Belts Are BETTER Than Chain Drivetrain for Bicycle! My Test Result After 12 YEARS OF BIKE TOURING!

💥 Let me know which one would you choose and WHY?
🔥 NOTE : This video is based on my 12 years of real life experience and not a lab test!
In this video I explain, Why I think the belt drivetrain is the best drivetrain for commuting, bike touring & bike packing!
After 12 years of bicycle touring and testing both of these drivetrains in the most extreme conditions!
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🎯 In this video I deep dive into the differences between Belt Drivetrain and Chain Drivetrain. I explain these differences in 11 different topics:
0:00 - Intro
1:22 - Durability, Is Belt Drive as durable as chain Drivetrain ? What is inside the Belt Drive?
2:24 - Maintenance, Is Belt Drive Maintenance free? How often do I clean my drivetrains while touring?
4:57 - Longevity. Does Belt Drive last longer than chain?
6:15 - Efficiency. Is Belt Drive less efficient than chain?
7:04 - Need for a special Frame. Can you put the Belt Drivetrain on any bicycle?
9:47 - Being ecological. Belt Drive is more ecological than chain drivetrain?
10:15 - E Bikes. Why is the Belt Drivetrain the best drivetrain for Electric Bikes?
10:32 - Weight.
11:32 - Spare parts. What if you break your Belt?
12:27 - How does it feel to cycle with a belt drivetrain?
12:43 - Conclusion. Do I prefer Belt or Chain?
💥🎥 Other videos:
🌍 The latest Movie: • Puukko Knife Making - ...
💥 How to build budget expedition Bike: • How To Build A Budget ...
💥 Comparing Rohloff and Pinion: • First 1200 km! - Pinio...
🎬 How to dress for a winter adventure: • How to LAYER UP for Wi...
❄️ Winter Gear List: nomadstrails.com/winter-gear-...
🔥 Solar Charger Review: nomadstrails.com/the-best-out...
🌍 Check out our Route: nomadstrails.com/our-trip/route/
I used Gates Carbondrive CDX Blet for this test ,Below you can find more information about this belt:
/ carbondrive
www.gatescarbondrive.com/
/ gatescarbondrive
See you in the next video!

[@NomadsTrails]

I have made a very small mistake while recording this video, let me know if you did notice it! Greeting from Uganda-Tanzania border crossing! 😊

[@kamratdennis]

Well the audio is getting better but i think it was cliping a bit still. is that the Rode wireless go or go2 ? i guess you wend with custom dead cat if its the wireless go since that models deadcat did not stay on that good. what setup are you using when you record? you might want to lower the input gain just a tad. Been dreaming of a pinion beltdriven bike for a while :D it looks so nice. but i have to put in some more hours and years until i can buy a bike for over 2000€ first i need to do my recovery after a open heart surgery.

[@TheMrer]

Shimano Alfine or as you said it "Alpha Line" 😉

[@NomadsTrails]

@@kamratdennis the audio has small problem indeed but that is not the mistake 😁. It is wireless go. I wish I had the go 2. Thr gain is the lowest , also I have very loud voice 😅. I hope your recovery goes fast 😊🙏

[@koketsokhupari2214]

Spraying so much silicone spray and your disc looked exposed hahaha

[@RikuLeppanen]

You went from no. 10 to no. 10, where as you should have said no. 11.

[@andrebartels1690]

In Europe, internal gears are a thing. And also, there is a type of bicycle which has a fully closed chain protector box. These come close to a belt drive in longevity because you don't get any dirt on your chain at all. When you mentioned light weight, I had mixed emotions. The belt itself is much lighter than the chain, of course. But you need the gearbox, which is usually heavier than a derailleur set. What you did not mention in that section, is that you don't feel any chain slacking vibration under your foot. It's hard to imagine that you feel your chain feeding back into the pedal, but once you've ridden the much lighter belt drive, you know what I mean. And belts are so comfortably silent. In the ecologic aspect, I'd like to add that we use about the same mass of lubricant through a chain life as we use as plastic on the belt. Additionally, the chain has to be manufactured and lasts only one half of a belt life in perfect conditions. And, in top, the lubricant gets spewed into the environment, whilst most of the belt is put to the trash when it's at the end of its life. So that's a little better for the environment, too.

