for a tow company, or big burly dudes with a pickup or trailer.
