I went to Val di Sol a couple of years back to see the race. Stopped a guy to ask him if we where far from the Venue and he was really helpful. Realized it was Blenki as he cycled off. Sound guy. Stylish rider.
Only for gravity applications, due to their higher weight and lower efficiency there is no sense in them for applications where pedal efficiency is more important…. You won’t see one win an xc event unless something significant changes!!
😮 You're not kidding 😂 I just saw one that stripped apart. Looked like a dirt bikes gearbox powered by an electric drive.... With cranks.. to supplement drive on pedals... Gates belt driven drive train on the 29-in platform for Cross mountain full suspension travel.... I call it the future
@@Alex-md6bu I think XC racers will continue to use standard chain driven derailleur setups for exactly the reason you stated. Higher efficiency, lower weight. For the same reasons, XC bikes tend to be single pivot suspension designs or integrate relatively fragile flex stays whereas Enduro and trail bikes have no issue using heavier multi link designs. But outside of XC racing where climbing speed matters just as much, if not more than downhill performance, gearboxes offer a large number of advantages. Firstly, the weight of a gearbox is much better positioned on a bike than a large cassette and derailleur, the weight is centered and lowered, offering a better overall center of gravity. Removing the weight of the drivetrain from the rear triangle reduces sprung mass improving suspension performance and rotational acceleration. Second, while the drivetrain efficiency with a belt and gearbox is reduced compared to an optimized chain driven setup, a chain loses efficiency quickly once it begins to wear and is exposed to dirt. In particular modern high pivot suspension designs require lower chain guides, which add a significant amount of drag to a chain driven drivetrain. A competitive Enduro rider probably wouldn't notice a significant decrease in pedal efficiency over the course of a full event. For the consumer, the durability and robustness of a belt driven gearbox offers a remarkable improvement. Derailleurs are fragile and fickle, a small crash can cause significant issues with shifting. Large cassettes necessitate a long derailleur arm, leaving the mechanism prone to damage from rock strikes and other trail hazards. Components on derailleur setups wear quickly, requiring frequent cleaning and lubrication, and increase the running cost of a bike as components need to be replaced more frequently.
to me it feels like they are just talking about the advantages of the belt-gearbox transmission however it's not the belt itself that brings the advantages, it's just the gearbox and also chains can be used in a gearbox transission.
The only positive of a chain over a belt drive is the ability of the chain to derail between different cogs in the cassete. If you already have a gearbox, the chain is no longer needed. Less mass, less noise, less mainteinance, more reliable
I love what this little video suggest for the future of DH bikes. Gearboxes and belt drives make so much sense for DH (where almost all of the teams are adding weight to their bikes in the BB area) and also for e-bikes (where weight is well offset by the motor) Shifting without pedalling, unsprung mass, ground clearance, reliability... it is just better Chains, cassettes and exposed derailleurs will be only for XC and roadies, as it should have been for ages now
First time I came across Blenky was a Nationals round in Wellington NZ, his 26" DH bike was too big for him, we had to push the finish timer deeper because he was getting so much air over the last jump, legend
I've been riding a Pinion/Gates setup for a few years now and will never go back to a derailleur. The alleged 'inefficiency' simply doesn't bear out in the real world, the extra pound is irrelevant since it's sprung weight in the center of the bike, and the benefits are incredible. Literally nobody talking shit about the Pinion/Gates has any real time riding one. There is a bit of a learning curve, but in a few days it's as natural as anything and the benefits REALLY start to shine.
Seen these close up, as Steve Murphy and Lina Skoglund at Better MTB in Järvsö Sweden use them when coaching. Steve also does some spannering for Zerode on the WC. The bikes look really nice!
I reckon if you put one of the current top 10 guys on a G3 they could win. Lots of the other teams are putting weights under the bottom bracket to mimic the weight distribution of the Pinion gearbox anyway. I'm no racer but I love my Zerode Taniwha, no more chain degreasing for me!
I’ve been interested in gearboxes and belt drives since Nicolai started using a rohloff hub as a gearbox like 15 years back. It makes sense for gravity bikes, E-bikes (suprised we don’t see more of these?) and bikes reliant on serious reliability like remote touring but outside of that there’s no real advantage. I’d like to see more on the DH Scene and I’m sure we will as they get lighter and more compact
can someone explain me, belt drive need gearbox. they say less weight and few other features, but what problem use same gearbox but with chain? :) what difference if gearbox+chain vs gearbox+belt? i don't understand p.s. chain in that config can be bigger\wider, get more overall strenght cuz no need made chain narrow for 10-11-12-13 cassette.
The advantages of the belt would be longer lifespan, less maintenance and maybe less noise. But yeah, really its the gearbox that matters, not the belt.
Don't underestimate the strength of a belt. But I'd guess for wear, weight and overall strength in relation to the first 2. As the saying goes: A chain is as strong as its weakest link and you never know if one of those hundreds of moving parts might break. A belt is also quieter, needs no lubrication and with the use in ebikes over the past 10years enough real life R&D has been done to qualify it over a chain in A LOT of applications like this. Why use a chain instead?