[@dantheman1945]

same Belt-Setup, same bike. Absolutely happy since 15'000 km. I completely agree with him.

[@NomadsTrails]

🙌

[@S-S2016]

Please send a link to but belt and caset

[@ricojakkakarico-che2561]

Good to see you doing this stuff, great presentation and impartial analysis, thank you sir 🙏🏽

[@dpierre]

Hi Peyman! Thank you for your feedback of great experience! I started with the belt 9 years ago (it's the older, narrower version that can potentially go off the rails although that never happened in the end). It equips 1 of my 2 travel bikes. I drove approx. 20 thousand km knowing that the bike was an almost new opportunity. For me, saving oil and cleaning products, not to mention the grease stains on bags and clothes that require more detergents and disposable gloves when doing maintenance on a chain, all of this pollutes enormously. As soon as I made the change, I noticed that with a belt, you gain in efficiency because there is not all this metal friction and wear = energy! On the climbs, we realize that it is easier with a belt. Finally, the total absence of noise, especially freewheeling at night to approach wildlife, is something very precious:)

[@NomadsTrails]

Hi Didier, thanks for sharing your experience. Indeed the Belt is a fantastic innovation in bike industry. It is too good 😁

[@theonly5001]

Well, there is a better Option: A chain glider with a Pinion or Rohloff. The Belt however has a bit more deformation work done to it. Once you protect the chain from the elements it is a very potected thing. And easy to work with. On our travelbikes we have that system and never had any issues with the chain. However a chain shifting system will wear out way faster than a fixed chain system.

[@radekkuszyk]

@@theonly5001 Chain glider? What do you mean? 🤔

[@theonly5001]

@@radekkuszyk the product is called chainglider. It is basically a housing for a chain, that fits snuggly around a single speed chain. Thus you don't have to worry about debris in your chain.

[@radekkuszyk]

@Felix Leipnitz O yes, I know it 🙂. Although it covers whole chain, some dust penetrates it quite easly. It makes chain service less rare.

[@Marcus-us3ws]

Top ! It's a very good thing to see someone who knows what he's talking about, from experience. Thank you and have a good trip !

[@NomadsTrails]

Most welcome 😊

[@floriandiefenthaler2553]

Thanks for your report! For Globetrotters or Dirt track drivers I also see the benefit of a durable belt and enclosed gearbox. I bought a bicycle with belt drive for my wife, who has got problems with her knees and thus cannot bring high pedal power. For such a specific usecase, the deflection force of the beltdrive is significant versus a well greased or oiled chain. Easy to switch to chain though.

[@MasterGriff1]

Wow! Probably the most comprehensive review of the belt drive system. Keep doing what you’re doing. Thank you.

[@xxwookey]

Not really. Alee's videos are even more detailed: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hpm7hZ9tnKajjKM But it great to see 2 people I trust reaching much the same conclusion after serious real-world testing.

[@gravyblue]

The most informative, concise video I've seen. Awsome

[@pucmahone3893]

EXCELLENT! Thank you for the real WORLD test!

[@allenbaxter5180]

This guy has made a great contribution to all of mankind. Just saying

[@TheWolfmanMachinima]

Thanks for the profound analysis ;) Good luck on your journey.

[@hmroa3056]

Excellent opinions. Keep enjoying your adventures, my friend.

[@jonbarlow3542]

Thanks Peyman, great video, very informative!

[@Rozbujnik_Rumcajs]

I would love to try belt drive but price level for belts and sprokets are insane. Industrial and automotive belts are few times cheaper and I really cant see any justification for that big difference.

