Collection: Riese & Müller Belt Drive E-Bikes

Riese & Müller belt-drive e-bikes replace the oily chain with a Gates carbon belt and an enclosed hub gear, for a drivetrain that is clean, quiet and remarkably long-lived. Electric Bikes Brisbane has sold Riese & Müller since 2014, a year after we opened in 2013, and as an official Riese & Müller Experience Store and Bosch Accredited Service Centre our Milton workshop sees how these belts hold up over years of real Queensland riding.

Why Riese & Müller Builds Around the Belt

A belt can’t move across a cassette the way a chain does, so every belt-drive Riese & Müller pairs it with an enclosed hub gear: Enviolo on the Vario and Automatic versions, the Rohloff E-14 on Rohloff versions, and Shimano Nexus on Silent versions. The gears sit sealed inside the rear hub, away from rain, dust and road grime. You can change gear while stopped at the lights, there is no oil to mark your trousers, and nothing to rust when you leave the bike out in a summer storm.

Most models use the Gates Carbon Drive CDX belt; the Culture Vario and Swing5 Silent use the Gates CDC belt. New to belts? Our guide to what a belt drive is and whether it is worth it covers the basics.

How Long Does a Riese & Müller Belt Last?

In our workshop, belts on Riese & Müller bikes generally last between 20,000 and 22,000km, and we have seen some reach 25,000km before needing a change. The belt’s warranty covers two years, but we regularly see belts go well past that and reach these higher distances. For most riders, that is many years of riding. Day to day, belts are very low maintenance. They need no oil, but we recommend cleaning yours after riding in dusty or muddy conditions. Riese & Müller has a good video showing its recommended belt-cleaning procedure.

Belt Drive Across the Riese & Müller Range

City and Commuting

The Charger5, Nevo5, Culture and Swing5 come in belt-drive versions for daily riding. The Nevo5 Automatic’s Enviolo hub even shifts for you, so you just pedal. The compact Carrie2 City also runs a belt.

Touring and Dual Suspension

The Delite5, Homage5 and Superdelite5 all run a belt. See our Riese & Müller touring and adventure e-bikes for choosing a tourer, or our dual-suspension Riese & Müller range.

Cargo and Family

The Load5, Transporter2, Multitinker2 and Multicharger3 Mixte come with belt drive in their Vario, Rohloff and Silent versions — a big plus when the bike is your car replacement. With no oily chain, there is no grease to end up on children’s legs, school uniforms or shopping bags. Compare them on our Riese & Müller cargo e-bikes page.

Belt or Chain?

A few Riese & Müller versions keep a chain, such as the Multicharger3 Touring and Family and the Multitinker2 Family. We point customers towards a chain version if they prefer a sportier feel without the cost of a Rohloff, want a lower price, or simply enjoy the mechanics of changing gear on a derailleur drivetrain. For everyone else, the belt’s cleanliness and long life usually win. Choosing between the hubs themselves? See what’s new with the Rohloff E-14.

Touring on a Belt

Before a big trip, we always recommend a service one to two months before you leave. When one Riese & Müller came in ahead of our Owners Club Orange 360 tour, our mechanics found a stone had punctured the belt and replaced it in the workshop, rather than it failing on the trail. If you are heading somewhere remote, we also suggest carrying a spare belt. Riese & Müller’s touring frames are designed so a belt can be changed more easily, without needing a specialist workshop like ours.

Riese & Müller Belt Drive: Your Questions

Should I choose a belt or a chain version?

For most riders, the belt. It stays clean, runs quietly and lasts 20,000km or more in our experience, which suits commuting, touring and cargo riding. Choose a chain version if you want a sportier, derailleur feel without paying for a Rohloff, want to spend less, or like the mechanics of changing gears yourself. Test riding both back to back usually settles it.

What if my belt fails on a tour?

Belts are very durable, but damage can happen: before one Owners Club tour, we found a belt punctured by a stone and replaced it in our workshop. That is why we recommend a pre-tour service one to two months before you go and, for remote trips, carrying a spare belt. On Riese & Müller’s touring frames you can swap a belt without specialist help.

Is a belt drive worth it in Brisbane’s weather?

We think so. Summer storms, humidity and wet bike paths are hard on an oiled chain, which picks up grit and can rust. A belt and an enclosed hub gear shrug that off; a rinse and the occasional clean after dusty or muddy rides is all they need.

Test Ride a Riese & Müller Belt-Drive E-Bike in Brisbane

Feel how quiet and smooth a belt is at our store at 26 Douglas Street, Milton, with free parking. You can try Enviolo, Rohloff and Nexus hubs back to back. Book a test ride or call 07 2102 9775. Looking at other brands with belts? Browse all belt drive e-bikes.