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General Category >> The Cafe >> Kevlar belts - The Transportation of the Future?
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Message started by Stimpy - FSO on 06/14/12 at 10:37:29

Title: Kevlar belts - The Transportation of the Future?
Post by Stimpy - FSO on 06/14/12 at 10:37:29

So I bought this "hybrid" bicycle and whadda'ya know :D

...they now make them with belt-drives instead of chain;
seems to be the newest craze along with hydraulic brakes,
full suspension, carbon fibre and even electric aid-motors.

http://s18.postimage.org/ko447xoi1/140620122770.jpg (http://postimage.org/)
.. (http://postimage.org/)

This particular bike I got on sale (online) for under $200 because
people, for some reason, don't seem to trust/like kevlar belts and
this 2009 model seems did not sell well so it's to be found up to
60% off in many stores worldwide, good for me.

http://s14.postimage.org/ahinmt5m9/140620122777.jpg (http://postimage.org/)
.. (http://postimage.org/)

The bike is a basic beach cruiser from GT called "Windstream"
and features a nice and light aluminum frame, 28"wheels, kendas,
"V" brakes, belt-drive with carbon fibre components (sprockets,
guides and rollers) and no gears, this, I suspect, maybe another
reason why it didn't sell well.

http://s17.postimage.org/anc3dwczz/140620122771.jpg (http://postimage.org/)
.. (http://postimage.org/)

A lot of belt-drive bicycles can be found on
youtube or googles under "belt drive bicycles".

http://s15.postimage.org/xjs6oxabv/140620122774.jpg (http://postimage.org/)
.. (http://postimage.org/)

So how does it ride?

Smooth & whisper quiet. 8-)

The torque is there immediately and you reach "top cruising speed"
in no time, downhill it's a dream and uphill, well, it is a very light bike
(at least for my bicycle standards, maybe 20lbs?) so because of
this, and because I happen to be in very good shape since I swim
about 5 miles a week, I had no problems going uphill but I can
very well imagine many "gravity-challenged ppl" hating and kicking
this poor bike after an uphilly tour and returning or selling it within
a week's time, gears are nice.

http://s7.postimage.org/8p6fzcqyj/140620122779.jpg (http://postimage.org/)
.. (http://postimage.org/)

Also the main reason why the whole one-gear thing does not bother me
at all is because I am using this bike for a sidecar hack project,
so it will be a big, slow vehicle mostly used on completely flat surfaces.

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Many more Pics and info about my Bicycle-Hack project just go here:

http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1337645823/0#0

Here's a preview ;)

http://s15.postimage.org/p43ztjma3/140620122787.jpg (http://postimage.org/)
.. (http://postimage.org/)

Title: Re: Kevlar belts - The Transportation of the Futur
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 06/14/12 at 10:47:20

I used to ride a 10 speed all over Odessa. Most would say Odessa is flat, but theyd be wrong. Ride a bicycle & youll know where every high spot is.
I recently rode an 18 speed 2 miles. I walked it up 2 hills,, Im in some CRAP shape,,
A sub 5 minute mile was the norm for me before bad things happened. & thats on foot, not a bicycle,,sub 2's on the 10 speed were the norm, cuz I could easily average 30+ for a couple of miles,