[@catherinecat6182]

these belts genuinely are more expensive to produce compared to older style machinery belts But they are still pretty marked up and overpriced because Gates kinda has the market cornered

[@ericaworthington2675]

It's called economies of scale. If every bicycle had belts they'd be cheaper, but for now it's very low volume and this high priced

[@anguismemes1666]

and these rohloff speedhubs are insanely expensive too

[@pandaguan]

Maybe in the future, this will get cloned and sold at a cheaper price by a certain country.

[@bindingcurve]

@@anguismemes1666 Shimano makes nice hubs for less. If you're doing trips like this you want the best.

[@xxwookey]

Glad to see you have reached the same conclusion as Alee. I don't think I'm ever going to be doing such epic rides as you two but I've been using gearboxes for years and like them so my next bike will have a belt if I can find a suitable one. I prefer to buy 2nd hand bikes for both cost and green reasons, but finding a small touring bike with a belt drive s/h is tricky. Belts are still uncommon. It's great to catch up on where you have got to. Ive not seen any of your vids since you got stuck with the Pandemic. So I have 2 years-worth to watch now!

[@NoName-nd6ih]

У меня старый велосипед Бриджстоун на ремне и планетарке,3 скорости,ему уже 40 лет и до сих пор родной ремень)

[@busingyemichaelherbert9783]

I really missed you, i would have pushed you all the way to Tanzania. Enjoy the adventure brother. With love from Uganda. #mukigabiketraveler

[@MrBilld75]

That is positively, the most extreme realistic tests, I think you could put the two systems under. Bravo, loved it! I've never seen so much stuff on a bike. *visions of additional new storage options on my bike, dancing in my head, lol. I've got a rear pannier rack and 50L saddlebags and room on top like you, but wow, you've got some serious storage on there.

[@NomadsTrails]

Thanks 🙏, indeed recording and editing equipments are heavy 😅

[@MrBilld75]

@@NomadsTrails I bet and lithium batteries aren't exactly light either.

[@NomadsTrails]

@@MrBilld75 and harddrives and cameras and so on... but I see it as good training and helping my legs to get stronger. So I don't complain about it 😁🙌

[@alexmoy5091]

Perfect guide for choosing a belt system. Красавчик!

[@significando9437]

You are amazing, I admire that you are a couple that makes any stop, may God continue to bless you, hugs Edvaldo, Brazil. 05/24/2022

[@JohnDoe-lf7gq]

Ich danke dir für ein ausführliches Video. Klasse gemacht.

[@frankcaputzal5643]

Hi - great video !! I have a Bulls ebike with a belt drive and I love it. Keep up the good work 👍

[@NomadsTrails]

🙏🏼

[@john12ryan]

I have two bikes with belt drive now ( Priority Apolllo abd Trek District 4). I will never go back to chain. For me, its the convenience. No more cleaning greasy and dirty chains. And I save money going to the bike shops for tune ups.

[@phdtobe]

Your cycling adventures are epic!

[@mikein60fpstwitch.tvaliber73]

Nice, very informative. Picked up an e-bike with a belt drive and the main selling point I heard was "you wont get oil on your upholstery(car)or furniture in the home"(folding bike) ha ha, glad iv'e been doing some research, belt drives are so much more.... btw mine is a "gates" hearing that brand puts a smile on my face. Great vid, -Cheers

[@NomadsTrails]

Thanks, indeed for me the durability is the main point 💪

[@klla3712]

Hi, I'm riding a Tout Terrain Metropolitan with belt drive since 2011. And I had to change the belt after 25.000 km. For me it was the perfect decision. Wish you have a good ride.

[@NomadsTrails]

Glad to hear you like it. Thanks 🙏

[@Vokunos]

i am not sure if i want that on my mountainbike but let me tell you... you sir got an interesting life thats for sure... maybe one day i also do these kinds of travels switching from the adrenaline side of cycling to the adventure spectrum.

