trek belt drive single speed

Trek’s Belt-Driven Single Speed

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Mix a carbon-frame road bike driven by a carbon-composite belt and you end up with a super quiet, super light single-speed bike. You also get Trek’s unique and drool-worthy District Carbon.

Weighing 20 pounds, and costing $3,360, the District Carbon is one of only a few belt-driven bikes in Trek’s fleet. Not to mention one of the coolest-looking single-speeds on the market.

While 20 pounds is heavier than I expected from a carbon single-speed, according to Trek, the bike wasn’t produced with its lightest components for a reason: to let the consumer upgrade if he or she wants. That way the price — still quite high at $3,360 — doesn’t go through the proverbial ceiling, Trek said.

Trek hit the belt-drive market relatively early compared to many other major manufacturers. Its high-end carbon bike — built with Trek’s “Optimum Compaction” low void carbon — is based off of the company’s high-end road bike, the Madone.

The carbon fiber is heat- and pressure-treated in a way to increase strength and decrease microscopic gaps between carbon layers, the company says.

The Trek District Carbon, which comes in 50, 54, 56, 58 and 60cm frame sizes, is currently available. With primarily Bontreger components, a nearly all-black stealthy look, and an almost maintenance-free belt drive, the bike is bound to make eyes blur. www.trekbikes.com

—Ryan Dionne

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Trek District belt drive review – urban style!

Posted by Matt | April 23, 2013 | 55 comments so far

Trek District 1 singlespeed belt drive

It’s been a long time since I’ve invoked the Second Law of Cycling by indulging in a complete new bike. I have bikes of course; several of them in fact, with a disappointing number languishing in need of various key parts to get them mobile. Most recently my Five has required some major surgery, of which more soon, but this review is about something completely different.

It’s a bike, yes, but not exactly what most of us would understand by that phrase. People, I give you the Trek District belt drive urban singlespeed.

I know what you’re thinking; well maybe not exactly what some of you are thinking but enough to generalise in a pointless act of socio-demographic labelling. I’m thinking that you’re thinking what the hell has a belt drive urban singlespeed runabout got to do with a website whose modus operandi is mountain bikes? Actualy, quite a lot really.

First of all, it’s a bike, and in my world – and in strict accordance with the Second Law of Cycling mentioned above – that’s a good thing. Secondly, this has ticked a few of the boxes that have been growing on my wish list of interesting bike-related things.

Of these, the fact it is the perfect bike to move me stylishly from home to coffee house* and back again is by no means the least of them. I also liked the idea of a flat bar road bike, I enjoy singlespeeding and that belt drive is just plain intriguing isn’t it?

Oh and another thing. It was ridiculously cheap!

So what we’re looking at here then is a Trek District 2012 model. In other markets that can be found as the District 1 I think, although the District range currently covers three models that include a belt drive singlespeed, a ‘normal’ singlespeed and a 1×9 option. It has to be said the range has also taken on a more muted and less retro look as well and has also lost the carbon fork that this version is discreetly equipped with.

The 2012 model that I have is finished in a lovely steel (Neptune) blue with cream detailing that adds a real 50’s vibe – a modern 50’s vibe (as Dave commented) – and which really was a big factor in my going for it. It’s a great looking bike and quite a head turner where I live, especially if you are indiscrete enough to team it with lycra. That doesn’t really work.

What does work is some of the new technical cycle clothing that also manages to look like ‘normal’ casual clothes. Cycle-specific skinny jeans, sneakers with SPDs, and merino-based T’s are perfect for this bike and something I’m working on! Three-quarter length mtb baggies would also look fine with summer coming on I guess.

The cream extends to the wheel rims which are rather odd, quite deep sectioned (hinting in passing at aero qualities) but with heavy straight gauge spokes that speak more precisely of the strength planned-in to cope with rough urban roads.

Teamed with a set of puncture protected Bontrager 25mm Race Lite tyres the ride is smooth and extremely comfortable. And those potentially heavy rims don’t harm things too much with the overall weight of the bike as supplied (complete with metal cage pedals) coming in at 20.88lbs. That’s pretty light isn’t it, without getting silly?

As I’ve said this bike is surprisingly comfortable.

I have the 56cm and was blessed to find it essentially fitted me straight away. I bought from Cyclesurgery using their click and collect scheme which although slow (delivery to store was nearly two weeks!) meant that the bike was fully assembled when I picked it up. My only adjustment was to alter the angle of the handlebars from a slightly drooping moustache bar position to more of a horizontal plane. This helped get a nice backsweep on what are reasonably narrow bars and lengthened the reach slightly.

If you are used to tweaking bikes you’ll know that’s pretty minimal as there’s a whole raft of things you could do to alter the riding position, but for me it was basically just right out of the box. The riding position is quite upright which gives a great view of the road ahead while the backsweep on the bars allows a good pull when cranking out of the saddle, something you do a fair bit on a siglespeed if an incline is involved.

The bike itself is extremely nimble, probably as a result of those narrowish bars which speed up the steering, yet it feels very secure chucking it into a corner. I wouldn’t race on it – it’s not that kind of bike – but for sweeping round turns and making smooth progress it works well. And that’s urban riding in a nutshell.

So the geometry seems to be well chosen for the kind of riding it’s intended for (72.5° head angle and 73.5° seat tube with 45mm of fork offset). What’s also interesting is the frame, which is made from Trek’s Alpha aluminium, while the fork is a nice carbon effort that surely contributes to the great ride.

The frame has pretty large and visible welds but these are painted and therefore less obtrusive. It uses an unusual solid yolk for the seat stays and lots of box section tubing that ovalises just where it needs to be. In short it’s a competent but budget frame that has one surprise up it’s sleeve. The driveside seatstay can be unbolted and a small slug removed to let the belt for the belt drive slip through. This is rather important since in normal use you can’t split the belt!

Ah yes the belt drive. I’ve said before how much I’d like to try one but this was in relation to the Gates belt drives on Spot mountain bikes . Actually it turns out that a belt makes a lot of sense on a commuter, urban runabout bike.

For a start, it’s rated for 10,000 miles which is a lot more than I’ll do in a hurry. Secondly, no oil. This is a biggy for me as combined with the belt guard it means I can get on it and not worry about trousers or laces getting mucky or enmeshed in the inner workings of the drivetrain. So it scores for convenience there. Finally – and no review of this bike would be complete without mentioning it – there’s the stealth factor. This is one quiet bike, even over rough surfaces. No rattle, no chain noise, not even a clicking freehub as this is blessed with one that’s near silent. It’s a joy to ride and the only thing that I can think of when I’m on it is Mazda’s zoom-zoom advert ‘cos it makes me want to zoom-zoom!

Overall then I’m pretty happy. This bike is cheap, is well thought out for it’s intended purpose and takes the rough of the road in it’s stride. It’s comfortable, steers well and hopefully with the belt drive will prove reliable.

That’s an unknown at this stage and the grumblenet has a few reports of problems but I feel confident enough with it. If the worst happens and I’m not happy then my positive comments about the great handling, the comfortable ride and the near silence will apply just as much to a bike with a chain drive.

See you on the trails (and perhaps on the streets!)

*coffee house – it’s a broad and optimistic term Paul!

Filed under Bikes , Reviews in April 2013

About the author

Matt is one of the founding Molefathers of the Muddymoles, and is the designer and main administrator of the website.

Having ridden a 2007 Orange Five for many years then a 2016 YT Industries Jeffsy 29er, he now rocks a Bird Aether 9 and a Pace RC-627.

An early On-One Inbred still lurks in the back of the stable as a reminder of how things have moved on. You can even find him on road bikes - currently a 2019 Cannondale Topstone 105 SE, a much-used 2011 Specialized Secteur and very niche belt drive Trek District 1.

If you've ever wondered how we got into mountain biking and how the MuddyMoles started, well wonder no more .

There are 55 comments on ‘Trek District belt drive review – urban style!’

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Elliot says:

I’ve always liked the idea of those and that’s a cracking deal. Is there a break-in period with the belt? Seemed like new belt equipped bikes at shops/shows have a bit of resistance/drag.

Add a new comment , or reply to this comment

Posted on April 24, 2013 at 12:30 am

Hi Elliott, I haven’t really noticed drag from the belt, no sounds of rubbing or heaviness to the pedaling (aside from it being a 55:22 gear!). I suspect it’s higher than with a chain but the silence and cleanliness are big positives in this situation.

If it started squeaking I’d rapidly fall out of love with it I think. You could probably put a chain drive on there though and those stealth/retro/comfort/handling attributes would remain.

In terms of a break in period, so far it’s running well but I’m keeping an eye on the belt tension and wondering if perhaps there’s a tiny bit more of it than was there originally. It’s easy enough to tension it though, just like a normal singlespeed really.

Posted on April 24, 2013 at 8:14 am

Markymark says:

Nice addition to your bike quiver Matt! Great time to get it as we de-kit and slip into Spring/Summer mode.

It’ll be a tasty cruiser and a good reason not to Strava everything and just enjoy the glide…. whooosh.

Posted on April 24, 2013 at 12:05 pm

paul901 says:

In truth I didn’t really take much notice of it at first Matt except for the styling which is neat and evokes same-era retro thoughts of my Parker 100 fountain pen. However, when I started to think about the Specialised Globe Sport I have owned for about 5 years as my runabout but detest hence it gets no riding at all, it made me think I should try your Trek.