There could be massive teams whose primary sponsor is not a bike manufacturer, choosing whatever bike frame they want... and Gates seems to be ready to put some money in the table for visibility. Also, gearboxes will be the next money printer for SRAM and Shimano once they end their marketing run with their latest generation of drive trains.
Any complication or departure from established engineering is going to get a hard No. I like the principle and it may very well be better but until something gets full buy-in and standardization it’s going nowhere. Catch-22.
Sram puts a lot of money on the system, and I believe that's why it's still the standard. The patent that Honda made for gearbox didnt help either and set back the competition 20 years.
I am sorry but the belt drive company knows nobody who could actually win the $100k would be able to run it. It’s a cost-free marketing tool. That’s all.
Yes, but a freak result can happen. Bottom 10 riders complete their run in good weather. Then it starts to pour when the top 10 start their descend. It has been known to happen.
It's just such an enormous jump in complexity and the only advantages he could come up with are chain wear and lubrication? Doesn't seem worth it to me.
Unfortunately this vid doesn't seem to touch on the main plus which is removing the unsprung mass of the rear cassette and derailleur which drastically improves suspension performance
![It’s Embarrassing, But These 3 “Reverse” Drills Guarantee ENDLESS Manuals [ACTUALLY URGENT]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/HV8Lf9DRmBU/mqdefault.jpg)
Sam is just so wholesome and thankful, it's nice to see
hope he gets back to the top
"I feel like my whole life has been a holiday" - words to live by. Such a great character.
I went to Val di Sol a couple of years back to see the race. Stopped a guy to ask him if we where far from the Venue and he was really helpful. Realized it was Blenki as he cycled off. Sound guy.
Stylish rider.
Sam is SOLID GOLD, pray this fella stays in the sport as long as possible
Gearboxes just make sense.
Only for gravity applications, due to their higher weight and lower efficiency there is no sense in them for applications where pedal efficiency is more important…. You won’t see one win an xc event unless something significant changes!!
😮 You're not kidding 😂 I just saw one that stripped apart. Looked like a dirt bikes gearbox powered by an electric drive.... With cranks.. to supplement drive on pedals...
Gates belt driven drive train on the 29-in platform for Cross mountain full suspension travel.... I call it the future
*for e-bikes
@@Alex-md6bu I think XC racers will continue to use standard chain driven derailleur setups for exactly the reason you stated. Higher efficiency, lower weight. For the same reasons, XC bikes tend to be single pivot suspension designs or integrate relatively fragile flex stays whereas Enduro and trail bikes have no issue using heavier multi link designs. But outside of XC racing where climbing speed matters just as much, if not more than downhill performance, gearboxes offer a large number of advantages.
Firstly, the weight of a gearbox is much better positioned on a bike than a large cassette and derailleur, the weight is centered and lowered, offering a better overall center of gravity. Removing the weight of the drivetrain from the rear triangle reduces sprung mass improving suspension performance and rotational acceleration.
Second, while the drivetrain efficiency with a belt and gearbox is reduced compared to an optimized chain driven setup, a chain loses efficiency quickly once it begins to wear and is exposed to dirt. In particular modern high pivot suspension designs require lower chain guides, which add a significant amount of drag to a chain driven drivetrain. A competitive Enduro rider probably wouldn't notice a significant decrease in pedal efficiency over the course of a full event.
For the consumer, the durability and robustness of a belt driven gearbox offers a remarkable improvement. Derailleurs are fragile and fickle, a small crash can cause significant issues with shifting. Large cassettes necessitate a long derailleur arm, leaving the mechanism prone to damage from rock strikes and other trail hazards. Components on derailleur setups wear quickly, requiring frequent cleaning and lubrication, and increase the running cost of a bike as components need to be replaced more frequently.
It should be the future for DH and E-Bikes.
Frankly, I’m more interested in Blenky and his thoughts on his biking life than the gearbox debate 😊 I still have my LaPierre too 🎉
to me it feels like they are just talking about the advantages of the belt-gearbox transmission however it's not the belt itself that brings the advantages, it's just the gearbox and also chains can be used in a gearbox transission.
The only positive of a chain over a belt drive is the ability of the chain to derail between different cogs in the cassete. If you already have a gearbox, the chain is no longer needed. Less mass, less noise, less mainteinance, more reliable
I love what this little video suggest for the future of DH bikes. Gearboxes and belt drives make so much sense for DH (where almost all of the teams are adding weight to their bikes in the BB area) and also for e-bikes (where weight is well offset by the motor)
Shifting without pedalling, unsprung mass, ground clearance, reliability... it is just better
Chains, cassettes and exposed derailleurs will be only for XC and roadies, as it should have been for ages now
And trail riders. I still love the climbing, and weight matters for that. If they make them lighter I’d for sure love a gearbox though
First time I came across Blenky was a Nationals round in Wellington NZ, his 26" DH bike was too big for him, we had to push the finish timer deeper because he was getting so much air over the last jump, legend
I hope so! Belt drive bikes are epic!!