[@NomadsTrails]

🙏😊

[@tobiasstamenkovic9628]

Great review, thank you bro and safe travels. :)

[@NomadsTrails]

🙏

[@denismijic5110]

Odlican video,odlicno rečeno svaka cast,sta li je sledece sto ce izmisliti😃✌️✌️

[@josemansurlemos4580]

Sensacional!!! Esse é o melhor sistema transmissão.

[@lllukiosas59]

Pretty cool! Thanks for sharing

[@DanDan-fu6sd]

Thank you this was very informative.

[@jacobclark89]

Great video man ! thanks

[@PuReBlOoD3478]

Subbed. Great video, very informitive.

[@VoodooDewey69]

I admire your tenacity .

[@garypotter5569]

Current belt drive systems are a sea change. Caveat is that belt drive systems have evolved Phenomenally over recent years. I think the flex and elasticity issues were mostly eliminated, if memory serves.

[@charlesriley23]

Nice to see your exploits again. You might address the durability and any maintenance of internal gearboxes sometime. Hope ya'll are both well..

[@NomadsTrails]

Thanks here is a video of my comparison between Pinion and Rohloff, this video might be answering a part of yoir question 😊 kzbin.info/www/bejne/iJibqJtrptF7os0

[@RWM56]

Well on my 90-year-old bicycle with 2sets of chains that still looks great and works well

[@frankducett9]

Well presented. Thank you.

[@dlmurray55]

I wish I had a friend like you man lol, I bet you know how to survive and work on your bike with all kind of tips. What you do looks amazing to do but I couldn't survive alone with my knowledge lol

[@43sunray]

Great review of the belt drive train. An eye opener indeed. A bit pricey for a layman like me but doable.

[@NomadsTrails]

🙏🏼

[@johnmartin2079]

Very cool in the city, chains are available everywhere, maintenance is master around the world, in the African continent I could put together two used chains before I would wait for a belt replacement.

[@hollywoodundead72]

I wish I could trip like you are. But I am very very happy that you get to do it godbless

[@frankymevo2]

nice and clear video, about the gates belt. and you don't get paid for it. I hope they will see it so that you get recognition for your work. beautiful really beautiful😅

[@njm3211]

Really informative.

[@jeffbotkin1405]

I love to bicycle. See a lot more than in a car specially when the traffic isn’t bad. Not going to attempt cycling around the world though. Thanks

[@adrenframes1001]

Very well argument, good review, one more sub, when you visit Portugal?

[@kornenator]

I'd choose a belt, if i could afford it. Unfortunately even if the belt itself is not that extreme in price, a hub gearbox is just way out of my league at the moment.

[@radekkuszyk]

You are right of you consider Rohloff or Pinion. But Shimano Nexus or Alfine are much more affordable. However, Nexus 8 or Alfine 8 have 307% of gearing range, which could not be enough for hilly terrain Alfine 11 has 409%, which is OK.

[@LaurentBessondelyon]

My surprise is I understand your English! I'm French! Good advice in your video!

[@KBE87]

Hi, first time I've seen your channel and I subscribed immediately. I was wondering: what brand are those mountain bikes with belt drive you've shown in this video?

[@DosJof5118]

I totally agree. My new Priority 600X with Pinion gearbox with Gates belt drive is awesome. All of my other chain drive bikes are jealous.

[@JosRitter]

I got my priority 600x about a month ago, absolutely love it! Quiet and clean.

[@md.moinulislam9467]

U r a brave heart....adventure lover also bicycle lover

[@kabandaraymondtrevor2733]

Bicycles with belts in Uganda are very hard to find even spare parts but I would really want to own one. Much love

[@hananas2]

About your complaint about the outdoor industry making things lighter but less durable: yes, I agree! I personally still really like a light bike though, so I make my bikes light by making sure there's nothing on it I don't need. My bikes are relatively light but very durable, because I just make them very minimalist. Personally I believe that's the best way to make a bike lighter.

