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Thinking of taking the plunge and ditching the chains for a belt-driven bike? Well, read on because we’ve picked out seven of the best belt-drive bikes for you to pick from below.
Belt-drive bikes are made from carbon fiber, like a chain – the crank drives the belt and turns the rear wheel. The difference is that belts canโt shift between cogs like a chain – they have an internal hub gearing system instead.
Best Belt-Drive Commuter Bikes: Top 7
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Top Pick for Commuters
Trek District 4 Equipped Commuter Belt Bike
Stylish urban bicycle perfect for cycling to and from work.
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Great value
Priority Brilliant L Train 7-Speed
A speedy belt-driven bikes with larger gear range.
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Belt-Driven Hybrid Bike
Trek District 1 Equipped Commuter Bike
Best belt drive hybrid bike for city riding.
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Belt-Driven Gravel Bike
Priority Apollo Gravel Belt Bike
Ideal belt drive bike for both beginners and experienced cyclists.
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Single Speed
Priority Ace Belt Drive Single Speed
Only single-speed belt drive featuring Gates Carbon Drive.
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Carbon Belt Drive
Brilliant Cooper
A classic and easy-to-ride option for daily commuters.
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Electric Belt-Driven Bike
Trek Cafรฉ Moto Go! Electric Belt Bike
A one-of-a-kind e-bike.
Are Belt-Drive Bikes Any Good?
Of course, especially if you’re a commuter or a more leisurely cyclist, given how little hassle belt-drive bikes generally cause you.
For starters, they’re more durable, lasting up twice as long as a typical bike chain. They’re also cleaner – there’s no grease marks or rust, nor will dirt stick to it like it will to an oiled chain, which in turn means you won’t risk spilling oil or dirty water on you or the floor.
Belt drives are also lighter and quieter than a chain bicycle, and they also work with fitness and stationary bikes, too.
That said, they lack the same flexibility as chains and are more likely to cause friction, tend to cost about ยฃ200 more than a bike with chain, and can only be used with bikes with internal-gear, fixed-gear and single-speed hubs – not derailleurs.
You also can’t take it apart and re-install like you can with a chain; there is a more limited selection of belt-drive bike lengths, consequently.
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Best Belt-Drive Bicycles for Commuting [GUIDE]
1. Priority Classic Plus
- ยฃ494
- $599
- โฌ570
Prices are approximate
- Gates Carbon Drive Belt.
- Enhanced wheels and pedals.
- Lightweight at just 25lbs (11kg).
Easy and comfortable to ride.
Requires low maintenance.
Durable wheels and pedals.
But if youโre working on tighter financial constraints, fear not โ the Priority Classic Plus should still have all you need and more.
An incredibly light model at just 25lbs, itโs easy to ride, with enhanced wheels and pedals for that extra bit of durability, too.
And itโs another to offer the services of the Gates Carbon Drive Belt, keeping it free of grease and rust, and providing a longer shelf life than your everyday bike chain.
2. Trek District 4 Equipped Commuter Belt Bike
- ยฃ1,750
- $1,750
- โฌ1,999
Prices are approximate
- 8-speed Shimano Alfine internal hub.
- Gates CDN belt drive system.
Quiet and low-maintenance.
Easy gear shifting.
Tailor made for urban and city driving.
Looking for internal gear hub bikes for sale which look as great as they feel? The District 4 Equipped could be the bike for you.
Tailor-made for trips around urban towns and cities, it boasts a quiet, low-maintenance Gates CDN belt drive system and an eight-speed Shimano Alfine internal hub for easy gear shifting.
If youโre keen, but find itโs out of your price range, check out their previous model, the District 3, which is ยฃ350 cheaper, here.
3. Priority Brilliant L Train 7-Speed
- ยฃ618
- $750
- โฌ714
Prices are approximate
- Quality belt-driven bike, commuter or otherwise.
- 7-speed internal hub.
- Lightweight bicycle belt drive.
Lightweight frame.
Grease and rust-free belt drive.
Ideal for fast city rides.
While this is a terrific commuter bike, the Priority Brilliant L Train is equally โbrilliantโ if you just fancy touring the city, or are strapping yourself in for a longer, more adventurous ride.
What makes this bike great? Well, its lightweight Chromoly frame is a big plus, as is its grease and rust-free Gates Carbon belt drive.
And with a seven-gear internal hub to add a speedy touch, the Brilliant L Train could hardly offer more for cyclists of any sort.
4. Trek District 1 Equipped Commuter Bike
- ยฃ1,050
- $1,280
- โฌ1,214
Prices are approximate
- 7-speed internal gearing.
- Powerful brakes.
- 3.0-watt Dynamo hub.
Best hybrid bike for city rides.
Good for all weather conditions.
Offers a smooth ride.
Into hybrid bikes with internal hub gears? This is a great choice for a belt drive bike, commuter or not.
The District 1 Equipped offers low maintenance, seven-speed internal gearing, a road-smoothing suspension fork and great speed thanks to its 3.0-watt Dynamo hub.
