"Belt-drive bikes are silent and often smoother than their chain-driven counterparts. First, they usually require less maintenance, with many belts often lasting twice as long as a typical chain. Second, there's no grease to speak of, and therefore, no black smudges on your work pants. Third, in the case of the Soltera 3, the belt comes from the Gates brand, whose drivetrain belts are as good as it gets."
"At 37 pounds, the Soltera 3 is heavy for an analog bike. But it's certainly not heavy for an ebike, and it's nearly as stiff, nimble, and navigable as a conventional bicycle. One issue I've always had with ebikes is their heft. Given that they're often made to replace a car, they're built with load bearing in mind."
"The bike's geometry; its wide, almost perfectly flat handlebars; and its narrow (by ebike standards) 700 x 36 tires make it feel closer in DNA to a road bike than a traditional ebike. The matte black my tester bike arrived in looks cool because matte black almost never doesn't look cool. Additionally, the Soltera 3 is available in dark matte blue and a sleek silver."
The Soltera 3 ebike features a Gates belt-drive system that requires minimal maintenance, lasts twice as long as chains, produces no grease, and operates silently and smoothly. However, combining this low-maintenance belt drive with hydraulic disc brakes that need annual bleeding contradicts the goal of creating a hands-off bike. At 37 pounds, the Soltera 3 is relatively light for an ebike while maintaining stiffness and maneuverability comparable to conventional bicycles. The bike's aesthetic design, featuring matte black finish, road bike-like geometry, flat handlebars, and narrow 700x36 tires, distinguishes it from typical ebikes. The extra-large frame accommodates riders up to approximately 6'4", with four sizes available across the range.
Read at WIRED
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