[@AbhishekKumar1902]

you are an inspiration ❤❤

[@caseMasterxL]

Great video thank you

[@terrors88]

Thank you! Great video

[@NomadsTrails]

Most welcome 😊

[@divisiona3974]

Just bought en ebike with belt drive. Sooo nice. Can recommend.

[@taphaeltube]

Nice, I only just found your channel. I live in Cape Town. I recommend riding through the Cederberg mountains, North of here (if that isn't already your plan). All the best. Feel free to contact me if you need some local info.

[@spektrumB]

For shorter trip, like a few weeks or couple of months, I can live with chain. If I decide to do a very long trip, a year or more on the road, definitely go for the belt drive.

[@NomadsTrails]

For sure chain dose the job but the belt is incredibly convenient and long lasting 😊

[@sparkyvespa]

I like my chain and XT gears on the touring bike with bar end shifters. Very basic but reliable. I like the idea of the pinion gear box but for gravel tracks and cycle lanes I could not justify the cost versus the benefit. I appreciate that it’s perfect for round the world touring. Great video! Thank you.

[@psychosis7325]

Very interesting. As an auto mechanic having serviced belt and chain drives that have done probably done a combined 100 million kilometers the chain is by far superior in longevity of operation if you can keep it clean and lubricated by a similar factor of 3-5x. With the design of bikes and how long it takes to refill a tank on a car vs person though I can see why it would not be practical to run a internal gearbox plus heavier drive be it shaft or or chain and to have the extra components like a timing case to keep everything clean and lubricated.... I dare say with modern materials and machining though we will soon see a chain an encased chain or shaft drive soon enough that will be essentially maintenence free for 100,000km or more.

[@quentagonthornton49]

Chains are better in enclosed systems that keep the chain lubricated well and clean. The disadvantage to an enclosed chain is increased size and weight, and in the case of a bicycle, very difficult or even impossible on some designs as many bikes route the chain around the frame so the frame either needs to be welded around the enclosed chaincase or the chaincase needs to be assembled from separate parts. This problem is also present with most belt drive systems, except for the Veer Split Belt system. Either way, the main problem with belt drives on bikes is the price, with the previously mentioned Veer kit starting at $350 and a replacement belt costing $100. While replacing the drivetrain components on a derailleur bike might add up to somewhere near the price and the chain at least needs to be replaced quite a bit more often that a belt, than maybe over enough time it's worth it. For a bike that already has an internally geared hub or a gearbox and has a chain drive, a belt drive system likely wouldn't be any cheaper as the chain lasts longer as it is always kept in a straight line and wider, stronger chains are used because there is no need to fit in many gears side by side like on a derailleur cassette. And if you're starting out with a derailleur bike and want to convert it to belt drive, you'll need to get a new rear wheel with an internally geared hub or replace the hub on the already existing wheel, either of which costing extra money.

[@mcspikesky]

The problem as briefly mentioned in the video is rigidity. A shaft drive system needs to be seriously well secured and that weight/complexity on a bicycle isn't desirable for efficiency losses.

[@uvitis13]

Chain on bike wears quickly because it's exposed to external contaminants like water, salt, sand etc. Zero friction cycling has done extensive testing on this. How different chain lubes affect chain longetivity in different riding conditions. Waxing the chain can actually prolong its life about 3-5x of a normal wet lube

[@thomashosch930]

Informative video. What do you think about your Silkroad? Have you ever broken a spoke?

[@FatherandSonTandem]

Thank you for sharing!

[@alirezafazeli8222]

thanks for sharing your precious experiences. How many gears does your hub have? And were you comfortable going up hills?

[@J.morent]

thanks for the info bro

[@benjaminthomas6585]

Hi, Peyman a little late in a reply but if you can manage it ???what chainring ___Sprocket combination do you use. Great video as usual very imformative

[@FordTransitvan]

Brilliant, thanks.

