E bikes with belt drive??

[Stul]

Hi all, a few years ago I decided to get an e-bike, and ended up with a Raleigh Motus. I opted for the hub gear and belt drive, which I have been very happy with.
I have now decided to get my wife a new e-bike, but it appears Raleigh no longer offer any bikes with a belt drive??....just wondering if there is any reason they have stopped doing belt drives??

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

I have a Motus so I keep an eye on what they are doing

but I wasn;t even aware they did a belt drive!

how old is it??

 

[Gwylan]

I have a Cowboy brand and nature ebike. That's belt drive and has a lot going for it.
Belt drives, as you probably know, are challenge if you get a puncture whilst out.

But honestly I would not encourage you to buy a Cowboy. It seems they are about to do a "VanMoof".
Having big technical, commercial and service challenges over the recall of the latest bike. Frame failures, I understand.

Spares are difficult or hard to come by. Delivery dates are a bit of a fairy tale.

The ride suits me, comfortable and manoeuvrable. The belt drive is great, clean, reliable. The lack of gears is a design mistake.

The eccentric software can be unreliable, hormonal and a pain. You need a phone signal and Bluetooth between your phone and the bike.

The claimed battery range is a bit of an aspiration in my case.

Interested to see what you end up buying.

 

[Stul]

I have a Motus so I keep an eye on what they are doing

but I wasn;t even aware they did a belt drive!

how old is it??

...I think around 2020, so about 5 years ago....I think they stopped doing them shortly after that?

Regarding changing inner tubes, it's not actually too bad (when you know how!), and I have been using Gaadi double ended tubes...

 

[Stul]

..just been "having a google", and noted that Volt do a belt drive step through. I understand that Volt are a reputable company, but note they now use Bafang motors....are they as good / reliable as Bosch??

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

I would say that the Motus is not a bad bike

Main problems I have had have just been a couple of broken bolts - one holding the seat and another on the derailleur
easily replaced with new ones

Not trendy - but there are always new bikes of old versions on the online sites for quite a bit less than the normal price

but - as you say - they don;t have belt drive - only chain

 

[N0bodyOfTheGoat]

There's a few on the Tredz site...
https://www.tredz.co.uk/electric-bikes?bike_chainset_type=belt&s=priceasc

Looks like the Momentum belt drive model has sold out, which had a screw-in bridge on the chainstay to get the belt drive out of the way when required..

 

[Gwylan]

...I think around 2020, so about 5 years ago....I think they stopped doing them shortly after that?

Regarding changing inner tubes, it's not actually too bad (when you know how!), and I have been using Gaadi double ended tubes...

Would you recommend the Gaadi tubes?

 

[Stul]

..oh yes...a no brainer for me.....tube changes in seconds....I use gaardi on the back, (belt drive), and "standard" tubes on the front....

 

[Espresso vecchio]

My next door neighbour recently bought a new Tenways bike with belt drive from a local ebike specialist. It's very nicely put together, and I think it rides well. It is single speed but I managed 16mph average comfortably here in flat Norfolk. However as the reviews said, most people with hills around would want gears. We are very satisfied with our two hub-drive Motuses.

Gaadi...a big thumbs up. I found that each of our bikes has them fitted as standard on the rear wheel.

 

[CXRAndy]

Belt drive has lots going for it, but is quickly diminished when needing a wheel change or replacement costs.

Chains are cheap , very reliable and easy to maintain if not a little dirty.