Why Chains Are Still Better For Bicycles Than Belts
https://hackaday.com/2026/02/21/why-chains-are-still-better-for-bicycles-than-belts/Open linkView original on feddit.orgSyndicated from the fediverse. Read and engage on the original instance.
View original on feddit.orghttps://hackaday.com/2026/02/21/why-chains-are-still-better-for-bicycles-than-belts/Open linkView original on feddit.org
9 replies
TL;DR: Chains are better in tough conditions like mud and are easier to repair. Belts are great outside of these conditions.
@madnificent @mettwurstkaninchen How fragile the belts are shocked me.
Always good to see a setback to the plastification of everything.
The thing with belts is that, as it happened with disc brakes, they require of you to get a whole new bike ready for them
I feel like the benefits of belts are marginal at best, if you don’t want to buy an expensive belt compatible bike and drivetrain, chains are still overall better for most people from the stance of low cost for your complete setup.
Clickbait title, 'Why Chains Are Still Better For
BicyclesThis Very Specific Cycling Use Case Hardly Anyone Does Than Belts' more like.They are cheap and abundant and easy to use.
Carbon belts are not.
Harley-Davidson has been using belt drive for years on its motorcycles. Is the big difference here simply because of the terrain?
Harley-Davidson should not be used as an example of good engineering choices. Almost every motorcycle brand uses chains.