[@namdarbolour9890]

I am curious why you don't use a chain (belt) enclosure. That would fully enclose your belt so it's protected from mud, sand, branches, etc, making maintenance even less necessary! It would also protect your pants from getting caught between the belt and sprockets, and keep your pants/clothing cleaner. With a belt drive, you have a unique opportunity to use an enclosure because you have a straight belt line, unlike derailleurs where the chain moves sideways. A belt enclosure would make your touring bike even more robust. Thank you for your honest and unbiased video. Most reviews on KZbin are commercial in nature and quite useless.

[@newmonengineering]

Belt is definitely less maintenance. Chains will rust easily , especially near Salt water! And chains to get clogged with dirt. I always preferred belts on motorcycles. I have not tried a belt bicycle but I would definitely go for one if I was in the market for it. Belts are harder to install but they really last a long time and are very smooth. So I agree!!

[@MrJulianneave]

I've been riding with a Shimano Nexus 8 and Gates belt for maybe 4 years now, just as a weekend bike and work commuter. One thing worth noting is that belt tension is pretty important, and that setting it either requires use of a proper tension measuring tool (which I don't have) or use of the slightly dodgey Gates app which uses your phone microphone to detect the frequency of the belt as you "pluck" it, in the same way as you'd tune a guitar. Bizarrely my bike only has a threaded tension adjuster on one side of the rear axle, which makes setting tension whilst keeping the wheel straight very hard. Surely most bikes have these adjusters on both sides, like you'd find on a motorbike?

[@larsdela9323]

Yes, I haven't seen a one-sided adjustment on any bike. It sounds a bit "cost effective"...

[@emile345]

Maybe your bike has an eccentric bottom bracket to adjust the tension?

[@darryl0harris]

I often wondered why more motorcycles don't use belts. They seem like they could/should be better.

[@johny_doe]

belts can withstand only human torque, not motor's

[@simonlinser8286]

this guy is so badass it's just mindblowing

[@LHM-es5xl]

I saw you on the video of "Lake"

[@alexmorgan3435]

I tour and commute with Gates carbon belt drive bike and they are revelation compared to chain drive derailleur bikes which are primitive and real PITA to keep running sweetly and quietly. The moment a drop of rain or mud falls on them they start to make an awful racket or lose all their lube, rust or just jam up sound like a noisy sewing machine. Gates belts are truly low maintenance and very durable with a very long lifespan. The Gates carbon belt on my bike is 6 years old and has covered about 50k km and still looks and performs like new. Not a single problem with it. Totally silent. The sprockets are also fine as well. What's not to like? Derailleurs and chains of course!

[@NomadsTrails]

Indeed Alex, the Blet drivetrain is a big improvement 🙌🏼

[@sparkyvespa]

Pinion gearbox system seems to weigh 2.5 pounds more than XT triple 9 speed chain set which is just over a bag of sugar in the UK at 2.2lb. The difference between belt weight or chain is irrelevant when you look at the overall weight difference. Many thanks great video as always!

[@NomadsTrails]

🙏🏼

[@obliviondio]

There's a huge difference in how many gears overall you can achieve with a 9sp triple vs an integrated gearbox for a belt. The chain easily surpasses the belt weight ratio in that regard. If you were to compare apples to apples then you would have used an xt 9sp 1x crank vs the belt drive. You also wouldn't need to just be limited to a single group set. The integrated gearbox has limited graduations so you can easily use multiple combinations of chain based hardware to match the gearbox. Cheaper, lighter etc etc.

[@gregg48]

That 600%+ range is a consideration too.

[@alicenchainrings1326]

@@obliviondio also that gear box is probably a nightmare to work on for the home mechanic

[@obliviondio]

@@alicenchainrings1326 Not really. All you'd ever need to do to the gearbox is change the oil every 6k miles which is super easy. It's vastly easier than changing the hydrologic brake fluid which is a standard on bikes at this price point.

[@artowski]

Has anyone the situation when nexus 8 caused damage to dropouts (literally pressed into them)? How did you solve such a problem?