Whatโs more, its Shimano roller brakes will deliver firm stopping power, no matter how treacherous the weather conditions may be during your cycle.
5. Priority Apollo Gravel Belt Bike
- ยฃ1,649
- $1,999
- โฌ1,902
Prices are approximate
- 11-speed gear range.
- 24lbs (11kg) weight.
- Has drop bar shifters.
Lightest, fastest Apollo model.
Reliable on all surfaces and in all conditions.
All-road cycling with a belt-drive bike.
If a single-figure range of gears just isnโt enough for you, you might be tempted by the Apollo Gravel instead; the first gravel grinder with an internally-geared 11-speed hub and drop bar shifters.
Itโs Priorityโs lightest model at 24lbs, yet also their fastest, offering stability on looser surfaces and reliable gear shifting and braking no matter what the elements throw your way.
Of course, itโs not the cheapest of its range at $1,699, but if you want the optimum experience of all-road cycling with a belt-drive bike, the Apollo is your first port of call.
6. Priority Ace Belt Drive Single Speed
- ยฃ494
- $599
- โฌ570
Prices are approximate
- Gates Carbon Drive.
- Single-speed belt drive.
- Flip-flor rear hub.
Can be geared to your style of cycling.
Flexible and durable.
Fits every budget.
Alternatively, if youโre not fussy about a wide array of gears, the Ace is the only single-speed belt to boast the Gates Carbon Drive.
Its flip-flor rear hub offers great flexibility in how you: either The Ace of Clubs, for more recreational riders, or The Ace of Spades, for performance riders who want to eke every last drop out of their model.
Whichever you prefer, youโll be safe in knowledge that the Ace can be โgearedโ to your style of cycling, even with just the one actual gear in its arsenal.
7. Brilliant Cooper
- ยฃ454
- $550
- โฌ523
Prices are approximate
- Shimano 3-speed.
- 27lbs (12kg).
- 1020 steel frame.
Tire width of 1,25″ (32mm).
Fast stopping power with V-brakes.
Lightweight.
Brilliant Cooperโs belt-driven drivetrain stands out as a major advantage, offering a clean and oil-free cycling experience.
Additionally, the Cooper features a Gates carbon belt and cranks of respectable quality, ensuring durability and reliability in its performance. The combination of these features makes for a low-maintenance and hassle-free riding experience, particularly well-suited for commuters looking to avoid the mess of traditional chains.
The Cooper offers extreme comfort with a lightweight build, and high-quality V-brakes, emphasizing its suitability for everyday riding.
8. Marin Presidio 3
- Shimano 8-speed.
- 700C wheel size.
- Marin alloy flat top riser handlebar.
Lightweight 6061 aluminum tubing.
Hydraulic disc brakes provide smooth, controlled stopping.
Minimal maintenance.
The Marin Presidio 3 is a premium commuter bike designed to elevate your daily urban riding experience. Its lightweight Series 2 aluminum frame, equipped with sliding dropouts, internal cable routing, and belt drive compatibility, ensures a smooth and efficient ride.
With a Shimano Nexus 8-speed internally geared hub and Gates Carbon Drive belt, this bike delivers reliability and low maintenance, making it an ideal choice for city commuting.
This bike doesn’t compromise on stopping power, thanks to Shimano hydraulic disc brakes, ensuring controlled braking in all weather conditions. The Vee Tire Co.
Baldy tires offer puncture protection and added visibility with reflective sidewalls. Its ergonomic design, Marin Fitness saddle, and Commute Platform pedals prioritize rider comfort and convenience.
Best Electric Belt Bike
9. Trek Cafรฉ Moto Go! Electric Belt Bike
- ยฃ3,800
- $4,608
- โฌ4,384
Prices are approximate
- Bosch Performance CX Speed motor.
- Gates belt drive.
- Enviolo rear hub.
Reach top assisted speed at 25km/h.
Combines a stylish and retro look.
One-of-a-kind e-bike.
Last but not least, if youโre an electric bike fan, no problem โ thereโs a belt-driven bicycle for that, too.
This limited edition Cafรฉ Moto Go! possesses all you could ever want from this kind of bike, including a Bosch Performance CX Speed motor, a Gates belt drive, and Enviolo rear hub โ indeed, it can reach top assisted speeds as high as 25 km/h.
Or if you fancy something slightly simpler, less flashy and (slightly) cheaper, be sure to have look at Trekโs District +9 model, another high-end city e-bike, here.
Belt Bikes – FAQs
Why are bikes belt-driven?
To provide cyclists with a low-maintenance alternative, which should last longer, weigh less, stay cleaner and make less noise than a ‘normal’ bike with a chain.
Do Trek make a belt drive bike?
Yes – Trek have a substantial range of belt-driven bikes.
The Trek District 4 Hybrid Belt Bike is one of their most popular models, while they also have electric bikes in the form of the District 9+ and the eye-catching Cafรฉ Moto Go! e-bike.
Where to buy a belt-driven bike?
Belt-driven bikes are still something of a rarity. However, there are a few specialist manufacturers that make them. You can find several hub gear bikes at the likes of: