Belt vs Chain - Will the Belt Win the Ebike Race?

We have been working with belt-driven ebikes for the past 4 years and they have grown significantly in popularity. The most popular brand of belts and the best quality is the Gates Carbon Drive. In this video, we discuss the history of Gates, how they work and why they are becoming so popular.

Their motto is No grease. No rust. No problems. Since the belts are reinforced with carbon cords they are virtually as strong if not stronger than a traditional chain. More and more brands are adding belt-driven bikes to their catalog. Currently, we offer Ebikes from Butchers & Bicycles, Gazelle, Riese & Müller, Tern & Urban Arrow with Gates Carbon Belt Drives.

Belt Drive Video Chapters (click to skip to the specific point in the video):
0:00 Introduction to Belt Drives
0:40 Gates Belt Corporation History
1:50 Benefits of Belts on Ebikes & Why they are Better than a Chain (cleaner, don’t attract dirt, quite, longer-lasting, etc)
2:49 How Long Does a Gates Carbon Belt Last?
4:30 What Technology Does Belt Use (Internal Hubs, Frame Design, Etc.)4:50 What is the Gates Carbon Belt Made of?
6:46 Gates Centertrack Cogs
7:34 How to Handle a Carbon Belt
8:56 Bike Frame Manufacturing Requirements
10:20 Drivetrain Belt Compatibly (Internally Geared Hubs, Single Speed)
14:39 Frame Design to Accommodate Belts (Upper Chainstay vs Frame Split)
16:48 Electric Bike Belt Drive Applications & Components
18:28 How the Belt Handles Displacing Dirt & Debris
19:30 Special Frame Details to Accommodate a Belt (Dropout Slider, Snubber, etc)
20:30 How to Align a Belt in the Frame
21:00 Importance of Propel Belt Tension
23:35 Frequently Asked Questions About Belts
23:44 How do Belt-Driven Bikes Handle Different Terrain (Sand. Snow, Mud, etc)
25:00 Temperatures the Gates Carbon Drive Can Operate
26:55 Ebikes Available with the Gates Belt Drive in the US
30:00 Can I add a Belt Drive to a non-belt Ebike?
30:58 How Efficient Are Gates Belt Drives?
32:43 Full Suspension Electric Bikes with a Belt
33:50 Closing Thoughts

We hope you enjoyed this video. If you have any experience, questions or comments please leave them below. We look forward to your feedback.

#beltdriveebikes #gatescarbondrive #beltdrive

[Propelbikes]

Thank you guys for all the overwhelming love and support!✌

If you're interested in checking out some bikes with belt drives, feel free to check out the links in the description.🚲

[frozenmargarita]

Here's my story with Belt Drives. I bought a high end commuter a few years back because it had the belt drive, I lived in Brooklyn and needed something low maintenance that gets me through rain and snow, so got the BMC Allpenchallenge. Everything was dialed in, just an amazing bike, if you lower your expectations on speed. Belt Drives are amazingly quiet, I loved it. Then a year later, I started getting an awful "squeak" on every rotation of the crank. I took it to multiple shops, they couldnt figure it out. So I decided to take care of it myself. Started by adjusting the tension on the eccentric bottom bracket, aligning the front and rear cogs, got a tension tuner for belt drives, got a new bottom bracket, just threw everything I could think of at this thing. Disassembled and regreased every component on the bike, even sent Gates a video of the "squeaking". Nothing worked, I stopped riding it, yes it is near zero maintenance but I couldnt handle the noise on what were supposed to be nice and quiet rides. Fast forward a few years, I get back into figuring this issue out, and I decided to clean every connector I could think of. Belt drives most of the time (not always) require a split in the seat stays, so I unscrewed and cleaned the connection as much as possible (its hard to separate that area and get a proper cleaning) and mother of christ that was the issue, tiny dust and dirt particle get in the split zone from the frame flexing over time and thats where the sound was coming from.
TLDR: clean the GD split area in the frame once a year.

[dylanclements]

As someone who has spent my whole life using a chain, I've now got an ebike with a belt drive & 2 speed automatic transmission. I love the set up, you don't get more low maintenance & hassle free. I won't be going back to a chain ever 👍 great content thank you 👍

[zauwee]

A couple of months ago, I rode a R&M Superdelite with all the upgrades, Rohloff and belt drive and all. A $14K+ beast. I concluded then that ebikes have the potential to revolutionize the way we apes get around, and belt drives and automatic gear shifting would be integral of that revolution. Car killing machine.

[antonoat]

Great film Chris. I was going to mention the "cycling about" guy and how he loves the belts, he rides in some of the most inhospitable places on earth! I think chains have been popular for so long because there wasn't really a viable alternative. I think it's just a matter of time before the majority swap over to belt drive bikes.

[twelveightyone]

My Cube Hyde Pro with Alfina 8 speed & belt drive is being delivered next week and I cannot WAIT to begin my journey with it. Belt drive is definitely the future.

