Belt drive - finally?
#2
.
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Rocket City, No'ala
Posts: 12,760
Bikes: 2014 Trek Domane 5.2, 1985 Pinarello Treviso, 1990 Gardin Shred, 2006 Bianchi San Jose
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 62 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 28 Times
in
13 Posts
It's been around as long as the shaft-drive. Funny how things that sound like a great idea often don't pan out. But a lot of motorcycles have belt drive these days so who knows.
#3
Can't ride enough!
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: south Louisiana
Posts: 1,235
Bikes: IFab Crown Jewel, Giant Defy, Hardtail MTB, Fuji finest, Bianchi FG conversion
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
This new belt contruction may make a go of it. The only big problem I see is length adjustment. It's either gonna be a lot of belt sizes or a tension idler.
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: St Peters, Missouri
Posts: 30,225
Bikes: Catrike 559 I own some others but they don't get ridden very much.
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1572 Post(s)
Liked 643 Times
in
364 Posts
Derailleurs and chain drive are so wonderfully mechanically efficient that they set the bar real high. Whatever is going to supplant them (and I have no doubt that will happen someday) is going to have to be very mechanically efficient even during it's early development.
#5
Banned.
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Carlsbad, CA
Posts: 6,434
Bikes: '09 Felt F55, '84 Masi Cran Criterium, (2)'86 Schwinn Pelotons, '86 Look Equippe Hinault, '09 Globe Live 3 (dogtaxi), '94 Greg Lemond, '99 GT Pulse Kinesis
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 389 Post(s)
Liked 270 Times
in
153 Posts
Belt-tensioner = squandered energy.
Leaving us either:
~lots of belt sizes
~fixed chainstay (erm... beltstay) & trackbike monogears
~internal gearing
Belt drives are wonderful for underpowered bikes like Harleys, but they haven't exactly revolutionized motorcycle drivetrains either.
-CCinC
Leaving us either:
~lots of belt sizes
~fixed chainstay (erm... beltstay) & trackbike monogears
~internal gearing
Belt drives are wonderful for underpowered bikes like Harleys, but they haven't exactly revolutionized motorcycle drivetrains either.
-CCinC
#6
Membership Not Required
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: On the road-USA
Posts: 16,855
Bikes: Giant Excursion, Raleigh Sports, Raleigh R.S.W. Compact, Motobecane? and about 20 more! OMG
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 70 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 15 Times
in
14 Posts
Derailleurs and chain drive are so wonderfully mechanically efficient that they set the bar real high. Whatever is going to supplant them (and I have no doubt that will happen someday) is going to have to be very mechanically efficient even during it's early development.
My biggest issue with the belt drive would be roadside repair...kind of hard to take out a broken link, adjust the wheel and keep on riding...and yes I have broken a link in a chain before.
Aaron
__________________
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Northern Nevada
Posts: 3,811
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
To me, this is like electric or hydraulic shifters: Even if you work out all the bugs and get them working wonderfully, how much better can they be than a modern derailleur, or in this case a modern chain drive? It's quiet, efficient, easy to work on, shifts beautifully and doesn't cost much. My road bikes are nothing special--105-level components, mostly, with XT on the Atlantis--but I wouldn't pay a dime for them to work better than they do. They're already as good as I need or want them to be.
Last edited by Velo Dog; 09-07-07 at 08:19 PM.
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: St Peters, Missouri
Posts: 30,225
Bikes: Catrike 559 I own some others but they don't get ridden very much.
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1572 Post(s)
Liked 643 Times
in
364 Posts
Actually they aren't that far apart. IIRC the total efficiency spread between an internal gear and a dérailleur was only around 3% and quite often in certain gears the dérailleur was less efficient than the IGH. And quite often there are greater losses from wind resistance, riding style, low tire pressures, etc. Those items probably contribute more to speed loss than drive train efficiency.
As to the greater speed losses, I fully agree. Once you get over about 12 or 15MPH, compared to the effort that's required to push your torso through the air, everything else, including drive train efficiency, is small potatoes.
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: A Coffin Called Earth. or Toronto, ON
Posts: 12,257
Bikes: Bianchi, Miyata, Dahon, Rossin
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times
in
5 Posts
forget gears... CVT for bikes. They already have them for 3ton SUVs and cars, can't see how it wouldn't work for a bike.
on second thought I like having gears, and in manual.
on second thought I like having gears, and in manual.
__________________
Food for thought: if you aren't dead by 2050, you and your entire family will be within a few years from starvation. Now that is a cruel gift to leave for your offspring. ;)
https://sanfrancisco.ibtimes.com/arti...ger-photos.htm
Food for thought: if you aren't dead by 2050, you and your entire family will be within a few years from starvation. Now that is a cruel gift to leave for your offspring. ;)
https://sanfrancisco.ibtimes.com/arti...ger-photos.htm
#10
Can't ride enough!
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: south Louisiana
Posts: 1,235
Bikes: IFab Crown Jewel, Giant Defy, Hardtail MTB, Fuji finest, Bianchi FG conversion
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: St Peters, Missouri
Posts: 30,225
Bikes: Catrike 559 I own some others but they don't get ridden very much.
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1572 Post(s)
Liked 643 Times
in
364 Posts
My bet is it's coming but it's going to take a design breakthrough to make it competitive on a bicycle.
#14
Je pose, donc je suis.
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Odense, Denmark
Posts: 1,463
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#15
♋ ☮♂ ☭ ☯
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: 40205 'ViLLeBiLLie
Posts: 7,902
Bikes: Sngl Spd's, 70's- 80's vintage, D-tube Folder
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
In one of my previous lives I rode Harleys for years.
I never saw a belt break or heard of one breaking
but I suppose they must, because of said repair kit. Chains
on-the-other hand.....who hasnt broken one ? :eek"
Id like to see belts !
Weighing a bike down with 25lbs of clothes, tools, lunch etc,
Im just not at all concerned about theoretical power loss.
__________________
☞-ADVOCACY-☜ Radical VC = Car people on bikes. Just say "NO"
☞-ADVOCACY-☜ Radical VC = Car people on bikes. Just say "NO"
Last edited by -=(8)=-; 09-19-07 at 04:20 AM.
#16
Je pose, donc je suis.
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Odense, Denmark
Posts: 1,463
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
You could always carry a spare belt for what is probably a very rare event (ie, only worth worrying about if you're touring).
#17
DancesWithSUVs
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Griffin Cycle Bethesda,MD
Posts: 6,983
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Internal gear hubs make alot of sense for commuters. Less maintenance than derailleur setups and they don't suffer the effects of weather.
Someone's never ridden a built Harley.
Someone's never ridden a built Harley.
__________________
C'dale BBU('05 and '09)/Super Six/Hooligan8and 3,Kona Dew Deluxe,Novara Buzz/Safari,Surly Big Dummy,Marin Pt Reyes,Giant Defy 1,Schwinn DBX SuperSport,Dahon Speed Pro TT,Brompton S6L/S2E-X
C'dale BBU('05 and '09)/Super Six/Hooligan8and 3,Kona Dew Deluxe,Novara Buzz/Safari,Surly Big Dummy,Marin Pt Reyes,Giant Defy 1,Schwinn DBX SuperSport,Dahon Speed Pro TT,Brompton S6L/S2E-X