Gates Belt Broke
- Thread starter Afren
- Start date
Afren
Active Member
I was hoping it wouldn’t break before 20k miles but managed to snap it in half climbing a steep hill having only done 18k. When it snapped, I was very fortunate not to come off the bike. However, it's so, so much better than the chains that I used to have on my other e-bikes. They normally needed replacing after every couple of thousand miles. There's also a spray they recommend (I bought one from Germany) which is supposed to make the belt to function better and apparently, make it last longer. We'll see.
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They may last longer but....
- when they break, you're stuck. If I carry a spare link and chain tool, I can usually repair my chain on the road.
- when they break, they're much harder to replace and re-tension. Can you even do it in the field if you have a spare?
- a belt drive locks you into one set of gear ratios etc. unless you go through the expense of changing out the IGH. (ignoring single speeds...)
I don't ride in conditions that are hard on a chain, so I'm not ready to switch yet.
- when they break, you're stuck. If I carry a spare link and chain tool, I can usually repair my chain on the road.
- when they break, they're much harder to replace and re-tension. Can you even do it in the field if you have a spare?
- a belt drive locks you into one set of gear ratios etc. unless you go through the expense of changing out the IGH. (ignoring single speeds...)
I don't ride in conditions that are hard on a chain, so I'm not ready to switch yet.
Interesting. I've had accessory drive belts for alternators, water pumps, and oil pumps that had wire woven length wise into the fabric, kind of like what you see here but looks like carbon fibers. These were so strong they can damage the part if too tight. Wonder which is stronger.
Mr. Coffee
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- A Demented Corner of the North Cascades
It is recommended by the manufacturer that you replace the belts approximately every 30_000 kilometers. That's for acoustic bikes. So I would think you'd want to replace them quite a bit more frequently on an e-bike.
FWIW most people I've spoken to recommend replacing belts much more frequently, but still a lot less frequently than you'd replace a chain.
FWIW most people I've spoken to recommend replacing belts much more frequently, but still a lot less frequently than you'd replace a chain.
JVBulman
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
18,000mi is about twice what these usually last in my experience. While a failure while riding objectively sucks, I'd say you got your money's worth out of that one.
sammcneill
Well-Known Member
- Region
- New Zealand
You can change your gear ratios by replacing the Chain ring and rear cog. I’ve just built a non electric bike with Rohloff & Gates belt and spent quite a bit of time thinking through the right gearing ratio for bikepacking and adjusted the chainring and cog accordingly.They may last longer but....
- when they break, you're stuck. If I carry a spare link and chain tool, I can usually repair my chain on the road.
- when they break, they're much harder to replace and re-tension. Can you even do it in the field if you have a spare?
- a belt drive locks you into one set of gear ratios etc. unless you go through the expense of changing out the IGH. (ignoring single speeds...)
I don't ride in conditions that are hard on a chain, so I'm not ready to switch yet.
But I take your point, it’s not like swapping out a cassette on a bike with a more traditional drive train.
Alaskan
Well-Known Member
just count the teeth on your existing belt.
JVBulman
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
137T CDX for Superdelite Rohloff. Not sure about Enviolo of the top of my head.
Lumos
Member
137T CDX,
thank you so much. I leave my bike in France so I do not have it to hand to count. I have the Rohloff.
The details are printed on the existing belt.
Mr. Coffee
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- A Demented Corner of the North Cascades
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