I've been riding a Pinion/Gates setup for a few years now and will never go back to a derailleur. The alleged 'inefficiency' simply doesn't bear out in the real world, the extra pound is irrelevant since it's sprung weight in the center of the bike, and the benefits are incredible. Literally nobody talking shit about the Pinion/Gates has any real time riding one. There is a bit of a learning curve, but in a few days it's as natural as anything and the benefits REALLY start to shine.
Seen these close up, as Steve Murphy and Lina Skoglund at Better MTB in Järvsö Sweden use them when coaching. Steve also does some spannering for Zerode on the WC. The bikes look really nice!
Good understated Kiwi Lad. A Steven Adams covered in Dirt.
Reece Wilson on a belt next year then
I reckon if you put one of the current top 10 guys on a G3 they could win.
Lots of the other teams are putting weights under the bottom bracket to mimic the weight distribution of the Pinion gearbox anyway.
I'm no racer but I love my Zerode Taniwha, no more chain degreasing for me!
I’ve been interested in gearboxes and belt drives since Nicolai started using a rohloff hub as a gearbox like 15 years back. It makes sense for gravity bikes, E-bikes (suprised we don’t see more of these?) and bikes reliant on serious reliability like remote touring but outside of that there’s no real advantage. I’d like to see more on the DH Scene and I’m sure we will as they get lighter and more compact
No better style out there, keep at it ya mad lad.
that laugh in the end🤣🤣
Reliable drivetrain, better weight distribution, minor efficiency sacrifice vs chain in ideal conditions
The Gamux bike🤤🤤🤤
All I have to say is that the Pinion with electronic shifting was on a bike that had a proven suspension platform then I would be all over it
pls review on the zerode g3 no other channel has made one and i want a honest review on the bike
There things which are just good but not for the industry.... Love the belt driven things! Go oN
Go Jason
I wish. But where are they?
can someone explain me, belt drive need gearbox. they say less weight and few other features, but what problem use same gearbox but with chain? :)
what difference if gearbox+chain vs gearbox+belt? i don't understand
p.s. chain in that config can be bigger\wider, get more overall strenght cuz no need made chain narrow for 10-11-12-13 cassette.
The advantages of the belt would be longer lifespan, less maintenance and maybe less noise. But yeah, really its the gearbox that matters, not the belt.
Don't underestimate the strength of a belt. But I'd guess for wear, weight and overall strength in relation to the first 2. As the saying goes: A chain is as strong as its weakest link and you never know if one of those hundreds of moving parts might break. A belt is also quieter, needs no lubrication and with the use in ebikes over the past 10years enough real life R&D has been done to qualify it over a chain in A LOT of applications like this.
Why use a chain instead?
You don't risk your derailleur hitting things with a gearbox.
Normally, a chain can stretch more than a belt even while in use. I don't know if we feel it, but the racers might notice it
@@Yaxtroma Bmx size chains can be much more durable than belt.
Does anyone know what happened to the Intense M1 Gearbox Prototype ??
👈I know this much Gates blower belts are the best
Kowhai Park skate park 🤟
Why not? Weight isn’t as much of an issue in dh, and dropping chains is
Benoit Coulanges already rode a gearbox in his early career...
New UCI DH rules in 2025 basically eliminates the small bike manufacturers and therefore the gates equipped bikes at this point.
Not necessarily.
There could be massive teams whose primary sponsor is not a bike manufacturer, choosing whatever bike frame they want... and Gates seems to be ready to put some money in the table for visibility. Also, gearboxes will be the next money printer for SRAM and Shimano once they end their marketing run with their latest generation of drive trains.
😮 Can I buy a used one that is obsolete by modern standards?
Any complication or departure from established engineering is going to get a hard No. I like the principle and it may very well be better but until something gets full buy-in and standardization it’s going nowhere. Catch-22.
Sram puts a lot of money on the system, and I believe that's why it's still the standard. The patent that Honda made for gearbox didnt help either and set back the competition 20 years.
single speed or chainless
Chur Blenki ⛳
I am sorry but the belt drive company knows nobody who could actually win the $100k would be able to run it. It’s a cost-free marketing tool. That’s all.
Yep, none of these riders is in touch of a top ten.
Yes, but a freak result can happen. Bottom 10 riders complete their run in good weather. Then it starts to pour when the top 10 start their descend. It has been known to happen.
It's so obvious an ad, that it's cringey...
It's just such an enormous jump in complexity and the only advantages he could come up with are chain wear and lubrication? Doesn't seem worth it to me.
Unfortunately this vid doesn't seem to touch on the main plus which is removing the unsprung mass of the rear cassette and derailleur which drastically improves suspension performance
Wieso komm keine friday fails mehr?😡😡😡🤬
Gearboxes and belt drive won’t be a thing ever sadly. I think they are class but this just screams advertising under the guise of a video.
yer i'm all for gearboxes the next bike i get will have one but like you said this video is just a scam of a video
Tell me you have never ridden one without telling me you have never ridden one.
@@haydenbristow91 tell me your a tool without ever telling me your a tool
@@haydenbristow91 tell me your a knob without telling me your a knob
Marketing ploy. Remember Gwin's chainless race winning run?
That's an advert for aero, flow/focus and suspension kinematics.