[@ohyeah5601]

LOVE IT! what is your current bike specifications? Thanks

[@NomadsTrails]

Thanks. Here you can read about my current bike: tout-terrain.de/de/die-produkte/fahrraeder/expedition/silkroad/1332/silkroad-xplore-ii-26?c=199

[@mazditzo]

Well yeah the problem is even I'm not live in backwater country, to get rohloff or even pinion bike is amazingly difficult, not to mention the price and the import tax. 🤦

[@jonathanpepico6042]

I like the belt drive but in our place its hard to find belt in the bike shop

[@Karl_Kampfwagen]

Seems like the lightweight belt is offset by the internal gearboxes, and ends up having just as much overall machining hours and tiny parts to break. Easier than derailleur maintenance, but belt and internal hub/Pinion gearbox parts are harder to get. Seems to be a total wash, to be honest. If you have the money to spend: yes, a new belt drive bike is awesome. If you don't: be happy with what you have. The Pinion box is several thousand dollars ... The belt-split frames are also thousands of dollars... We don't even have a wheelset, brakes, cockpit, bottom bracket, headset, cranks, pedals, or even the Gates Carbon Drive gearset. I mean - $12k isn't exactly a "super expensive" bike, compared to the BS full carbon bespoke road frames costing $30k+... But for ⅒ the price, you can build a truly amazing chain-drive bike, if you know what you're doing. I bought a bare frame to build a fatbike (Framed Minnesota 2.0), and ended up spending ½ of what it would have cost to buy the bike pre-built, then upgrade and customize. 14 months later, not a single trip to the bike shop

[@anguismemes1666]

i also build a bike from a scrapyard frame. i actually just spend not more than 200€ for that. it is more friendly to the environment because of the recycling and also this bike last surprisingly long. i dont like it that everything must be specialized for belt drive like you say it is extremely expensive. also belts for industry machinery are extremely expensive too

[@Karl_Kampfwagen]

@@anguismemes1666 Gates Carbon Drive belts are reasonable, and might cost equal or double the price of a chain... But to get a bike belt-drive happy is not a simple feat. I had a $350 full susp beater frame (KHS AM-2000) ready for belt conversion... Until I cracked the seat-stay tube 2" down, last year. 😭 At least it was a fun idea

[@anguismemes1666]

@@Karl_Kampfwagen what chains do you buy?

[@corvusalbus9219]

Lemme one up you guys on the sustainability: built a commuting bike from literal trash that was lying around mine and a friend's workshops a couple weeks ago, it drives really similar to a fix-gear but has a rear hub brake (coaster brake?). Anyways it was built while I'm saving money to repair my MTB that was crashed into by a an electric scooter. Anyways English is not my first language so please excuse any mistakes and have fun riding your bikes

[@theonly5001]

I would go with the hub gearbox and a chainglider. This leads to a similar protected drive system compared to the belt and it lasts about the same time as a belt. And you can get any chain replacement anywhere. Additionally you get less force onto your sprockets since the pinion will increase the torque on the front gear. Compared to a straight attach gear.

[@erikolsen6269]

awesome video. even if the belt in itself isnt more sustinable than a chain due to the fact that its made out of rubber and carbon, concidering a Rohloff or Kindernay gearhub is preadjusted and will outlast most people, and you need no bearadjust,enttools and so on, I think its the most ecofriendly option. And you get more time riding your bike as a bonus:)

[@juliewilliams6129]

Nowadays bikes come mostly with 1 X 12 drive trains. My experience is the chain and cluster doesn't last long, so IMHO pinion with belt has better as it is lower waste

[@markdebano5280]

Peyman, thanks for the review! I’m wondering how many teeth your front and rear sprocket are? As heavily loaded as you are, I’m wondering these details of your drivetrain. I know you’re a strong guy but I’m curious if you are geared more for climbing. Thanks!

[@NomadsTrails]

Hi Mark, Most welcome, front sprocket 39T and rear 32T :)

[@mr8505]

Hi. I'm a big fan. Is cycling around or across Japan in your future plans?