[travissierra]

So I’ve been writing 45 years with chain drive. I’ve also toured a lot over land. The thing with the belt drive because you have to have a specific set up for it. And if you’re overland touring going across the countryside due today and something happens with that belt you better have a spare. Or you’re up a creek without a paddle. I recently watched a YouTuber that tours across the continent on a full-time basis and he had broken his belt drive on his priority 600. He was basically screwed. Yes chains are more maintenance, But part of owning a bicycle of any type is being turned into your maintenance just like any vehicle. I change real easy to get in any small middle of nowhere town. And usually a cassette or free wheel can be found and change mine because these are all wear down in synchronization. In the 45 years that I’ve been riding I never had a chain break just wear down.

[Digital.Done.Right.]

I’ve cycled and raced bikes for over 25 years and now added a Rohloff with a Gates belt on my R&M for daily and next years long distance touring. Just love the simplicity of it. Love the video and very well explained.

[danbergsven]

My wife and I ride the Priority 600 with the Gates belt drive and Pinion gear drive and have really enjoyed the quiet, clean and low maintenance system.

[davidspradley]

Mr. Calififornia/propel, very informative, I think most people would like to know more about speed, range with or without pedal assist AND cost. Thank you and keep Americans informed. I truly believe
this is the wave of our future.

[moonwrasse]

Belts every time with an ebike. So much easier to care for. Clean, quiet and less maintenance

[bondicraig]

I have a gates drive with an internal hub on my ebike and I love it. Quiet, clean, tough & long lasting. This is a big part of the future for most recreational riders. Well explained and interesting as usual, keep up these films .... thanks Chris!

[TheWatcherInTheTower]

Great video Chris! I've had my Vario Load 60 for over 9 months now. I find the bike and the belt drive extremely low maintenance. The belt developed an annoying squeak after about 1200km. I bought a Gates Krikit tool, adjusted the tension and bingo - fixed! I look forward to many years of riding on this bike.

[electricstrider]

I have a stand up elliptical used it since 2011 w avg 2 >3k miles per year, Wipe the chain 1x week &lube and still works fine. I also have a REI Novarra Gotham w Nuvinchi 380 and Gates belt and love that as well.

[julianpulvermacher]

A really excellent contribution: comprehensive, interesting and accessibly presented. Thank you!

[PaulSter]

Great overview. Yep, I used to ride Harleys and I rode them hard. I can't recall that exact year they switched over to belts, but I want to say it was in the mid to late 80s.

I got about 12k miles spread over about 5 years (I always had more than one Harley at a time, so my mileage was spread over 2-3 bikes) and even in the one case where I replaced the belt, I did it just for peace of mind. The belt that I replaced was just showing a small amount of wear, so I preemptively replaced it. That particular bike was a bespoke bike that I built and that had a very high hp, high torque, S&S engine which made the belt's longevity all the more impressive. And boy did I push that bike hard with frequent full throttle pulls and lots of holeshots! Hey, I was young and power hungry! 🤠

It's awesome tech and I wish my RadRunner had it.

[tedwalker]

My experience with chain is, they need lots of care. You try to keep it oiled then it attracts dirt and dirt eats up the chain. It is a constant maintenance problem. At least it is where I live.

[voivodata]

Belts are cleaner, quieter and super low maintenance. I found something very interesting, because I had 2 bikes with the same frame and motor - one with 11 speed Shimano Deore XT 11-50 cassette, the other was with Enviolo. Both of them using latest motor from Bosch Gen.4 85 Nm. Riding each of the bikes is completely different experience - chain feels more powerful, less resistance while pedaling and pretty fast. On the other hand side, belt feels very good, smooth, however bike accelerates a little bit slower, feels less efficient. The other significant difference is battery consumption - belts consume more, this is confirmed by testing them on the same terrain.
There is one more difference - when you turn off motor assistance, pedaling bike with chain is much more easier than Enviolo. which feels very hard when you do not have motor assist.

P.S. Bike comparison is between Riese Muller Multicharger MIxte 2022 750 Wh ( Touring with 11 speed Deore XT vs Vario Enviolo )

[GreggMPlahy]

Great Post Chris. It took me 60 years before I finally bought my 1st brand new bike. And that bike is an R & M Nevo with the (NuVinci CVT) or now called the Enviolo. I ride about a thousand miles a year and my Nevo has around 3, 500 miles with all original everything. (Battery, tires, brakes, etc.) Buy nice or buy twice !!!

[acchaladka]

Thanks for this. I test drove the Gazelle range (C-8, T10 RMB and I think the 380) tonight and insisted on testing the belted version as I’ve had experience with modern carbon belts in cars, and I’m impressed. I’m concerned with the nviolo cvt twist grip transmission and the cost when they fail. The sales rep did point me at R&M when I asked for other recommendations and I noticed I was jumping from $2, 500 CAD to 8, 000....Jesus guys, and all I wanted for my midlife crisis was a broken-down Miata....