By the way I make your gearing 67.5 (55 x 27 / 22). Some equivalents to put it in perspective would be:

32 x 13 (64.0) or 44 x 17 (67.3) in mountain biking terms,

34 x 11 (65.6) or 50 x 21 (64.3) for roadies using compacts

39 x 16 (65.8) or 52 x 21 (66.9) or 53 x 21 (68.1) for full road chainsets.

Posted on April 24, 2013 at 4:33 pm

Welcome to try the bike sometime Paul, not sure if it would be your cup of tea coffee or not but only one way to find out…

Posted on April 25, 2013 at 8:36 am

DaveW says:

I like it – well done on getting stuck into the belt drive niche before a certain Dave ;o)

The gearing seems to be on the comfortable side. As I understand it popular opinion considers the sweet-spot for road single speed / fixed gearing in the London area to be 70 gear inches. I run mine slightly higher than that, but I think 67.5 seems to suit the sporty but not full on nature of the bike.

Posted on April 24, 2013 at 9:28 pm

Hi Dave, depends what you call comfortable and where you’re riding!

A 70/71 inch gear equivalent for a chain drive would be 42:16 – the belt drive has a higher number of teeth as the belt doesn’t bend as much as a chain can. Assuming 22 is the minimum at the back, that means I’d need to have ‘chainring’ of about 58 to get that kind of gear!

67.5 gear inches on this is pretty good, in practice 18-19mph is a fast spin, anything above 20mph and things get pretty frenetic as I found out last night on our 28 mile road ride round Wisley! You can just about hold 22-23mph for short periods if you can spin smoothly.

At cruising speeds of 16-17mph you get to feel nicely on top of the gear, so relaxed progress is quite easy to come by. I felt I’d had a good workout after 28 miles and 1 and three quarter hours of spinning at a 17mph average though!

So much to gentle rides lads…

Posted on April 25, 2013 at 8:34 am

I blame MuddyDave for the average speed. He was on something! 😉

Posted on April 25, 2013 at 9:09 am

Yeah, sorry about that, I just rode the way I felt! If it’s any consulation my quads hurt today!

Posted on April 25, 2013 at 9:36 am

Incidentally Matt, I see this bike has been given “4 moles”. What would make it a 5? Might be worth adding it into articles if they reach further than one might expect.

Posted on April 25, 2013 at 6:21 am

Sure is a smooth looking coffee shop cruiser Matt but you demonstrated on Weds nights road spin that it can go quickly if you are prepared to spin your legs off! 🙂

Riding next to it there is noticeably very little noise from any part of the bike and I have to say it looks very comfy even down to the slightly bent Carnegie type bars. (MuddyDave will jump in here and correct me as to the bars true category no doubt)

Posted on April 26, 2013 at 4:11 pm

Tom F says:

Hi Matt, great review – good to see that the Trek District range is still garnering interest, despite the last two incarnations not being available in the UK.

I am currently in the market for one myself, the original Grey – Orange one which itself is a beauty.

One thing – as someone who loves to cycle but knows very little about bikes and the terminology that engulfs them; what would the District’s single-speed gearing compare to on say, a Mountain bike?

I currently ride a Specialized Rockhopper Comp Pro (2009) and only use a handful of gears, but I’d be keen to know where the District stands.

I live in London, so there are no really hilly areas, and I will generally be using it to get around town and for the odd 10 mile return ride here and there.

Posted on April 30, 2013 at 7:42 am

Hi Tom, I like the look of the original grey/orange one too, good choice.

Gearing wise, it’s close to running a 32 middle ring with a 13 or 12 tooth cog at the back on a 26 inch wheeled mountain bike. The difference is you are on the road with less weight and skinnier tyres so it’s not as bad as it sounds.

Depends how fast you want to go and what you are wearing, but a 10 mile ride would leave you feeling warm as you likely need to stand up to crank up the odd hill. Generally though it’s a comfortable cruising spin at 16-18 mph, at which speed you feel well on top of the gear without spinning crazy fast.

Posted on April 30, 2013 at 8:20 am

Paul Graville says:

Great review Matt and I agree with all of it. I got one recently from Cycle Surgery in the same colour because I wanted a belt drive bike for commuting. Unfortunately I hated the hipster look so have made a few changes! The detail of this will bore most but I’ll share it because of the lengths you went to in your review.

I wanted to get rid of everything white on the bike so have done the following. Changed the saddle for an old WTB Laser V that kind of follows me around because it suits my behind; changed the handlebar grips to Bontrager lightweight black foam ones; have removed the chain guard and am in the process of repainting in black and laquering; have replaced the white brake cable housings with black Teflon-coated Shimano stuff.

But the thing I hated the most was the wheels, or rather the rims. They made me look like I lived in Shoreditch and wore a man bag! So I replaced them with grey-anodised H Plus Son TB14 rims. These are really nice. I also have them on a race bike but they’re quite wide at 23mm and strong and well made with a welded join, double eyelets and machined braking surfaces. I also changed the rather agricultural straight gauge spokes for top of the line Sapim Race double-butted ones. I thought about changing the hubs but the stock ones are actually very good. They run as smooth as butter with no play and the front one is very light. The rear one is pretty heavy but has a near-silent freewheel, which suits the bike, and has the correct chainline for the belt so I didn’t want to mess with it. This wheel upgrade cost a significant £196 but it completely transforms the bike. It is more comfortable, has a fair bit lower rotating mass and of course no longer makes me look like an idiot. Money spent on good wheels is not wasted.

Finally as a commuter I added mudguards and changed the pedals from the sharp cages to flat rubber ones to protect my leather soles! And Cycle Surgery also set up my bars in a moustachioed style so I have set them more upright for comfort.

Posted on May 9, 2013 at 8:41 pm

Thanks for your comments Paul! Sounds like you have a pretty unique and carefully thought out bike there, and very stealthy by the sound of it.

It has to be said I’m really enjoying riding this bike and have had lots of largely positive/envious comments from people, especially non-enthusiasts, interestingly. It really seems to capture people’s interest.

The rims… made me look like I lived in Shoreditch and wore a man bag!

That made me laugh! I suspect I shall now be called the Shoreditch Shuffler by some of our more appreciative riders!

I quite like the wheels, but they can indeed be improved with better/lighter rims and spokes. A set of Velocity A23 rims could be a good choice too, retaining an element of the deep rim look.

On the wheel issue, we’ve some rather high-end 29er MTB wheels coming in for review shortly – watch this space.

Thanks again and enjoy the ride etc.

Posted on May 9, 2013 at 9:07 pm

Yes I’ve had loads of positive comments too and have recommended to a friend who subsequently bought one and loves it. He’s not an enthusiast but it seems to suit all types.

When I have more money I reckon the ultimate upgrade is a SRAM Automatix 2-speed automatic hub. Would help setting off from lights and up hills. Unfortunately this would require rebuilding the back wheel, a new rear sprocket and longer belt so definitely not for the faint hearted! Shame Trek have pulled belt drive from the UK market due to lack of sales.

Posted on May 11, 2013 at 11:29 am

Bev Woodward says:

How does this bike cope with hills…?

Posted on May 13, 2013 at 6:46 pm

Hi Bev, that’s a tough one to answer! I guess it all depends on what you call hills?!

I find it’s actually more of an effort on long steady inclines, as the need to keep your legs pushing takes it’s toll after a while. Short short and sharp hills I generally get out of the saddle, and it’s fine then.

If you live somewhere quite hilly (or have one big hill to get over) this is definitely not the bike for you. Trek do offer a version with gears but that comes with a chain which is no bad thing. All the other characteristics of the bike remain, such as it’s comfort and easy handling/ride.

Posted on May 13, 2013 at 9:44 pm

Hi Matt, Thanks for your advice..I love the look of the bike and the idea of a no maintenance chain but I live in a hilly area(Saddleworth) which is big ups and long downers…!! .. I think I will have to leave buying one then.. Many Thanks Bev

Posted on May 15, 2013 at 6:04 pm

Related: Ride report: Sunday 12 May – Reigate ramble | Muddymoles

James says:

I too got my Trek District at a bargain price from Cyclesurgery about 6 weeks ago. So far I’ve done nearly 300 miles but at 250 miles I noticed a bit of stretch in the belt and it was at this point I discovered what probably is this very good bike’s ‘Achilles Heel’.

I also ride fixed and like most riders I can retention my regular steel chain in seconds! On the Gates belt drive the adjustment and tension needs to be checked every quater turn of the crank. As you can imagine, this not the ‘work of a moment’ and best done with the bike up on a workstand. Failure to to this can lead to a ‘tight-spot’ which will damage the hub bearing at one point and a slack point on the opposite side which will damage the belt. Also while you’ve got it on the stand check that 5 arms of the front ring are fitted evenly and tightly against the shoulders of the arms of the spider crank. Unlike a steel or alloy front ring there quite a lot a flex in a carbon risin one so pays to check- there was a 5mm gap on one arm of mine.

This isn’t a niggel about the Trek as much as an observation about what makes it noteworthy means that it requires the same attention that it deserves.

I’m going to enjoy riding the Disrict, I’ve already fitting full SKS mudguards to mine. It’s going to be my wet weather trainer and my winter commuter for hopefully many easy maintaince years. Just think. No more wet lube, no more grimy, noisy chain!