[@MiccaPhone]

2:07 : How to prevent curious people from touching and twisting the belt in your absence?

[@feynom5189]

Do you use schwalbe marathon mondial?How it is in winter conditions?

[@ManiUk1980]

Good comparison but how did you put the belt on cut the frame?…

[@omare_biketonature]

Definitely belt drivetrain is better as you concluded, I need to save to buy a belt drivetrain touring bike because I have big plans! Right now I’m touring with what I have, a 1993, 7 speed , Japanese Nishiki Meridian, chromoly steel and got a smaller chain ring and a bigger cassette to get 20.5 gear inches, I have crossed Central America and now doing the Colombian Andes, almost 4,000km. So getting that proper bike should not stop you from embarking in that adventure, I feel my bike is not ideal because of the geometry and want disc brakes and wider tires but I haven’t had any problem so far. Cheers Payman! Say hello to Matilda, hope she is doing better now, we miss her!

[@NomadsTrails]

Hi, well said 🙌🏼, never let the equipments to stop you from your adventures, you don't always need the best of the best. it is important to go out and live it!

[@Carlos-gm3zn]

Cant agree more, i work at a bikeshop and love recommending the belt drive, but not one single brand is capable of delivering belt drive in significant time. The waiting times are that bad that customers switch to chain for their purchase… really sad

[@Cincinnatijames]

How is much upkeep is the hub? Also, I'm 90+ kilos and make a lot of torque, I would worry about damaging the gears on a expensive hub.

[@subn0rma1]

I didn't even know there were bikes with belts until I saw this video

[@frederik0014]

I have a belt drive. I do find it starts squeaking quickly. I need to clean and grease it 2 or 3 times a week, coz I find the noise irritating. Furthermore I've had issues with the eccentric bracket, where it got too lose and water and dirt got inside. So make sure it's tight and check regularly. Thirdly you really need to know all the ins and outs of the system, since most bicycle repair shops in the world don't. It was a steep learning curve for me and I had a lot of issues, which cost me a lot of time. In hindsight a chain would have been better for a gear noob like me, but the more I learn, the better it gets. Make sure you can at least completely take the bike apart and clean/replace all components before you leave!

[@Frostbiker]

Belts don't need lubrication. The Gates manual explicitly tells you not to oil the belt.

[@painhour]

how is the shifting, ive read/heard you must not apply torque during shifting

[@Hierrito]

Wonderful my friend have an amazing weekend!

[@NomadsTrails]

Thanks, you too! 😊

[@damianhill6704]

Do you ever get issues with cable stretch affecting the gear changing on Rohloff/pinion etc? (I went to gevenalle friction shifting because of those issues) my cycle buddy is upgrading to Rohloff with belt drive. But I'm the mechanic out of the 2 of us

[@NomadsTrails]

I had to adjust the Rohloff 2 times because of the this (I would guess). But I haven't touch the pinion. It works perfectly fine like a first day. 😊

[@vuonghuuthien4498]

What do you think about the cardan shaft for the bike?

[@Silidons91]

Is there a way to use a power meter with a Pinion Gearbox? (not pedal based?)

[@MarcMallary]

Hot waxing chains helps them stay clean. I think a full chainguards, like the Dutch use on their grandma bikes, would keep a chain from having to be cleaned. They need to make one that will work with derailleurs.

[@tuunaes]

Encasing "chain salad" gear system would require huge box. And not straight chain lines would still wear and tear parts.

[@GordoGambler]

6 years ago I saw a Cube tour bike with a partial plastic guard on a 3x.

[@Kalypz0]

Very good video thanks. Ps. You have nice flag on your bike Hello from Finland

[@NomadsTrails]

Kiitos! 🙌

[@7590mai]

you mentioned that with the chain you carryed two and switched every 1000 km. why not drive with one chain until it wear's out and than switch?

[@jacobringgaardmikkelsen5103]

Got a belt drive e bike as a commuter, its the best