How e-bike belt drives work and are looked after
How belt drives work on e-bikes
A belt drive replaces the chain on some e-bikes. These pages explain the parts, the frame, the tension and the care, using belt makers' technical pages and bike makers' manuals.
It's for owners and would-be owners who want to understand a belt before they read their own manual.
All the questions
What Is an E-Bike Belt Drive?A belt drive swaps the metal chain for a toothed belt. Here's what that means, what the belt is made of and what it needs from the bike.
How a Belt Drive Works: Belt, Front Cog and Rear CogThe parts of a belt drive and how they move the wheel, from the toothed belt and its cords to the cogs, the hub gear and the alignment between them.
Why Belt Drive Frames Have a Split or OpeningA belt is one closed loop, so the frame needs a gap or removable section to fit it. Here's where the split goes and what makers say about it.
Belt Drives with Hub Gears and MotorsWhich gear systems and e-bike motor types go with a belt drive, and what reference sources say about mid-drive and hub motors.
Belt Tension ExplainedWhy belt tension matters, the ways makers say it's checked, and why one bike's figure can't be used on another.
Cleaning and Caring for a Belt DriveDoes a belt need lube, and how is it cleaned? What reference sources say about water, brushes, silicone spray and keeping the teeth clear.