Belt drive or chain: which suits your folding bike

A carbon-reinforced belt needs no lubrication and will not mark trousers when the bike is carried folded. Expect two to three times the service life of a chain in urban conditions.

Chains cost less, can be repaired with a link, and work with derailleur gearing. If your bike has external gears, a chain is the only option.

Both systems need correct tension. A belt should deflect only a few millimetres under thumb pressure at the mid-span; a chain wants roughly one centimetre of vertical play on a single-speed setup.