Posted on June 23, 2013 at 10:17 pm

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Terry Mack says:

Hi, I quite fancy one of these bikes, but I am worried about the integrity of carbon forks. A friend’s carbon forks snapped and put him in hospital with a serious face injury, since then I have been dubious about just how safe they are. What do you think? best regards, Terry…

Posted on July 14, 2013 at 7:56 pm

Hi Terry, I understand where you’re coming from and it’s fair to say that if carbon fails it can fail catastrophically although more often than not it will show cracking first. It could suffer from the rough and tumble of urban life (bike racks and so on) I guess.

Mind you, the Pro Tour put their bikes through an awful lot of abuse and you don’t hear of these kinds of failures very often these days despite them all running full carbon bikes. On balance I’d say its safer than it sounds!

Posted on July 14, 2013 at 8:31 pm

Hi Matt, After reading your review, I went out and bought a District from Cycle Surgery (and got a great deal). Thank goodness I disregarded the inner voice saying “what does a 70 year old want/need with four bikes?” I’ve just come back from my first 12 miles on it with a Cheshire Cat grin – I haven’t had such a buzz since I got my first bike! Thanks, Terry…

Posted on July 26, 2013 at 8:20 am

Anders says:

Hi Matt, Thanks for a great review. I’m desperately trying to find a European, preferably UK, retailer for the District belt drive. I live in Sweden and there’s no distribution here anymore. Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers, Anders

Posted on August 1, 2013 at 10:56 am

I had a look a few days ago and could not find any either. This could be the “no internet sales” rule that Trek has with their dealers which most seem to stick to or it could just be that these already old 2012 models have just all gone. As far as I can see there was no 2013 model in the UK.

Posted on August 2, 2013 at 5:34 am

Bernard says:

Hi Matt – great review and looks like a great bike. I’d like to buy one but can only find size 56. How tall are you? I’m 6ft so would have thought borderline 56-58? Any thoughts? 🙂

Posted on September 24, 2013 at 10:54 pm

Hi Bernard, I’m close on 5’11”, so near you in height.

I’d say you’d probably be OK with a 56 but you’re definitely at the upper end of the scale for that size. For me it’s perfect and you should find that as you move the saddle up you get the room you need.

As with all these things though, it would be a good idea to try before you buy.

Posted on September 25, 2013 at 8:06 am

I bought the District 2012 around the same time as you and I have to say it has been a great commuting bike. One thing that has been happening recently is quite a bit of slippage on hills or when stop-starting at lights.

Just wondering if anyone else has had the same issues with the carbon belt on this bike?

Posted on November 13, 2013 at 1:51 pm

Hi Dan, good bike choice 😉

I’ve not had any slippage but on investigating the tensioners it ‘looks’ as though the threaded nuts don’t actually thread into anything that pushes against the dropouts and tensions the belt.

I’ll have to report back once my bike mechanic (OK, Dave) has checked I’m not going mad…

Posted on November 13, 2013 at 10:34 pm

What is the largest tire size you could run with this bike?

Posted on March 3, 2016 at 1:26 pm

Bill Isenbarger says:

Hi, Matt: Mine is a 2010 grey/orange—a real beauty. Got it in Aug. 2014 and have about 4,500 miles on it. Please pass to Sam that mine arrived (ebay) from a dealer with Bontrager 32mm Nebula Plus tires. Nearly drove me nuts keeping the rear running free. Trek advised 25-28mm. Now running a 28mm on the rear and all is well. I am 67 and wrecked my legs by always sitting, even up hills. Standing helps, but I am planning to go to a Shimano Alfine 8 speed hub. I’ll let you know how that works out. Thanks for your work! Bill in Texas.

Posted on December 17, 2016 at 10:17 pm

Can I please buy this bike? Mine got stolen years back and can’t find anything close to replacing it! Dm me if you’d be willing to sell

Posted on March 2, 2017 at 4:16 am

LOL sorry Jim, for the time being this bike is not for sale. I agree, it’s an unusual bike to have to replace and Trek now have nothing in their range which combines retro styling with modern tech.

Posted on March 6, 2017 at 5:06 pm

scholz says:

Trek Singlespeed Mit Riemenantrieb Trek District 2009: Alurahmen 58cm Gates Carbon Belt Drive (Riemenantrieb) Alurahmen Carbongabel Kurbel, Ledelsattel, Lenkervorbau, etc.: Bontrager

Ich möchte gern dieses Fahrrad kaufen, wenn möglich, was kostet es mich? HABEN SIE EVENTUELL NOCH EINEN RESTPOSTEN!!!!!Bitte rufen Sie mich unter 015214313482 an. Freundliche Grüsse T.Scholz

Posted on April 24, 2017 at 3:53 pm

OK, here’s my update: I Now have over 10K miles on this 2010 District. Did convert to an Alphine 8 speed rear hub with manual shifting. Been running it now since Feb. 17. Paid $340 for the hub and with all other parts (shifter, cassette shim, new Gates cog, spokes, and installation) it all came to $705. Worth every penny to me! What a great bike it is. I use Runk eeper to track rides and I average 250 miles a month, so with 23 complete months I’ve put well over 5,000 miles on the hub. Needed an initial adjustment just after install and have NEVER had to even use the barrel adjuster since! I did have the rear cog changed Feb. 2018, going from the 55/22 stock setup to 55/24 in order to get a bit lower gearing. I would even go to 55/26 to get the most reduction I can with this stock 118 tooth belt, but can’t find a cog. I am still running the original belt with no problems! Universal Cycles states you can change up to 4 tooth sizes on a cog without needing to go to a different numbered tooth belt. All work expertly done by Justin at Bikeland, The Woodlands, Texas.

Posted on February 4, 2019 at 9:20 pm

Hi Bill congrats on hitting 10K with the Trek!

I still have mine but haven’t hit anything like your mileage – would like to do the conversion to Alfine to give more flexibility to the bike.

Posted on May 8, 2019 at 10:18 am

Eugene says:

So I just got this bike, and it rides really well, but the other day I got the front wheel stolen. I know almost next to nothing about bikes, and have been scouring online to see if I could find an apt replacement, without sacrificing the feel of the ride too much.

Is there a name for the rims for this bike I can find? Or something ample to use instead (within a budget of $100-$150 for a front wheel only)?

Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.

Posted on May 8, 2019 at 5:06 am

Hi Eugene, bad luck losing the wheel!

Sadly I can’t find any documentation on what these wheels were as originally spec’ed. I think they are similar to Velocity Deep V rims ( https://www.velocityusa.com/product/rims/deep-v-622 ) but not sure they are as deep (tall) as the original wheels on the District?

Colour matching is also likely to be a problem – maybe have a chat with Trek?

I would like to find some similar rims myself in a tubeless compatible format as I am thinking about fitting an Alfine internal rear hub to provide some extra gearing. That would force a wheel rebuild so it would be a good excuse to go tubeless.

Posted on May 8, 2019 at 10:16 am

Hello again Matt, I just wanted to mention that your reply was helpful. Thank you for the prompt response! I got a new front wheel which fits well, though not quite a cream-colored deep dish one.

Posted on May 16, 2019 at 3:47 am

You’re welcome Eugene, glad yo’ve got your bike up and running again!

Posted on May 21, 2019 at 10:52 pm

Steve Jones says:

I have one of the green/brown models. I have converted the rear wheel to an Alfine 8 Speed and the front wheel to a Dynamo with an Exposure hub. Currently running 30mm Schwalbe CX Pro Tyres as I tend to use it on gravel at the moment.

Does anyone know what screws are needed for the chain adjusters as mine are starting to round off, making belt tensioning a pain.

Posted on July 22, 2019 at 1:10 pm

Steve, I have a similar plan – not sure yet wether to stick to the belt or swap to a chain to go with the Alfine. What did you use to route the cables? My bike doesn’t have any cable stops so not sure what to do!

The idea is to pair the Alfine with some Pacenti tubeless rims for a more flexible town bike…

Posted on October 5, 2019 at 1:26 pm

Apologies for the late reply, only a year late! I used large cable ties to fix the gear cable to the downtube and chainstay, a bit ugly but it works. I have now also fitted a CDX belt and sprockets and Alfine Hollowtech 2 cranks and BB.

Posted on December 29, 2020 at 4:15 pm

Thanks Steve – my plan has been on hold due to Pacenti Brevet rim shortages but I see they are now in stock. I have a donor Alfine lined up.

Still want to go this route, might switch to vintage brown grips and saddle too which I think will go well with the silver rims. Shame the CDX stuff is so expensive!

Posted on December 29, 2020 at 8:43 pm

I had a big birthday in 2019 and got a fair bit of cash so treated myself to the CDX kit. I’m thinking of changing the rims for some Kinlin XR-22’s or XR-31’s, maybe even an XR-31 on the back and an XR-22 on the front.

Posted on January 22, 2021 at 11:27 pm

Good call Steve! Lucky you having the CDX stuff.

I think the idea of tubeless rims (and lighter rims on the Trek District for that matter) will make an already great ride better, especially if you can sneak in a 32mm tyre over the stock 28s. Maybe a 30 is the sweet spot?

I really want polished silver due to the colours of this model (but other model years have different colours).

Posted on January 23, 2021 at 11:21 am

I have just noticed from your photos of the bike that the frame splits in a different place than mine. Mine has a split dropout rather than the seat stay. Did you get your new wheels built, if you did, do you know what the original rims weigh? I am going to get mine done this month.

