Belts Are The BEST Bicycle Drivetrain Available (Epic Testing!)

I've just given this video a 2023 update, please click on through for the latest belt drive information: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhXTl7gApVA

They’ve been keeping my trousers up for over 40 years. So clearly they are a solid choice.

Chains are better then belt because you can take your chain off and wear it as a cool necklace.

For a belt, you also need a gearbox. The Rohloff Standard Speedhub Touring is $1600. Now add a specialty frame, specialty belt, and specialty sprocket and specialty chain wheel. If you use it for commute, touring, or general transportation, you will need secure parking to ensure nobody steals it. The system is heavier and significantly less efficient, so they are never going to make it anywhere weight and performance are drivers, which is typically where the money is spent. Most looking for a touring bike, are looking for ruggedness, and being supported worldwide. As things stand, the system only makes sense for what the author does, and those like him willing to ride an unsupported system worldwide. That is a minuscule market. I loathe chains and derailleurs as much as the next guy, but belt drives will need to get within a Texas mile of the chain drives on price before they can invade any area of significant volume.

i've ridden internally geared hubs for many miles, including rohloff, and they are not going to be right for most cyclists due to heavier drive train and efficiency losses despite the lower maintenance intervals. the belt has two main markets: 1) the few cyclists like yourself who are traversing mongolia and demanding extremely robust drive trains, and 2) clunky dutch-style utility bikes where the user demands near-zero maintenance but plans to keep the bike for a long time. keep in mind that many occasional cyclists treat their bikes as disposable when maintenance issues accumulate, and the higher initial cost of the belt drive w/ gears isn't going to make sense in that market. but i think you did a good job presenting the pros and cons and showing how there would probably be a demand for belts on a few more bikes if people had better information. thanks for your video

Me: about to sleep YouTube: Why belt drivetrain is better Me: well, I guess I need to find out

I have brown cycling shoes, can I wear these with a black belt, or do I need to match them?

Built myself a commuter / touring bike with belt drive and internal gears and I couldn't be happier. Belt drive is so silent! No need to worry about lubing anything, no noises and creaks coming out of the drivetrain, it's so amazing!

I am an automatic door technician and most automatic sliding doors use a belt system. When we start getting noise from the belt what we use is CRL wax lubricant its like a tube of wax that has a lubricant mixed into it. It works really well and may be worth a try because it is probably more likely to stay put on the belt of a bike than the lubes you talked about.

“Belts are lighter than chains.” XC Mountain Bikers: I’ll TaKe YoUr EnTiRe sToCk

What about the weight of the internal gearbox system compared to the derailleurs and standard chain? Weighing just the belt against the chain doesn't show the whole picture.

Great advice on the squeak. I had that issue on my tour last summer. I kept adjusting my belt tension thinking it was too loose. It blows my mind to see how loose you run yours. Great video, thanks.

Thank you for the advice regarding using silicone on the belt to eliminate squeaking. The manufacturer says to use no lubrication, but this video emboldened me to try silicone and it works perfectly. If you're ever touring through the American Southwest, lunch is on me.

Epic cycling flex for the intro of this one. "Listen, I've biked to the north and South Pole, across the Sahara desert, up and down Everest..."

So basically I'm getting the disadvantages of both by using a chain drive with a 3 speed hub.

Thanks for the video. It brings back memories riding my 8 geared Gates belt driven Cube Hyde few years back ☺️

The cogs, belts, and sprockets are indeed not widely available. However, they attach to the cranks and hub using common standards: 3-slot IGH type or 9-spline HG in the rear, 104 or 130 BCD in the front. So if your belt snaps in a rural area and you don’t have another one, spare parts for your bike (if not the belted drivetrain) are likely to be found: in this scenario, you can buy a cog, chain, and chainring to keep going. So the point about availability of spare parts is not a strong one against belts, as it does not prevent you from substituting the parts with a chaindrive in a pinch.

Great video! Low maintenance is key. As much as I love tinkering with my bikes I wish they didn't need quite as much attention to be in top shape. Specifically the drivetrain. Looking forward to your next touring video! Stay safe.

Cyclists of the world unite: you have nothing to lose but your chains.

I had a Harley with a belt drive back in 06. Very smooth riding motorcycle. May try the belt drive bicycle. When I see you hauling it across some desert, it does tend to inspire me to get off my ass! Thanks!