Return of the Elevated Chainstay
- Thread starter Dr S
- Start date
the experience of belt drives i have is on harleys
great for the first few miles ,then they turn into a pain in the arse
in dusty conditions they pick up grit and small stones , this either wrecks
the pullies or generates a nice grinding paste
they are also a pain in the arse to change
bit like a chain really but more faff in the long run
i realise that this wont apply to pedallies in the same way , but still
can't see the point , sort of a solution to a problem that dosen't exist
great for the first few miles ,then they turn into a pain in the arse
in dusty conditions they pick up grit and small stones , this either wrecks
the pullies or generates a nice grinding paste
they are also a pain in the arse to change
bit like a chain really but more faff in the long run
i realise that this wont apply to pedallies in the same way , but still
can't see the point , sort of a solution to a problem that dosen't exist
They are a drivetrain component that wear, and need maintenance.kaiser":2r5ny62d said:
1. Should we ever fully trust or believe sales blurb?kaiser":2r5ny62d said:
2. The issues that are supposedly tackled, are probably at best (ie in ideal conditions) possibly improved with a belt, but I'm not buying them being properly addressed.
My take - if you like it because it looks funky and "cool" - then fair play.
As a mechanical solution? Well it's hardly revolutionised the motorcyle world, and in some cases of car engines, some manufacturers went back to chains after using belts. I'm not buying much above novelty or "cool" value to them, really.
Maybe the urban, reduced maintenance thing. I guess kinda goes with skinny jeans and aviators.
That said, I know cyclists that have been burnt on the idea that hub gears were the answer to urban, reduced maintenance goals.
As to the car engine thing, cost, ease of maintenance, built-in obsolence are probably all factors why belts replaced the use of chains. That's not to say there's no merit in it, but belts and chains in car engines tend to be covered and not exactly running in the same type of conditions that they do on cycles.
Cars, motorbikes :? hardly apples and pears. Maybe I could chime in with the amount of kit I work on thats belt driven but I feel it would be irrelevant. From what I pick up on the ever reliable net, there are folks that have tried it and there are folks that have an opinion on it.
The uses of belts and chains for cars, and especially motorbikes does have a fair bit of relevance. Since many of the claimed "issues" with chains / "advantages" of belts, are quite common.kaiser":21pnllqt said:
My comments stem from close experience of belt drive motorbikes, by the way.
And as to the tried it argument - how many bicycles have you tried with belt drive?
Opinions are bound to be expressed - especially those that have had experience with belt drive motorbikes.
And sales claims are bound to be scrutinised, especially when they're talking about some specious things like being "smooth", "No noise". Even the more objective things don't have any real quantification. When you factor in cost, and the environment that many mountainbikes will be ridden in, then I suspect the argument for isn't that compelling after all.
If people like them / are drawn to them because of how they look, or the q factor, then all well and good - but lets not try and portray that as some objective measure, or rubbish peoples' opinion based on assumptions about experience - I suspect nobody, here, has much experience of bicycles with belt drives, some may have experience of motorbikes with belt drives, though...
Motorcyclists don't like them because they don't understand them,, confusion breeds fear. And secondly, they not as menacing in a bar brawl at a Hells Angels chapter meet. A handbag would be more effective!
Lots of belts in race engines. Lighter and more reliable. They work in such harsh envioroments and withstand great strain without problems. I think they are worth a shot on bikes. We will have to see how they develop in the future.
Anyway, rubber bands aside... great looking bike.
Lots of belts in race engines. Lighter and more reliable. They work in such harsh envioroments and withstand great strain without problems. I think they are worth a shot on bikes. We will have to see how they develop in the future.
Anyway, rubber bands aside... great looking bike.
Well at least one motorcyclist understood them, and wanted to give them a go, as far back as the early 90s.Dr S":1sl7tjv8 said:
As has been said, though, at least for drivetrain, they're largley a solution looking for a problem.
I don't think they're inferior to chains - far from it - I just don't think the advantages - for what they are - outweigh the differences, compromises, and lack of ubiquity.
Slightly different, though - different priorities, and maintenance is paramount.Dr S":1sl7tjv8 said:
The question that leaps to my mind, here, is if they didn't set the world alight with motorbikes, why would people think they're such a great innovation for bicycles?Dr S":1sl7tjv8 said:
Are the environments, issues, and challenges so disparate? Nope.