Posted on April 22, 2021 at 1:11 pm

Brendan says:

Just checking in as an owner of one of these bikes. I’ve probably clocked up about 5,000km on it so far. My one is still single-speed but I changed it to a normal chain after the belt dramatically snapped one day while crossing a stressful junction. And it now has some Marathon 2 tyres, but is still single-speed. Every now and then I consider getting a new bike and spend a couple of weeks googling around for alternatives. But it always ends in the same way, with me wondering why I’m looking for another bike: there’s nothing wrong with this one!

Posted on October 4, 2019 at 2:10 pm

Thanks for the comment Brendan; I remain very happy with Trek even after several years. I’m thinking of a hub gear though so I can use it more often – I get quite hot with the singlespeed in the summer months!

Posted on October 5, 2019 at 1:29 pm

Used bike hunter says:

You mentioned “cheap” a few times but I did not see a single mention of price. Hmm.

Posted on September 3, 2020 at 10:12 pm

I guess it all depends on what you call cheap!

The Trek District 1 retailed for £700 and I got it for £450 in a sale IIRC. But it was a long time ago now – 2012 model bought in 2013.

Still going strong!

Posted on September 20, 2020 at 9:21 pm

Related: Trek District 1 2011 specification | Bikes | Muddymoles: Mountain biking (MTB) in the Surrey Hills and Mole Valley

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2022 Trek District commuter bike brings premium belt drive, dynamo hub model to U.S.

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Already popular in Europe, Trek’s bringing their well-equipped District 4 commuter bicycle to North America for “serious” commuters who appreciate a low-maintenance, well-equipped, and fully-featured city bike.

Equipped with a clean, quiet Gates CDX Belt Drive, it needs no lube or grease and claims 3x the lifespan of a typical chain.

That feeds power into a Shimano Alfine 8-speed internally geared rear hub for easy shifting and a wide gear range. Shimano MT200 hydraulic brakes should be similarly problem free for years.

Up front, a Shimano 3-Watt dynamo hub powers premium Herrmans MR8 (180-lumen/60lux) front and H-trace Eco rear lights so you won’t ever need to add (or charge) batteries.

Fenders, a kickstand, and pre-installed rear rack come standard, too. Basically, it’s everything we’d want on a commuter bike, ready to roll straight out of the shop.

The frame is a lightweight aluminum that comes in standard and “Stagger” (step-thru) designs. It rolls on 700x40mm tires, with reflective sidewalls for safety, which should provide the right blend of comfort and speed. Retail is $1,699 USD and has a lifetime warranty on the frame…and they actually have inventory right now at TrekBikes.com .

Disclosure: Some of these links are affiliate links that may earn a small commission for Bikerumor if you click on them and buy something. This helps support our work here without costing you anything extra. You can learn more about how we make money here . Thanks!

Tyler Benedict is the Founder of Bikerumor.com . He has been writing about the latest bikes, components, and cycling technology for almost two decades. Prior to that, Tyler launched and built multiple sports nutrition brands and consumer goods companies, mostly as an excuse to travel to killer riding locations throughout North America.

Based in North Carolina, Tyler loves family adventure travel and is always on the lookout for the next shiny new part to make his bikes faster and lighter.

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I’m not a big brand bike kind of guy, but I love the practical utility of this. It checks most of the boxes for a commuter, errand running, short jaunt kind of bike. Well done.

Hydro discs, gates belt drive, and a dynohub are definitely wins. Still not sold on the Shimano 8 speed internal hub’s durability.. I’ve just seen to many of them explode, but maybe they’ve improved in recent years.

Hmmmm “ they actually have inventory right now” seems wrong. I am seeing them having an ETA June 2022…. Might wanna check that source

I work at Trek, there actually is inventory. Warehouse gets them in mid-late July, which is much sooner that most other bikes

just get a Priority Continuum Its nearly identical but costs $430 less

I wish they had sprung for the alfine 11 spd. The 8 spd has some big jumps between the gears.

I never had problems with derailleurs,but recently got an Alfine 11 after being curious about it forever. It is everything I expected it to be. A big plus is the ability to shift from a stand-still. ..helpful when you are zipping along in high gear, but suddenly get stuck at an intersection and want to get going quicker. These bikes are ok. My style is more of a packback, rechargeable light, removeable fenders, etc,(to cut some weight), as opposed to generator hub/rack,etc. If you want a bike ‘loaded’ , these seem to check all the boxes.

Too bad this is basically identical to a priority continuum but $400 more expensive

I’ve been riding & loving the Priority Continuum Onyx for almost a year. Essentially the same as this (heavy and loaded) except it has continuously variable tranny hub instead of the 8 Alfine. Bulletproof BUT: It can only be operated by a grip shifter which I do not like (wrist action etc…) and cannot be adapted for triggers….. I may switch to the Trek District just to get the trigger shifters back….

Cannot agree more: I’ve been riding my Continuum Onyx trouble-free for over a year (5,000+ miles)…. & love it. But even after a year, I just cannot intuitively adapt to the twist shifter after 30+ years of rapid-fires….. I will likely get this Trek when it hits my local bike shop for that reason alone….

why would I ever buy this when I can get the nearly identical (it actually has better lights then the trek and a usb phone charging port) Priority Continuum Onyx for $430 less

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Tested: Trek District 4 Equipped Stagger

A Fully Equipped European-style Commuter for Bike Lovers

Takeaway: Fully equipped, the District 4 Stagger includes almost every amenity imaginable, stripping away off-bike maintenance and preparation in favor of a polished on-bike experience. Arriving at work or the grocery is more graceful than ever on this quiet, maintenance-free cruiser. With a belt drive system, internally geared rear hub, and quick-stopping hydraulic brakes, it highlights the reason so many of us prefer to commute by bike: the joy of motion.

• Purpose built and well appointed commuter bike.
• Silent running Gates Belt Drive system and Shimano internal hub.
• Front dynamo hub with front and rear lights.
• Swept back handlebar makes climbing difficult.

Price: $1,730 Weight: 34lbs (Large)

Trek District 4 Equipped Stagger

Trek District 4 Equipped Stagger Build Details

Style: Commuter bike Frame: Alpha Smooth Aluminum, internal cable routing, belt compatibility, post-mount disc Fork: Rigid Aluminum Hub front: Shimano 3.0 watt dynamo hub Hub rear: Shimano Alfine S7000, 8-speed Rims: Bontrager Connection, alloy, double-wall, 32-hole Tire: Bontrager H2 Comp, reflective, wire bead, 30 tpi, 700x40c Shifter: Shimano Alfine S7000, 8-speed Crank: Gates CDX S250, 46T Cassette: Gates CDX, 22T steel ring Saddle: Bontrager Commuter Comp Seatpost: Bontrager alloy, 27.2mm, 12mm offset, 330mm length Handlebar: Alloy, 31.8mm clamp, 25mm rise, 630mm width Grips: Bontrager Satellite Elite, alloy lock-on Stem: Bontrager alloy, 31.8mm, Blendr compatible, 7 degree rise Headset: 1-1/8'' threadless, sealed cartridge bearings Brakes: Shimano MT200 hydraulic disc Brake rotors: Shimano RT10, Centerlock, 160mm Rear Light: Herrmans H-Trace ECO dynamo LED Front Light: Herrmans MR8, 180 lumen, 60 lux Extra: Rear mount alloy kickstand, SKS front & rear plastic fenders

Trek District 4 Gallery

European-type city bikes are increasingly in popularity in the United States, so much so that Trek decided to bring their top-of-the-line city bikes from Europe to market stateside. The District 4 Equipped Stagger offers geometry similar to the flagship Trek Townie with larger wheels, a shorter wheelbase and longer seat tube to adapt more easily to mixed urban terrain. The success of e-bikes in the category has cleared space for more aggressive cruisers like the District 4 that emphasize the simplicity of on-bike experience instead of decreased physical exertion.

For many riders in major American cities, Trek is a controversial name. The brand has seen public outcry and boycotts in the wake of the 2020 racial justice protests for supplying police departments across the country with bikes designed for crowd suppression. However, Trek is not alone in their contentious affiliation, as others have also received condemnation for their ties to law enforcement and military contracts.

Though the online discourse is decidedly not in their favor, Trek maintains an outsized presence in cycling due to the breadth and quality of their products. Their bicycles are fitted with high-end components and backed by top-notch repairs and customer service, while their global brick-and-mortar presence makes the brand well-suited for first-time riders and avid cyclists alike.

The District range offers two bikes, a step-over model with flat bars and a step-through (Stagger) bike with swept-back cruiser bars. Each are available in Europe with the addition of an electric motor under the District+ name, though these e-bike variants have yet to make it to American shores. Both District models provide an upright riding position, while the Stagger offers more comfort at the expense of climbing ability. They are only available fully equipped (meaning with rack, fenders, and lights), as many of the accessories are integrated with the frame.

The District 4 Equipped Stagger is curated at the component level to make daily rides easier and more comfortable. It features a silent internal gear rear hub, a clean-running belt drive system, powerful disc brakes, and a dynamo front hub which powers the front and rear lights. No creature comfort is spared, and though the price point makes that apparent, the ability to commute safely right out of the box is tremendous.

