[Closed] long term belt drive useage anyone?

MidlandTrailquestGraham off of here did quite a lot of longer term testing, I recall it wasn't favourable.

Not used one myself, but I saw a couple on a beautiful belt driven tandem in Ironbridge. They claimed to have spent the summer months touring France on it and they said it never missed a beat. Had a big belt between front and rear and a chain to the rear mech. They said they would always think of belts in future.
If I knew how to post photos I'd show you it.

Presume it's like a car and you have to replace them every few thousand miles or your legs get all out of timing. Or something.

Rachel

Yeah, they work great.
Maybe not for muddy trail riding, but for nor everything else it's really good.

Had the same one on my computer for 4 years. Hasn't skipped a beat.... or tooth.

Presume it's like a car and you have to replace them every few thousand miles or your legs get all out of timing. Or something.

😛

Had the same one on my computer for 4 years

You have a belt drive computer, how quaint 🙂

Interested in this too, for bikes not computers. as manky chains/cassettes are a major pain in winter.

I use my tourer to commute most of the time. but this time of year starts to kill the gearing when you ride every day.
I have promised myself for the last 10 years I was going to buy a specific bike. this is the year.

Avanti cycles did something similar in best drive, not sure if they’re still available in the Uk. It does appeal

MTQG found it a massive fail in mud. Probably fine on tarmac though.

I have promised myself for the last 10 years I was going to buy a specific bike. this is the year.

I have promised myself for the last 10 years I was going to buy a specific bike. this is the year.
Dibs

what, when you grow out of short trousers........... 😆

massive fail in mud.

commuting bike. mtb for mud.

MidlandTrailquestGraham off of here did quite a lot of longer term testing, I recall it wasn't favourable

The testing was long term, none of the belts were though were they! However it was all off road and if you look at his posting history you'll find a man able to break things just by looking at them.

IIRC it wasn't a massive fail, it just ended up about the same cost as chains in the long run despite the mud?

Bro in law has a nice urban commuter with a belt. Likes it. Said it squeaked with road grit until he learnt to spray with silicone. However it's not had long-term use yet.

what, when you grow out of short trousers..

Mine's started to slip when I push it hard, though it is 2nd hand of unknown age. Hopefully checking the tension will sort it but we'll see.

Clean trousers has to be the big advantage.

A clean trouser leg has to be the big advantage.

That's the main reason I got mine - that and a good price 2nd hand. I'm not sure it has any huge advantage over a full length chain guard though. Maybe slightly lighter overall but that's not the main concern on the type of bike most people are going to use these on.

My dad runs one with a Rohhloff as a winter tourer. He's been pretty pleased with the belt drive I think. No first hand experience myself though.

Got a BMC single speed with a belt and it is my go to winter commute. Only two years use though.

Solution to a problem that doesn't exist? The chain on my Alfine commuters been on for about 4 years circa 10000 miles. Same for the chain rings.

I tuck my trouser in my sock so no issues there. Last week when I was changing a puncture my 1 year old son tried to eat the chain and got very greasy. Apart from that I can't think how I'd be better off on a belt drive.

My Harley Davidson has a belt. Seems to work ok. If they can lug around a 400kg motorbike I can't see why they wouldn't work on a bike.

I don't think they work too well though if they regularly get stuff like stones trapped in the gears.

I commute every day through Edinburgh on a Dialled Love/Hate that I fitted with a Gates belt drive after having the frame modified by Ben Cooper of Kinetics in Glasgow (very nice job he did too!) about 3 years ago. Before that I had the same bike but used a conventional chain-driven singlespeed set-up. I think I was trying to create a poor mans singlespeed Shand! The belt is great, it seems to work as well as it did on day one and that is probably after something in the region of 12,000kms of commuting and general cycling. I've also used the bike for a bit of CX in some filthy conditions with no issues but the gearing is a bit hard as its really set up for the road.

I like the silence of the belt and the fact that when I get home in the cold, wet dark of the winter I sling it in the garage and drag it out again in the morning with very little concern for drivetrain maintenance. However, in my experience the bike as a whole still needs looking after (irrespective of the drivetrain) and running a belt reduces maintenance time by only a negligible amount at best when compared to running a conventional chain-driven singlespeed set-up.

Overall I don't think it's significantly better, it's just different. It's definitely not worse. As for the supposed benefit of no grease on your trousers, I ride in cycling kit anyway as I'd get too sweaty and ming cycling in my work clothes so it's a bit of a moot point. If I was starting over I probably wouldn't spend the money converting and retro-fitting a non-belt drive bike again as personally I don't think it's worth the cost (unless you're handy and/or have money to spend) but if you can find a bike with belt drive that you like, I'd say go for it.

MidlandTrailquestGraham off of here did quite a lot of longer term testing, I recall it wasn't favourable.

As said, he was in lots of gritty mud all the time.

I'd use one on a commuter, just to get rid of the grimy chain and chainstays.