my bike is belt drive. i love it. what're you wondering?
this post was submitted on 09 Apr 2025
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Is it really next to no maintenance, or is that just ad copy?
Have you noticed much ride feel difference between it and a chain?
Do you know much about different belt drive systems / if they are really materially different from each other? Seems like its kinda between gates and veer for options?
As far as Internally geared hubs, I've only ever ridden old sturmy archer, I'm guessing modern ones have come a long way, but how do they perform?
this has been my only bike for probably five years or so, and i haven't had to do anything with the belt. so far as i can tell, it really is basically maintenance free.
i don't really know much about belt drives beyond the basics and my own specific bike. i didn't even know there were different types until ya'll started bringing them up.
the internally geared hub is a bit of a PITA, but idk if that's normal, or if mine is just janky. i also have no idea how old my bike is originally, since i got it used from a community bike shop. my hub though has an annoying habit of 'skipping' if you apply too much torque, and slipping out of the low gear unexpectedly. i wish it had something like a schlumpf drive with some variety of single speed hub instead.
Is it a Gates drive? Maybe, Veer - or even lesser known brand? Have you already experienced replacing the belt (by yourself or at a bike service)?
Is there substantial difference in simplicity (usage and/or maintenance) if compared to a singlespeed bike, for example?
my bike is a used Priority. i haven't needed to replace the belt yet, but it should be fairly simple. the frame has a little piece to remove to get it out. as for comparing with a single speed, i can't really say, as i haven't had a single speed bike since i was a wee lass, and that was ages ago.
edit: it looks like a new version of my bike uses a gates drive, but idk the difference.
What's your setup and how does it compare to a chain drive as far as pedaling goes in your opinion?
i got mine used a fair few years ago, but i think it's this bike from Priority, except mine has a basket on front, and a rack with a file crate in the back. it has 3 gear hub, and honestly i think that makes a way bigger difference to pedalling than the belt, as it skips if i apply too much torque (idk if that's normal for shimano hubs, or if mine is just janky though).
Anything is maintenance free if you don't do maintenance on it. In my experience, chains rarely fail too
A belt drive with integrated gearbox (no derailleur) is imho the future of e-bikes, especially as they get more powerful. This is anecdotal but based on my own experience.
I have a middrive bike, fat tire 9 speeds. It has a fairly powerful cargo bike motor that puts out 130Nm. The cassette is a Shimano HG-400, most durable option I've been able to find. I've had issues with it eating the 9th gear cog, just rounding off the teeth VERY quickly. I have to ride it like driving a big truck - have to get into the lower gears and never accelerate when I'm in 9th. That plus ordering a bunch of spare 9th gear cogs from AliExpress is workable but for somebody with less biking experience, this would be a very frustrating set up, especially if what they want to do is mostly ride around on the throttle.
In comparison, I also have an eMTB, 85Nm. I can push hard on the top gear without this problem - I could break the chain overdoing it (did that once) but it can take a ton more abuse. The cassette is an SRAM XG-1275 which is without question a higher tier of component, but the point still stands, I can abuse it without it rounding the teeth.
It comes down to the amount of power the motor + me can produce, when put through components that were designed for human output on a moderate weight bike not for human + motor on a much heavier e-bike. A belt can just take more power.
I have a belt drive. Love it! Never want to have a chain on my bike ever again.
We have a children bicycle with a belt drivetrain and it has been super smooth without maintenance so far. I have cycled one for adults too and it's nice. A bit more quiet. There is also no oil so no oil stains either. I vaguely recall they had a hair more friction losses than a chain drive but you'd have to research to be sure.
Quite intrigued by the drive belt as well, and have been comparing different bikes (both electric and not) to get a new city commuter.
Really want a simple lightweight bike with no greasy chain, no multitude of gears and shifters (nor even disc brakes), but again, afraid the (too nice? novelty?) bike will draw unneeded attention. Which will prevent me from using it without concerns (of being stolen or vandalised)...
No but I really want a Priority 600.
I don't have experience and think belt drive is very cool, but a clean and oiled chain can have like 98% efficiency. And gearboxes have less efficiency than derailleur. So for durability and maintenance free it seems great, but it's not cheap and not more efficient or performant.