The District 4 has ergonomic Bontrager Satellite Elite grips, which project down to support the palm, and offer dual-density pressure distribution to make holding the bars as gentle on your hands as possible. The partially-split Bontrager Commuter Comp saddle pairs well, allowing an extended upright position without sacrificing soft tissue protection. Both components are waterproof to handle any conditions.

The bike also comes equipped with front and rear SKS plastic fenders to keep your pants clean in the event of an unexpected drizzle. Combined with the internal hub and belt drive, it’s easy to dismount the District 4 Equipped Stagger in approximately the same state of composure as when you got on.

Though the Stagger model sacrifices the seat tube bottle mount found on the non-step through District, the down tube mount has plenty of room for a large water bottle. The loss of storage capacity is also barely missed since the large aluminum MIK-compatible rack has the size and durability to attach multiple panniers with room to spare.

As a frequent bike commuter from Brooklyn into Lower Manhattan, I was eager to run the District 4 through its paces to see if I could really get to work as clean and sweat-free as the lifestyle commuter promised. Mounting the bike is as easy as sitting down on a chair and the upright cruiser bar position makes back strain negligible.

I set off and was immediately awed by the silence of the belt drive system. My jangling keys were the loudest thing on the bike. Allure shortly became alarm when I realized that my silence made no impression on the pedestrians or vehicles around me. Then I noticed that the bike lacked a bell. On most bikes, the bell is a user-added preference but on the District 4 I couldn’t help but feel its absence among the included buffet of commute accessories. Plus, a bell is required in many places.

My ride into the city begins with a non-trivial mile-long incline, which proved the greatest challenge to the District 4. On a bike with a more traditional flat bar, one can adjust their posture to tackle an incline with only a little added exertion. The step-through Stagger model with its cruiser bar makes climbing slow at best. At 34lbs, the bike isn’t outlandishly heavy, but it bears close to 10 pounds more weight than my daily ride. I made a mental note to re-draw my route and avoid roads over a 5° incline.

On flatter roads and downhills, the District 4 really shines. The internal hub shifts are responsive and offer decent range, though I found myself topping out the highest of the bike’s 8-speeds on a few descents. Though the bike is comfortable reaching speeds up to 20mph, I experienced front wheel wobble as I neared 25mph and consequently had to readjust the fenders. Slowing down from high speed is a piece of cake for the District 4, with quick-action hydraulic disc brakes ideal for defensive urban riding.

The District is a head-turner, too. Fellow cyclists loved seeing the disc brakes, belt drive, and front hub dynamo-integrated lighting system. Loaded up with my groceries and bar-mounted burrito pouch, I found myself knocking out errands including an overzealous trip to the hardware store with ease.

Though I only had to perform superficial maintenance and the bike promises little need, the internal hub and belt enclosure make DIY maintenance unappealing. If something goes wrong on the District 4, you’ll probably be taking it to the shop. Luckily, there’s at least one brick-and-mortar Trek location in most major cities, including one right en route to my office.

The District 4 Equipped Stagger doesn’t necessarily make cycling more appealing to newcomers, but it does provide plenty of amenities for those who already enjoy the ride. The missing accessories are easily added and the route indelicacies avoided. Fender and lighting integration reduce the likelihood of theft and encourage biking for all manner of local travel.

The District 4 is the distilled essence of urban cycling without the grime, noise, or inconveniences. If you’re a regular cyclist who wants a polished, high-end, out of the box solution for easy commuting and errands, this is a bike for you.

Based in Brooklyn, New York, Aithne is a commuter and urban bike tester of mountain bike experience. Between rides, she produces experimental stories at The Atlantic and organizes media labor. 

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Trek Belt Driven Bikes: District and Soho

It’s safe to say that very little has changed on bicycles since they first became popular at the beginning of the 20th century.   So, when I saw the new Trek District and Soho, I instantly thought “GAME CHANGER.” Trek has gone all Mavericky on us and dropped the ubiquitous chain for a new carbon fiber belt driven system on both bikes.

By Jon Gaffney

It’s safe to say that very little has changed on bicycles since they first became popular at the beginning of the 20 th century.   So, when I saw the new Trek District and Soho , I instantly thought “GAME CHANGER.” Trek has gone all Mavericky on us and dropped the ubiquitous chain for a new carbon fiber belt driven system on both bikes.

According to their website, “The belt drive is a carbon fiber composite belt reinforced to prevent stretch. The worry-free, lube-rejecting, lighter-than-any-chain-you’ve-ever-owned belt also produces a ninja-like quiet ride.”

What this means to you:

• One, no lube means no grease stains on the pants, which are a big deterrent if you’re on your way to the office.
• Two, removing the toothy sprocket and the adding a belt guard means your new Bonobos shouldn’t get torn up.
• Third, these belts have an advertised lifespan of three years, as opposed to the typical one year life of a chain.  Plus, they require no lube, so they’ll take less time and money in maintenance.
• Finally, unlike past failed belt driven bikes, this one has teeth built in so there is no slippage, regardless of weather conditions or how hard you pedal, key for dodging cars at rush hour.

Editor’s Note: There are a few things to consider: both bikes have aluminum frames, which are generally thought to have inferior ride quality to CroMoly. For those of you looking for a fixed gear, the District does not have a flip-flop hub.  Trek is developing an in house solution, but nothing yet.  The District is a single speed and the Soho has an internal hub 8-speed, so one or the other should fill your commuting needs and wants. Bonus points to the District for rocking the GP colors.

Cost: $930-$990

Also See: Giant TCR Advanced 3 | Mission Bicycle

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Belt-Driven Bikes

Best Belt-Drive Bikes: Top 7 Belt Bicycles for Commuters

By Pete Reynolds

Updated Nov 27, 2023

This post may contain affiliate links, which help to keep Discerning Cyclist rolling. Learn more .

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 can’t shift between cogs like a chain – they have an internal hub gearing system instead.

Best Belt-Drive Commuter Bikes: Top 7

Budget pick

Priority Classic Plus

A top-class budget belt-bike.

Top Pick for Commuters

Trek District 4 Equipped Commuter Belt Bike

Stylish urban bicycle perfect for cycling to and from work.

Great value

Priority Brilliant L Train 7-Speed

A speedy belt-driven bikes with larger gear range.

Belt-Driven Hybrid Bike

Trek District 1 Equipped Commuter Bike

Best belt drive hybrid bike for city riding.

Belt-Driven Gravel Bike

Priority Apollo Gravel Belt Bike

Ideal belt drive bike for both beginners and experienced cyclists.

Single Speed

Priority Ace Belt Drive Single Speed

Only single-speed belt drive featuring Gates Carbon Drive.

Carbon Belt Drive

Brilliant Cooper

A classic and easy-to-ride option for daily commuters.

City Transit

Marin Presidio 3

A fast, fun, and exciting commuter.

Electric Belt-Driven Bike

Trek Café 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 £200 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.

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 you’re working on tighter financial constraints, fear not – the Priority Classic Plus should still have all you need and more.

An incredibly light model at just 25lbs, it’s easy to ride, with enhanced wheels and pedals for that extra bit of durability, too.

And it’s 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

• 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 you’re keen, but find it’s out of your price range, check out their previous model, the District 3, which is £350 cheaper,  here .

3. Priority Brilliant L Train 7-Speed

• 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 ‘brilliant’ 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

• 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.

What’s 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

• 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 isn’t 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.

It’s Priority’s 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, it’s 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

• 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 you’re 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, you’ll be safe in knowledge that the Ace can be ‘geared’ to your style of cycling, even with just the one actual gear in its arsenal.

7. Brilliant Cooper

• Shimano 3-speed.
• 27lbs (12kg).
• 1020 steel frame.

Tire width of 1,25″ (32mm).

Fast stopping power with V-brakes.

Lightweight.

Brilliant Cooper’s 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 café moto go electric belt bike.

• 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 you’re an electric bike fan, no problem – there’s a belt-driven bicycle for that, too.

This limited edition Café 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 – 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 Trek’s 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 Café 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:

• Priority Bicycles
• Schindelhauer Bikes

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Is the District Carbon Trek’s strangest-ever road bike… or even its coolest?

First Published Apr 23, 2024

“We need a new bike in the range; any ideas?”

“Let’s do a belt drive model.”

“A flat handlebar urban bike?”

“No, let’s do this one with a drop handlebar. And let’s base it on the Madone 5 race bike.”

“Riiiight! This is with a hub gear, I take it?”

“No, let’s make it a single-speed.”

“You’re sure about this?”

“Absolutely. We’ll sell millions.”

Okay, Trek’s planning meeting might not have gone exactly like that, but it’s hard to imagine the scenario that led to the brand’s District Carbon, surely one of its most niche models ever.

District is the name that Trek gives to its range of city bikes that are designed to “make everyday riding easy, comfy and fun”. You know the sort of thing: upright geometry, flat handlebars, lights, mudguards… 

The District Carbon, which we first wrote about at the end of 2009, was an anomaly. Essentially, Trek took its belt-drive District commuter bike and gave it an OCLV carbon frame. Trek did offer the District Carbon with a flat handlebar, but the one that we got in for review had a drop bar and it was quirky, to say the least.

The burning question: why? 

Well, for a start, the Trek District Carbon was a very cool bike indeed. We've seen a lot of black carbon over the years – thousands of ’em – but few exerted the pulling power of the District Carbon. In terms of looks, it was understated, but it was still an intriguing proposition.

