Originally Posted by
AdamDZ
Yup. Belts may be stronger than chains. Think of the timing belts used in car and truck engines. That's some real heat and torque there compared to a bike and they survive tens of thousands of miles.
Adam
Heat, yes. Torque, not so much. The belt is only spinning the cam(s) and maybe the waterpump. I can do those tasks by hand (though not quite as fast). Timing chains often last the life of a car while belts are typically replaced before 100,000 miles, if not much sooner. Timing belts are used for lighter weight and lower noise, not for longevity
That's not to say that a belt drive couldn't hold up on a bike. CVT transmissions use belts and so do motorcycles so a bicycle should do just fine with one assuming it was designed correctly.