Belts Are Better Than Chains on Bicycles?

[@stevekelly6544]

For long tours and loaded bike trips, belt drive is an excellent choice. Not really for high performance speed or racing. More for utilitarian riding….

[@MAURITS_BIKE-HIKE]

Hi Codey. When the chain is replaced on time it will take along time for other parts to wear out. After say 3000 km replace the chain. Cost: about 25 euro. Something goes wrong with the Pinion and your holiday or trip is over. Greetings 👋

[@minimutt1000]

I have a Priority 3 speed city cruiser. I like the bike but am much less enamored with belts now that I’ve owned one. There are definite disadvantages that you don’t hear about until you own one.

[@johnshannon]

It is not true that belts are silent. In Van Duzer's videos it gets talked about. They have to rub the belt down with soap or other to stop the noise.

[@stevekelly6544]

I own one, it’s super quiet- only gets noisy if you don’t keep it clean.

[@alexisphilip]

@johnshannon You are wrong. In their normal state, belts are super duper silent. The only noise they can make is a small squeak and it can be prevented by cleaning it, and then spaying sillicon grease on it (or rubbing bar soap on it).

[@7x7.275]

​@@stevekelly6544Can you use paraffin wax on a belt ? As in a piece of wax not a liquid lube .

[@stevenr5149]

​@@alexisphilip Nope. I think he is correct. Regardless, my chain is also silent with the same level of maintenance you describe.

[@alexisphilip]

@@stevenr5149 I own a belt, I know what I’m talking about 😉 chains needs to cleaned with degreasers, belts just need water. If you don’t care about weight (gearbox), belts are superior. Chains and derailleurs are best for weight savings, at the cost of the annoying regular cleaning. If you travel everyday with your bike for hours, a gearbox+belt setup is amazing. I’d recommend that over a derailleur.

[@TimR123]

I'm a big fan of belt drive/internally geared solutions for practical bikes. Commuters, tourers, etc. I've been running a commuter with a belt and Alfine 8 for about 8 years. The one downside I've learned recently when I (for some reason) wanted to swap to an Alfine 11 wheel, is that the options for primary ratios in the belt cogs are limited. I want to shift the range down and am finding that with the particular combination of hub and crank I have, I can't drop it much. Not necessarily a bad thing just a challenge to consider if you're building your own or like to tinker

[@doormat321]

My electric bike is belt driven and my analog bikes are all chain driven with waxed chains. Most of the drawbacks of chain drive bikes are negated by waxing. Much longer working life, low maintenance, higher efficiency, clean. If someone already has a chain driven bike waxing is a much better option to try before jumping to spending 5K on a new bike.

[@martinschwartz7342]

I am saving up for the Priority Gemini with the Pinion gearbox and the Gates belt. I am sick of cleaning and lubing chains.

[@andrewgoin1]

Love my Kona Sutra, but after getting a Priority Gemini, I wish my Sutra had Pinion with a belt.

[@siriosstar4789]

Chains are time tested and vary greatly as to longevity . if you are into belts then fine , enjoy but don't fret if your bike has a chain .

[@mitmon_8538]

Most of my cycling is my commute to/from work through all seasons. Belts and internal gearing just makes more sense for that since maintenance is all but zero through the year. If I were to go bike touring, I think i'd be comfortable using the same bikes for that, to an extent.

[@JohnHoogstrate]

This video mixes up a lot of things. For example it implies that a worn bottom bracket is somehow linked to a worn chain, and the advantages of a gearbox/gearhub are attributed to a belt. Furthermore it makes some pretty bold claims about future costs and repairs without much support for them.

[@pavelg4990]

I’m also switching to belts (+pinion) for bike packing. Had enough troubles with chains, derailleurs, hangers, etc on my trips, then ordering and waiting for parts, or single speeding. I also have a Kona Sutra and I love the bike, so I had a pinion/ belt custom built based on the sutra with some of my mods. Pinion weight penalty is not that much, Cycling About has a great article comparing weight in a pinion/ derailleur/ rohloff setups. Plus no chain grime, no need for chain tools, wax or lube bottle, etc.

[@stevenr5149]

What do I think? I'm confused. You said your current bike is a chain bike. Have you ever ridden a belt drive bike? You are an experienced rider has had a chain that falls off their bike "more times than you can count", I might recommend several other steps before buying an expensive proprietary belt drive bike. I recommend Free to Ride on KZbin. They are my favorite how-to bike repair channel. I used them to help set up my front derailleur. Also, I only do minimal chain greasing/waxing and it is pretty much silent. Also lots of good videos on your tube if you need help with a loud drive train. A local bike mechanic should easily make your bike run silent for less $$ than a new bike as well. If you are looking to spend money, you can never go wrong with a great set of light supple tires or more comfortable seat.

[@rasfo123]

nah efficiency of pinion and belt is terrible compared to chain. I had pinon MTB and sold it after 1.000km was experimenting with belt then with chain on pinion. Was not able to keep up with guys anymore, especially on high gears drag is very noticeable. But I miss that shifting it was awesome.

[@Garfie1d73]

You are right. The efficiency is so bad. My bet is that about 20 percent of what you put on the pedal is lost in the gearbox and the belt.

[@marnig9185]

If the alignment of the pulleys is not 100% correct, no. And then it gets really expensive, I stick with thick chains and wax, in the case of a pinion.

[@asfsfas2435]

not until belt can be use on normal bike and gearbox

[@ghostwriter9266]

Chains last way longer than your 5000 km with normal mantenance. However belts alread arround for years and have a well establushed place in bicycle drivetrains. No need to talk about them as someting new.

[@msofficeexpert5549]

1k views after I sew this video.

[@Garfie1d73]

Never get a Pinion. It will fail you when you are far away from home. There is no chance of repairing an oil leaking Pinion gearbox. Your holidays are simply over. No bike shop can service a Pinion. it hast to be sent to the manufacturer. Don't believe what you are being told here. I know from experience. Never ever again will I buy a Pinion.

[@philmccavity]

One of those cheap pinion gearboxes..

[@Foxtrottangoabc]

With bicycles going more and more electric , then maybe belt ➕️ electric is the next evolution