Costing £2,800 at the time, the District Carbon featured a limited edition carbon-fibre frame –Trek didn’t knock these babies out in great numbers – based on Madone 5 Series Pro race bike geometry. That’s the frame Alberto Contador won the 2007 Tour de France on although Trek gave it a new backend because, believe it or not, El Pistolero didn’t use a Gates carbon belt. The spacing between the rear dropouts needed to be wider and, of course, the frame needed to separate to allow the belt to be fitted and changed (a Gates belt isn’t separable like a traditional chain).

For the District Carbon, Trek opted to separate the frame at the rear dropout. Certainly, the method it came up with was both ingenious and user-friendly: an eccentric dropout that was undone via three Allen bolts on each side.

Like the Madone 5 Series bikes, the District Carbon was fitted with a Bontrager Race Lite fork with a carbon steerer. It was SpeedTrap-compatible meaning that you could run a digital sensor in one of the blades. The fork turned on a Cane Creek integrated headset. 

The Gates Carbon Belt was fitted to an FSA Energy 55T chainset and a 22T rear sprocket, giving you a 66-inch gear. Brakes were Bontrager's very swish-looking Speed Limit design – cable-operated rim brakes, as was normal at the time – matched to Tektro road levers.

> Gates to award €100K to the first DH winner on a belt drive 

As mentioned, the District Carbon was a single-speed so there’s not masses more spec to tell you about. All the finishing kit was from Trek's Bontrager brand, and it was none the worse for that. The Bontrager Race Lite Aero rims were fitted with Bontrager Race All Weather 23mm tyres – 23s still ruled the world in 2009 – the handlebar was a Bontrager Race VR-S with a comfortable bend, the stem was a Bontrager Race X Lite with 7° of rise, the saddle was a Bontrager Race Lite… You get the picture. 

Coming in at just 6.96kg (15.3lb), the Trek District Carbon was lightweight, and you could have easily dropped a few more grams by swapping the wheels and handlebar. Speaking of the bar, we were a little confused by Trek’s decision to go for drops rather than a flat model. They seemed to slightly limit the bike's urban appeal.

That was the thing about the Trek District Carbon – it was a bike with a bit of an identity problem. The frame, the fork, and basically everything about the way the District Carbon was set up said (this bike was way too cool to scream) “performance road machine”. On the other hand, the single-speed belt drive was all about urban riding – in which case Trek could have ditched the handlebar and levers and shed some weight and cost in the process.

In some ways, the District Carbon didn’t make a whole lot of sense, and the fact that it has long gone from the Trek range tells its own story (although Trek still offers loads of urban bikes, of course, including models equipped with Gates belt drives). In retrospect, maybe its strangeness was all part of the lasting appeal. After all, we’re still talking about it 15 years later.

Check out loads more Bikes at Bedtime.  

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Mat has been in cycling media since 1996, on titles including BikeRadar, Total Bike, Total Mountain Bike, What Mountain Bike and Mountain Biking UK, and he has been editor of 220 Triathlon and Cycling Plus. Mat has been road.cc technical editor for over a decade, testing bikes, fettling the latest kit, and trying out the most up-to-the-minute clothing. He has won his category in Ironman UK 70.3 and finished on the podium in both marathons he has run. Mat is a Cambridge graduate who did a post-grad in magazine journalism, and he is a winner of the Cycling Media Award for Specialist Online Writer. Now over 50, he's riding road and gravel bikes most days for fun and fitness rather than training for competitions.

Add new comment

I strugle to think other as cool bikes as this. If my city was flatter and I fitter, I would drool over it.

Super cool black finish ✔

Maintenance free belt drive ✔

Single speed at the era when single speed was super cool and even see Batman's sidekick star in a themed movie ✔

Agressive fast geometry ✔

Let's admit it, this is K.I.T.T. car on pedals really.

Yes, probably didn't sell many but it could work as a halo product for the commuter line.

In general, I am very sorry for the reluctance of bike manufacturers to throw drop bars or even bullhorn at city bikes. Be bold guys!

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That bike with clearance for 33c, tracklocross style, could be a winner.

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Best Belt-Drive Ebikes of 2024: Low-Maintenance E-Bikes Without a Chain

One of the only downsides of regular bikes is the need to perform regular maintenance to keep them running smoothly and get the longest lifespan possible.

That means cleaning and lubricating the chain as well as cleaning and replacing the rest of the drivetrain when worn out, such as the cassette and chainrings.

Thankfully, belt-drive e-bikes are a great solution to this issue. A belt-powered drivetrain makes riding silent, clean, and maintenance-free.

The reason is that there are fewer moving parts, no need for lubrication, and the materials are stronger which greatly reduces wear. Belts have a lifespan of roughly four times that of a standard chain drive, which makes them affordable in the long run.

Well tell you something about the benefits of belt drives below and share the 11 best belt drive ebikes you can buy right now.

Benefits of Chains vs. Belts on Ebikes

The carbon belt vs. chain discussion is quite clear-cut, with clear benefits associated with each system.

Belt drives require almost no maintenance, they run silently, wear slowly (meaning a long lifespan), don’t need grease, and riders can usually change gears while stopped. Internally geared hubs also greatly reduce the wear and tear of the gearing system. The downsides of this system are that they are harder and more costly to repair, and they cost significantly more to buy.

Chain drives are cheap and easy to repair or find spare parts for. They are also slightly more efficient at transferring power from your legs to your drivetrain, meaning your pedaling will be more efficient. However, they require regular maintenance, cleaning and lubrication, they wear faster, and they can be noisy.

Gates is the most common manufacturer of belt-drive systems, so if you’re sick and tired of dirty chains, consider giving it a try.

Best Belt Drive Electric Bikes in 2024

1. Ride1UP Roadster v2 2. Priority Current 3. Tern HSD P5i 4. Gazelle Ultimate C8 HMB 5. Priority e-Coast 6. Gazelle Ultimate C380 7. VVolt Alpha 8. Asomtom Electric Hybrid 9. Specialized Turbo Como SL 5.0 10. Vvolt Sirius

1. Ride1UP Roadster v2

Winner! Best Single-Speed Belt-Drive Ebike

MSRP: $1,095

• Motor: 350W/40Nm geared hub motor
• Battery: 250 Wh, 30-mile range
• Gears: Single-speed
• Max speed: 24 mph, Class 3
• Tire size: 700C x 28 mm
• Weight: 33 lbs

The Ride1UP Roadster v2 is the company’s most affordable bike. This belt-drive electric bike provides an exceptionally fast ride with nimble handling and a stealthy finish.

The Roadster V2 comes with a single-speed hub and a Gates Carbon CDX system. The drivetrain is paired with a  350W geared hub motor that generates 40 Nm torque and a 250 Wh battery hidden inside the downtube. The maximum range is 30 miles per charge, which is not too much, but you can prolong the battery’s life by using the throttle less and pedaling more.

Additionally, this ebike has rim caliper brakes, but if you want disc brakes, you should consider the Roadster V2 Gravel Edition . The road model rolls on Kenda Kwest 700c x 28 mm tires which are pretty fast on flat sections, but this bike is not ideal on steep climbs due to its single-speed drivetrain.

All things considered, the Ride1UP Roadster V2 offers great value for the money, especially for riders who appreciate simplicity, style, and inconspicuousness.

Buy from Ride1UP

2. Priority Current

Second-best! Belt Drive Ebike with the Best Drivetrain

MSRP: $3,299

• Motor: 500W/140 Nm geared hub motor
• Battery: 500 Wh, 20-50-mile range
• Gears: Shimano Inter-5 internal hub or enviolo Heavy Duty
• Max speed: 28 mph, Class 3
• Tire size: 650b x 47 mm
• Weight:  53 lb

The Priority Current ebike is a sleek and versatile machine that functions well in urban environments or on longer adventures on rural roads.

This Gates belt-drive ebike has a 500W torque-sensing mid-drive motor with 140 Nm of torque that reaches speeds up to 28 mph. Its 500 Wh battery is neatly hidden inside the down tube and provides a 20-50-mile range.

You can choose to buy the Priority Current with a Shimano Inter-5 internal hub or Enviolo’s Heavy Duty system, which comes with a $200 surcharge.

Priority Bicycles Brand Review: Simplifying Cycling with Innovative Gearboxes and Belts

Using 47 mm wide 650B tires, a padded gel seat, and comfort geometry, the Current is very easy to ride over short to medium distances even on bumpy roads.

Finally, this Priority electric bike has five levels of pedal assistance, dual-piston hydraulic disc brakes, USB charging capability, and automatic lights on the front and back to round out an all-around excellent bike.

Get it if you want premium quality at a more than reasonable price.

Buy from Priority Bicycles

3. Tern HSD P5i

Third place! Premium Folding Belt Ebike

MSRP: $4,599

• Motor: Bosch Performance
• Battery: 545 Wh, 32-76-mile range
• Gears: Shimano Nexus INTER-5E
• Max speed: 20 mph, Class 1
• Tire size: 20″ x 55mm
• Weight:  61 lb 8 oz

Tern is a popular manufacturer of premium folding and cargo electric bikes, many of which are also belt-driven.

The Tern HSD P5i is a premium belt-drive electric bike with several folding features and an extended rear rack that allows you to carry more cargo than a normal bike does.

