Spudley
Active member
Agreed ice sprayed mine 3 times in 2 years and not for maintenence just to stop the weird noise which is not actually that bad anyway.Good tipI’ll give it a try
You just get used to silence
ECVT/MGU: The Great Belt vs. Chain Debate
You just get used to silence
Diby2000
New Member
I think we are mostly talking semantics here so far.
Forget about the MGU/MTU/ECVT/gearbox questions that is for one of the other threads about them already.
I don't think being having the ability to replace the drive system method on the tracks is an issue for me. Yes it is nice to just throw a quick link at a broken chain to get back to the car park, but this is still a compromise that ends your day. From most chain damage I've come across in the past, it has usually been a result of a derailleur failure, or the chain bending or stretched to failure which renders whats left mostly unusable anyway.
My thinking is towards belt for the lack of consistent, ongoing maintenance required. But the big question is the reliability of the belt system.
How does one of these new belt systems hold up to rocks/sticks etc? What are the typical failure modes of the system? and how frequently are we going to encounter this type of situation riding?
Forget about the MGU/MTU/ECVT/gearbox questions that is for one of the other threads about them already.
I don't think being having the ability to replace the drive system method on the tracks is an issue for me. Yes it is nice to just throw a quick link at a broken chain to get back to the car park, but this is still a compromise that ends your day. From most chain damage I've come across in the past, it has usually been a result of a derailleur failure, or the chain bending or stretched to failure which renders whats left mostly unusable anyway.
My thinking is towards belt for the lack of consistent, ongoing maintenance required. But the big question is the reliability of the belt system.
How does one of these new belt systems hold up to rocks/sticks etc? What are the typical failure modes of the system? and how frequently are we going to encounter this type of situation riding?
Without a derailleur it will be possible to use significantly stronger chains and in perfect alignment. Whatever issues around chain failures that currently exist with current drivetrains will most likely be a non issue on eCVT bikes.
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Yes, but will they fit non-derailleur bicycle chains to these bikes ? Where will they source them ? Where will we source them when they need replacement ? Will we then also need special chainrings ?
Personally I'd prefer if they used a Linkglide Chain and standard chainrings and sprockets, so I can source them cheaply and easily. Sure they'll wear a little quicker. But the supply chain is really well established.
sethimus
😠 Temu Gary 😠
i‘d look at german sales numbers if i were you before making such a bold (and dumb) statement
UK as well. They are saying EMTB sales now outstrip MTB sales. And mountain biking is one of the fastest-growing recreational activities and sports globally.
Diby2000
New Member
Chain size/type etc may be another non-issue for either side of the fence.
You could make the same argument for either side. Link guide might be the simple answer, but maybe not the best.
Again this issue will come down to the reliability of each. I don't care much where I get replacements from, if I never need said replacements.
You could make the same argument for either side. Link guide might be the simple answer, but maybe not the best.
Again this issue will come down to the reliability of each. I don't care much where I get replacements from, if I never need said replacements.
The latest data.states mountain bikes are about 30% of all cycle sales......and c30% of the mountain bike market is electric mountain bikes. Now further narrow that down to full suspension and narrow it down further for the type of bikes people on this forum are mostly interested in...ie capable trail/ enduro/ downhill bikes .
Ps keep your insults to yourself.
sethimus
😠 Temu Gary 😠
you can’t even state the numbers correctly…
Perhaps you will oblige and quote your sources?
slickrock
Well-known member
- Thread starter
- #41
How we got to where were currently are with MTB chains will ultimately be reset for these new ECVT/MGU bikes. Linkglide will probably edge out for for enthusiasts as the chain is more durable than the SRAM counterpart, but most bike brands contracts with existing transmission providers will probably drive things initially. I see cottage industry developing for chains targeting these bikes, like titanium chains for example. These new chains will just have less to do - they only need to deliver power to the rear wheel. No cross-chain-lining, no gear changing climbing and descending cogs, no cog-teeth ramping, etc.
Diby2000
New Member
Any one with real world experience care to chime in here?
I believe this is the real question that needs to be answered to make an argument for either side.
Most of us have a reasonable idea on the failure modes and rates of the current chain focused drivetrain ignoring the deralliur. What about the other contenders?
slickrock
Well-known member
- Thread starter
- #43
I've used a belt on an MTB for some 10 years. It's the same belt. I've had sticks and small rocks get into teeth, but get shot out after a full rotation. I think what really helps is the CDX design - that center ridge keeps the larger rocks out. Never had a the belt bashed significantly so don't know how a heavy impact damage incident may affect reliability. Main culprit tends to be poor tensioning of the belt - which tends to cause teeth jumping/wear if a snubber is not installed, and allow mud intrusion without mud extrusion. I check tension about once a year, and pretty much once seat for about a month, it stays that way (unlike a chain). Helps if bike is stiffer and beltline is true.
One caveat in my case: my bike is full suspension but does not use/need a tensioner. All the current prototypes shown require them, so I'm not sure how much this will affect reliability/performance.
I'm running a belt on my commuter. Sure it's not exposed to the level of abuse that an EMTB is exposed to. But the reason I mention it is just the lack of any maintenance required. Nothing. Just a finger on the belt make sure tension is OK once every couple of months. That's it. It's self cleaning and never needs lubricant. You can hose it off if it gets grubby. But I never have. It just keeps silently working.
pagheca
Active member
Now, try this with "Belt". uh? Not even Aretha could make it one of the greatest song of all times....
The debate between the chain or belt has been going on for decades, one engineer thinks its the best idea because it his idea. Cog belts regardless of the application do not have the durability of a chain. How many on here would prefer a timing chain or a timing belt on your car engine?
Cog belts are extremely fuzzy with proper tension, debris embedding in the belt, and depending on the sprocket material and the type of hard anodizing, that can wear out faster then the belts due to belt misalignment.
sethimus
😠 Temu Gary 😠
slide 21/22
21% of total sales was mtbs, emtb to mtb was about 14:1
Unfortunately I do not speak German thus to me the link is meaningless.
sethimus
😠 Temu Gary 😠
that’s quite unfortunate but simply a YOU problem. use tools, it’s 2025
Might want to check a calendar there bud
sethimus
😠 Temu Gary 😠
even worse then, the tools we have now available compared to last year to get anything translated into any language possible are even better
A German living in the past in Switzerland.
sethimus
😠 Temu Gary 😠
more like a ton of customers today in a way to warm store fried my brainA German living in the past in Switzerland.
