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gates drive

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pinkbunnyok96:
will thorn be bringing to market a gates drive bycycle . i would order one tomorrow if they did use a gates drive bike for comuting an absolut god send so many used round the world touring i don not see a prob with life time

JohnR:
There might be a comment about the belt drive in the Thorn Bible http://www.sjscycles.com/thornpdf/thorn_mega_brochure.pdf but I can't see it. I'm sure that they wouldn't be keen on making an opening in a high quality steel frame.

I've got a non-Thorn bike with a Gates CDX drive gathering dust in the back of the garage. They aren't as low-maintenance as you may believe. I used it during winter 19-20 and kept checking the bike for the source of disconcerting creaking noises. Eventually, in the spring, I gave the belt a very good scrub and the noises disappeared. Plus there's the substantial cost of adjusting the gearing ratio if found necesary and the running costs add up.

Last summer I bought a Mercury and have fitted it with a Hebie Chainglider http://thorncyclesforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=13973.0. When spring arrives I'll look inside the plastic casing and check the condition of the chain but it's currently running smoothly and not making any worrying noises. The Chainglider might add a little friction to the transmission but no worse than due to a belt drive.

UKTony:
“There might be a comment about the belt drive in the Thorn Bible http://www.sjscycles.com/thornpdf/thorn_mega_brochure.pdf but I can't see it. I'm sure that they wouldn't be keen on making an opening in a high quality steel frame. “

The Mk 3 Nomad has a joint in the lower end of the seat stay to cater for a belt drive.
T.

JohnR:

--- Quote from: UKTony on February 10, 2021, 11:45:01 am ---The Mk 3 Nomad has a joint in the lower end of the seat stay to cater for a belt drive.
T.

--- End quote ---
Thanks for correcting me. This is mentioned in the Nomad brochure http://www.sjscycles.com/thornpdf/BUILD6NOMAD650bROHLOFF.pdf and visible in the photos.

steve216c:
you might want to read page 21 of http://www.sjscycles.com/thornpdf/ThornLivingWithARohloff_LoRes.pdf which suggests that belt drives are not as maintenance free as they are often touted.

SheldonBrown's fabled website doesn't rate them too highly either http://www.sjscycles.com/thornpdf/ThornLivingWithARohloff_LoRes.pdf

They may work for you in some cases, but a clean chain protected by a Hebie Chainglider might give you almost as many of the promised KM of a gates drive but at a fraction of the cost when it comes to servicing/maintaining.

I've never owned a Gates drive belt bike, but having read into them, I was ultimately put off by users who'd posted let downs they#d experience with the technology not living up to the promises. I am sure there are sitations where belt is best. But perhaps many more when chain trumps belt on many other levels.

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