The HSD P5i boasts a high-end Bosch Performance mid-drive motor with 75 Nm of torque and a 20 mph top speed. It comes paired with a Bosch 545 Wh battery that returns 32-76 miles of range per charge, depending on which pedal assist level you use the most.

The 20″ wheels make this belt ebike compact and easy to mount/dismount, whereas the Shimano hydraulic disc brakes ensure safe and confident braking. The bike even comes with a 70 mm suspension fork to make your rides more enjoyable.

Finally, Tern HSD’s belt drive is connected to a Shimano Nexus internally geared rear hub that offers effortless shifting across a wide gear ratio range.

All in all, the Tern HSD P5i is one of the best belt-drive electric bikes on this list, especially if you want premium components and cargo-carrying capabilities.

Buy from Tern Bicycles     Buy from REI

4. Gazelle Ultimate C8 HMB

Dutch-Style Belt Electric Bike

MSRP: $3,749

• Motor: Bosch Active Line Plus, 50nm of Torque
• Battery: 500 Wh, 25-70-mile range
• Gears: 8-speed Shimano Nexus internal gear hub
• Tire size: 28″
• Weight:  54.6 lb

Gazelle’s Ultimate C8 HMB e-bike is every urban commuter’s dream. This bike masterfully balances practicality and innovation using new technology and time-tested components.

The Ultimate C8 HMB features fully integrated electronics, internal suspension with 40 mm of travel, and luxurious touchpoints to deliver an exceptionally comfortable ride.

The electronics are top quality as well—it comes with a whisper-quiet Bosch Active Line Plus mid-drive motor with 50 Nm of torque. Additionally, the 500 Wh battery can last up to 70 miles, if you stay in Eco mode most of the time.

To make commuting comfortable, the Ultimate C8 has comfy upright geometry, a gel Selle Royal Loire saddle, and shock-absorbent Schwalbe Energizer Plus tires. The bike also comes with fenders, a rack, and integrated LED lights.

Finally, the drivetrain combines an 8-speed Shimano Nexus hub and a Gates CDX carbon belt for a low-maintenance, smooth ride. The only other thing you could ask for is a discount, considering that the original $3,750 could be a bit steep for some riders.

Buy from Mike's Bikes

5. Priority e-Coast

 Beach Cruiser-Style Ebike with a Belt

MSRP: $2,000

• Motor: 500W rear hub motor
• Battery: 576 Wh, 20-60-mile range
• Tire size: 26″ x 3″
• Weight:  56 lb

The Priority E-Coast is one of the only beach cruiser electric bikes with a belt drive on the market. If you want a maintenance-free ebike that looks amazing, this could be the right choice.

The E-Coast bike has a useful integrated rack that holds its 576 Wh battery and relies on a punchy 500W motor to handle steep hills. It ships as a Class 2 ebike with a 20 mph top speed, but you can increase it to 28 mph in the settings if you want to go faster.

Single-speed gearing is combined with a Gates CNX Belt Drive for a silent, smooth, and maintenance-free experience. Other notable features of the E-Coast include its 174HUDSON hydraulic disc brakes, a large saddle with shock absorbers, bright LED lights that double as brake lights, and 3-inch wide CST Big Boat tires.

If you want to cruise by the seaside or explore local bike paths, the Priority E-Coast is a no-brainer.

6. Gazelle Ultimate C380+

Mid-Step Dutch-Style Ebike

MSRP: $4,499

• Motor:   Bosch Performance Line Speed (85 Nm)
• Battery: 500 Wh, 20-55-mile range
• Gears: Enviolo 380
• Weight:  55 lb

Gazelle’s Ultimate C380+ belt ebike is a high-end step-through model designed for ultimate comfort and functionality for city rides or longer touring adventures.

The bike uses a lightweight Bosch Performance Line Speed mid-drive motor and a 500 Wh battery for speeds of up to 28 mph covering distances up to 55 miles on eco mode.

The bike comes with premium features such as 4-piston Shimano hydraulic disc brakes, Schwalbe Energizer Plus puncture-resistant tires, and telescopic fork suspension.

Additionally, you get an Enviolo 380 trekking internal gear hub and Gates belt drive for an unbeatable ride feel at all times.

The Gazelle Ultimate C380+ costs a lot, but the price is justified for the most part. It’s jam-packed with accessories such as front and rear fenders, lights, a kickstand, a rear rack, and even an Abus wheel lock.

Therefore, this belt-drive electric bike is all you need for year-round urban commuting.

7. VVolt Alpha

All-Road Ebike with a Belt Drive

  MSRP : from $999

• Motor: 350W rear hub motor, 45 Nm
• Battery: 375 Wh, 15-40-mile range
• Tire size: 27.5” x 1.95′
• Weight: 43 lb

The Alpha is VVolt’s entry-level hub-motor belt-drive e-bike. Compared to their more advanced mid-drive e-bike, it lacks some refinement but comes at a much more affordable price.

Besides the sleek look and matte finish, the Vvolt Alpha has a nice set of features that should meet the needs and expectations of most urban commuters.

This belt ebike boasts a 350W rear hub motor (45 Nm) and a fully integrated 375 Wh battery that offers a 15-40-mile range. That’s far from ideal, but it’s standard for an ebike that costs around $1,000.

The Alpha also sports a single-speed belt-operated drivetrain combined with powerful hydraulic disc brakes and 27.5″ x 1.95″ multi-surface tires.

Its only drawback is a lack of accessories, which means you’ll need to retrofit whatever you need to customize the Alpha for your style of riding, except for lights and a kickstand.

Buy from Vvolt.com

8. Asomtom RV2

Budget-Friendly Option

MSRP: Check Price on Amazon

• Motor: 350W rear hub motor
• Battery: 325 Wh, 30-mile range
• Tire size: 700C x 32 mm
• Weight:  N/A

The Asomtom RV2 belt drive electric bike is a sleek hybrid with an all-black finish designed for fast and agile riding in urban environments.

This city bike uses a punchy 350W hub motor combined with a seamlessly integrated 324 Wh battery that provides up to 30 miles of range. The belt drive ensures a smooth, silent ride and pairs with a single-speed hub to boost longevity and further reduce maintenance.

Other notable components on the Asomtom RV2 include mechanical disc brakes, 700x32c puncture-resistant tires, and fully integrated cables and electronics.

Finally, this e-bike is equipped with a stylish stem-integrated display and has a twist throttle, which is a nice surprise at this price. You also get front and rear lights and a kickstand, but you’ll need to retrofit fenders and a rear rack if you need them.

Consider buying the Asomtom RV2 if you want an affordable electric bike with decent specs and a modern look.

Buy on Amazon

9. Specialized Turbo Como SL 5.0

High-End Belt Drive Ebike

MSRP: $4,250

• Motor: Specialized SL 1.1
• Battery: 320 Wh, 62-mile range
• Gears: 8-speed Alfine IGH
• Tire size: 27.5″ x 2.3″
• Weight:  44 lb 5 oz

The US bike manufacturer Specialized designs some of the best, most reliable electric bikes on the market, and their Turbo Como SL 5.0 is a great example of keen attention to detail and the use of premium quality components.

This all-rounder bike has a 240W/35Nm mid-drive motor that works with an integrated 320 Wh battery to deliver a range of up to 62 miles.

The drivetrain on this bike is super smooth and includes an 8-speed internal hub gearing by Shimano Alfine and a carbon fiber belt drive.

The Turbo Como SL 5.0 also has large-volume 27.5″ x 2.3″ tires for better comfort and stability, front and rear fenders, a front basket to transport groceries, and an electric system with anti-theft functions and training tips.

Finally, the Specialized Turbo Como SL 5.0 boasts TRP hydraulic disc brakes and comes fully equipped for all your city riding needs. If you can afford to spend $4,000+ dollars on your next ebike, this should be the one.

Buy from Specialized.com

10. Vvolt Sirius

High-Performance Belt-Drive Hardtail

MSRP: $2,799

• Motor: 350W mid-drive, 80 Nm
• Gears: Enviolo TK Internal Transmission Hub 380%
• Max speed: 26 mph, Class 3
• Tire size: 27.5″ x 2.1″

Vvolt belt-drive bikes are some of the best choices in their price range. The Sirius is an affordable trail bike that features a belt drive and doesn’t sacrifice performance, comfort, or durability.

The Sirius has a low-maintenance Gates Carbon CDX belt drive and an Enviolo Enviolo TK continuously variable transmission hub that offers a 380% range and never needs adjustment. Another huge benefit of this system is you can change gears when you stop at traffic lights, without turning your pedals.

The 375 Wh battery and 350W/80Nm motor on this bike means you can get up to 40 miles of range reaching speeds of up to 26 mph. This makes the Sirius a Class 3 ebike, but you can reduce the top speed to 20 mph to comply with Class 1 requirements.

All the electronics and cabling are neatly integrated into a super sleek frame design. Additionally, this bike is fully equipped with rechargeable lights, hydraulic disc brakes, and an air spring 100 mm fork.

If you’re looking for a belt ebike that you can ride virtually anywhere and never clean or maintain the drivetrain, the Vvolt Sirius is a phenomenal choice.

Final Thoughts About Best Belt Drive Ebikes

Belt-drive bicycles undoubtedly offer some important advantages over the traditional chain and derailleur drivetrains.

Very limited maintenance, silent operation, long lifespan, no grease, and the ability to change gears while stopped are the most important benefits of this type of system.

