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Belt Driven Bicycles
Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 9:50 pm
by Brackstone
Well it looks like we won't be the only ones debating chain vs belt
http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/11/19/chai ... index.html
Trek Bicycle is part of a movement to bury the finger-pinching, pants-munching, rust-prone sprocket and chain, and usher in an era of belt-driven bikes that might have the inventors of the self-propelled transportation Schwinning in their graves.
Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 6:21 am
by Thumper
I saw that in the paper here yesterday...and was intrigued until I saw the price. $900+ for a bicycle...wow. I think $899 is my limit...
Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 7:50 am
by flynrider
Looks like a solution in search of a problem (and a pricey solution at that). Chain drives on bicycles are pretty simple and robust. Maintenance, besides an occasional spray of lube, is non-existent. I noted that they made a point that a bicycle chain drive has 3,000 parts. So what? It's not like you have to disassemble or reassemble it.
If the belt drive was substantially more efficient, it might justify the increased cost, but it's not.
Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 10:25 am
by RockBottom
Thumper wrote:I saw that in the paper here yesterday...and was intrigued until I saw the price. $900+ for a bicycle...wow. I think $899 is my limit...
Gee--I paid about $2500 for my road bike and $1800 for my mountain bike, and that was a decade ago.
Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 2:43 pm
by JC Viper
RockBottom wrote:Thumper wrote:I saw that in the paper here yesterday...and was intrigued until I saw the price. $900+ for a bicycle...wow. I think $899 is my limit...
Gee--I paid about $2500 for my road bike and $1800 for my mountain bike, and that was a decade ago.
Just like my Jeep mountain bike with disc brakes or my $500 Mongoose downhill mountain bike. I wonder if the gear changing will be hampered by a belt. I have experienced getting some pants caught in my chain, or the grease of the chain getting on my pants. And maybe this will be a quiet bike with the belt and all.
Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 3:03 pm
by ofblong
I have had my 21 speed for 8 years now and have yet to grease/do anything with/to the chain on it.
Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 11:38 pm
by paul246
My wife's bicycle has both chain and belt drive...hehehe.
Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 11:42 pm
by JC Viper
What next? Radial tires or brakes, how about some sort of ABS to prevent skidding on a bicycle? I mean there are bike tires now with Activated silica for wet pavement performance just like for motorcycles.
Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 7:20 am
by motokid
I have a belt driven MC and I'm not impressed at all. can hardly imagine MTB with the belt.
K
Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 8:58 am
by mydlyfkryzis
They say the belt last 3 years versus 1 year for a chain.
I don't ride enough I guess. I have never worn out a bicycle chain. I don't race or anything, but only a year on a chain? Maybe Lance Armstrong wears em out.
The problem with the belt is they don't work well with a derailleur system. That's why the belted bikes are single speed.
Looks like a solution looking for a problem.