Although they are more expensive, savings of time, money on repairs, and overall convenience mean that belt drives will continue to grow in popularity, especially on electric bicycles.

We hope that this review has given you a better understanding of this type of bicycle as well as enough information to help you find the perfect belt-drive eBike for your needs.

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About the Author

Jordan Grimes

11 thoughts on “ best belt-drive ebikes of 2024: low-maintenance e-bikes without a chain ”.

Looking for the weight on all these bikes. Also very interested in reviews of Specialized’s IGH belt drive models. Thanks

Hi Kevin, thank you for your comment! We’ll make sure to include the information about the weight of all of these bikes. Moreover, all Specialized’s IGH belt drive models are excellent, though a bit more expensive than most models we’ve included on our list. Cheers!

That is exactly my question. I suppose I understand why some companies seek to keep it unknown, but that is something that most people should know, or at least be aware of. If you search around enough, I’ve found the actual weights listed by non company websites reviewing these. This should not be a secret. I ended up researching these bikes extensively, and just ordered an Evelo Atlas, as it is now discounted a bit (around $$3800). They are very upfront, showing the exact weights with and without batteries. The warranty is also far longer than others. Good luck!

Riese@Muller Superdelite IS the BEST belt driven EBIKE -cant believe u missed that !!

Thanks for your comment, Dragos! The Superdelite is a good bike, but it’s quite pricey and not that readily available in the US. It’s also overkill for most average riders who are looking to do short commutes and keep expenses to a minimum.

Have you had a chance to review the Warthog MD1000 belt drive ? Thanks article & review . Bob

Hey Bob, we still haven’t had a chance to review that Bikonit model, but the bike looks solid.

Any thoughts on the Cowboy ebikes? They use a belt-drive too.

We still haven’t had the chance to try one out, but we’re looking to change that.

They’re well-built smart e-bikes with lots of modern features that are great for urban commutes. They are certainly not affordable, but worth it if you like all the gizmos.

Remarkably interesting article, do you have any input about the Specialized “Step-Through” the Como 5.0 with enviolo AUTOMATiQ stepless shifting technology, with an Internal Gear Hub (IGH) and a Gates Belt Drive

Thanks George

Thanks, George! I’m happy to hear you enjoyed reading the article! The 2022 Turbo Como 5.0 is a phenomenal bicycle, especially for commuters who want a fuss-free experience and a bike that requires minimal maintenance. We still haven’t gotten around to reviewing it, but we plan to change that soon. Cheers!

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• Rider Notes

2021 Trek District 1 Equipped

A 700c aluminum frame commuter bike with modest components and drum brakes. Compare the full range

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Trek's District 4 Stagger: A Fully Equipped European-style Commuter for Bike Lovers

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Belt drive with internal gear rear hub

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The European hit from Trek's commuter/city bike lineup is finally stateside, offering full fenders, rack, lights, and more...for a steal!

Last updated 16 April Not listed for 1,121 days

Move Electric

The best electric bikes 2024

Posted: May 16, 2024 | Last updated: May 16, 2024

From practical cargo machines, to trail-ready mountain bikes, electric two-wheelers have become popular alternatives to both cars and motorcycles.

But with so many styles and sizes of e-bike to choose from, selecting the right model for you isn’t always that straightforward, especially if you’re a newcomer. 

With this in mind, we’ve put together a list of the best electric bikes from several categories to help you decide which one will best suit your needs. 

Gocycle G4i | £4499 | Electric folding bike

From its sleek design, to the excellent motor, the Gocycle G4i is a brilliant electric bike that offers the ride quality of a large machine, and has great portability thanks to its seamless folding mechanism. The three-speed gearbox pairs nicely with the G4drive motor which further adds to the G4i’s smooth ride. 

The carbonfibre mid-frame helps shave some weight off, too, making it lighter than the standard G4 model. Range is up to 50 miles, depending on pedal inputs. 

MiRider GB3 | £2495 | Electric folding bike

Featuring a belt drive motor and three-speed gearbox, the MiRider GB3 is a great electric bike that costs less to buy than the Gocycle. The hydraulic brakes provide great stopping power, while the boost button is a handy tool to help get up to speed from a set of lights or when you need some additional speed for an incline.

The MiRider is easy to fold and store in the boot of a car, and offers a range of up to 45 miles. 

FLIT-16: Commuter Edition | £2499 | Electric folding bike

Lightweight, compact and great to ride, the Flit-16 is a solid choice when it comes to electric folding bikes. The Flit uses a punchy Bafang rear battery and motor hub which – despite its single-speed setup – provides more than enough power for steep gradients. 

And because it tips the scales at just 15kg, it's easy to fold and compact enough to fit inside the boot of your car. Depending on the type of riding, the Flit has a range of up to 31 miles. 

Volt London | £2299 | Urban

The sleek and beautifully designed Volt London is primed for the urban jungle, offering great value and a pleasing ride. Like the Flit-16 folder, it also uses Bafanag’s rear-hub battery and motor, which suits both commuting and leisure riding in equal measure. The London’s 504Wh battery makes it good for up to 70 miles of range. 

At just over £2000, the bike comes ready to ride with a front rack and mudguards, which is good value considering its mix of both commuting and leisure riding credentials. 

Ribble Hybrid AL e | £2299 | Urban

We’re big fans of the Ribble Hybrid AL e: in fact, we liked it so much we named it our e-bike of the at the 2022 Move Electric Awards. It’s very good to ride in town, while also being very capable at covering big distances on longer, more relaxing rides. 

And you don’t need to worry about range either because the Ribble is fitted with the popular Mahle SmartBike Systems X35+ rear-hub motor and integrated 250kWh battery, with up to 60 miles of range on offer. 

Canyon Roadlite:On 8 | £3649 | Urban

If you’re looking for an e-bike that is both agile and fun to ride, then the Canyon Roadlite:ON 8 might be the two-wheeler for you. Like the Ribble and Volt, the Roadlite has been designed for urban riding, and yet it has the capabilities to be ridden for miles in the countryside. It uses the latest Fazua motor which offers good range and power. 

Ribble Endurance SL e | £2699 | Gravel and Road

The mighty Ribble Endurance SL e is a race-ready electric road bike that is great to ride and packed full of useful features. Like all Ribble e-bikes, the Endurance gets Mahle's Smartbike X35+ drivetrain system which is paired with a sleek iWoc control button on the top tube. Three assistance levels are available.

If you’re an electric two-wheeler that will help you conquer more hills or keep pace with your mates, it’s certainly an electric road bike to consider. 

Cairn E-Adventure 1.0 Rambler Edition | £4289 | Gravel and road

The E-Adventure is built for British gravel, and by that we mean it can handle a lot more than your regular trials. A long, slack frame paired with wide tyre clearances and for the latest Rambler edition, a suspension-compatible frame means you can take it wherever the bridleway goes. Up moor and down rock, it's powered by FAZUA's latest mid-drive system. 

Tern GSD S10 | £4899 | Cargo

While it might be a more expensive option, the Tern GSD S10 is a great cargo bike that is packed full of useful kit. The rear-loading machine can carry up to 200kg, but thanks to its slim design, can be stored vertically to save space. 

Because there is room for kids in the hopper and your food shopping, the GSD S10 is one of the most convincing electric bikes that could replace your car.

Mycle Cargo | £1999 | Cargo

If you’re after a low cost cargo bike then the Mycle Cargo is the pick of the bunch. This longtail bike gets a 125kg maximum load carrier, a seven-speed Shimano drivetrain and up to 37 miles of range per battery (you can install up to two on the frame). 

And if you like your e-bike loaded with accessories, there are plenty of options to choose from to tailor the bike to your own riding needs, such as child carriers and rear baskets. 

Riese & Müller Load 60 | from £6309 | Cargo

With a super spacious front-loading hopper, the Riese and Müller Load 60 is an expensive electric cargo bike that lives up to its high price tag. The front cargo-carrier can be accessorised to suit your needs, for example, you can buy seats to fit children and covers so they don’t get wet. 

And the Bosch motor performs brilliantly, which memes you never have to struggle up hills. 

Whyte E-160 RS | £4999 | eMTB

Simply put, the Whyte E-160 RS is one of the best riding electric mountain bikes available today. Fitted with the Bosch Performance Line CX mid-drive motor and a big 625Wh battery, the E-160 RS has plenty of boost to help you uphill after a downhill trail ride. 

It has a great level of grip which gives you confidence when riding at pace and feels as agile as a hardtail machine. Range varies, but you can use the Bosch range calculator for an estimated figure. 

Specialized Turbo Levo Comp Alloy | £5500 | eMTB

Another capable off-roader, the Levo Comp Alloy is a slick eMTB that doesn't compromise on performance. Its short chainstays and clever geometry setup make it feel like a non-electric machine for plenty of thrills on trials.

The Turbo Levo range has a few different types of e-bike, but we like the middle-of-the-road Comp for its alloy frame and spec. It has great performance for inclines and you get up to five hours of riding time. 

Trek Rail 7 | £5500 | eMTB

Sitting in the middle of the range, the Rail 7 is a long-travel eMTB that is great for ripping down dedicated mountain bike trails. Powered by a Bosch PowerTube 625Wh battery and Bosch Performance Line CX electric motor, it's got plenty of boost to help you up hills and a good range, too.

Picture: Trek Rail 9.8

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