Drivetrain

SRAM Apex 2x10-speed

Double ring mountain crankset with 10-speed mountain cassette and chain drive. Available on the Pangea, Siskiyou and Divide models the SRAM Apex 2x10 group is focused on the low end for off-road travel and loaded touring. This option offers a wide 491% gear range to help get you and your gear up the hills. On the Pangea model with 26x1.9" tires, the low gear would be 20" with a high of 98.3 gear inches.

SRAM Apex 1x11-speed

Single ring mountain crankset with 11-speed cassette and chain drive. Available on the Pangea, Siskiyou and Divide models as the standard drivetrain.

Like the 2x10 group, the SRAM Apex 1x11 group is also focused on the low gear inches for touring on hilly or mountainous roads. The 1x setup offers a slighly lower climbing gear than the 2x group but you give up some high gear inches to achieve this. Single chainring cranks are lighter and no front derailleur means less shifting and less maintenance than double ring setups. On the Siskiyou with 47mm tires, the low gear would be 21" with a high of 80 gear inches.

SHIMANO GRX 1x12-speed

Single ring crankset with wide range 12-speed cassette and chain drive. Available in Shimano GRX, GRX Di2 group levels. These component groups are available options on most off-road bike models.

Similar to the SRAM 1x11 drivetrain option, the Shimano GRX 1x12 focuses on the low gear inches for climbing dirt roads and bikepacking routes. The 1x setup offers a slighly lower climbing gear than the 2x group but you give up some high gear inches to achieve this. Single chainring cranks are lighter and no front derailleur means less shifting and less maintenance than double ring setups.

SHIMANO Ultegra 2x11-speed

Double ring crankset with 11-speed cassette and chain drive. Available in Shimano 105, Ultegra and electronic Ultegra Di2 group levels. These component groups are available options on most road bike models.

Shimano is a leader in derailleur shifting technology and the latest R8000 11-speed components do not disappoint. The electronic Di2 option is an excellent upgrade, especially on tandems and well worth considering on a road or gravel bike. Shimano road cranks are offered in both standard 53/39t and compatc 50/34t combinations. Cassette sizes range from 11-23t to wide 11-34t sizes. On the Carrera model with compact cranks and 32mm tires, the low gear would be 27" with a high of 122.7 gear inches.

SRAM AXS 1x12-speed

Single ring tandem crankset with 12-speed mountain cassette and chain drive. Offered on the peformance tandems like Macchiato, Supremo, Robusta, Carrera, Steelhead and Kalapuya.

SRAM eTap wireless components are a game changer, especially when installed on tandem bikes. These shifters and derailleurs are quiet, smooth operating and very reliable. No front derailleur and no shift wires means less maintenance, lighter weight and makes packing a travel bike much easier. The rear derailleur battery is removable for easy charging and can last 25+ hours on a single charge. The gear range is impressive too, offering a lower climbing gear than the Shimano 2x11 setup with nearly the same high gear. On the Steelhead with 45mm gravel tires, the low gear inch would be 23.6" with a high of 122.6 gear inches.

Rohloff Speehub 14-speed

The German made Rohloff Speedhub is the most reliable, widest range internal gear hub on the market. The range is impressive too at 524% total range with even steps in between gears. It's a perfect match with the Gates Carbon Drive belt for the least maintenance and grease-free bliss. On the Divide model with 48mm tires the low gear would be 19.1" with a high of 100.2 gear inches.

On Rohloff equipped models we have designed and integrated specific dropouts to ease wheel installation and removal without the need for re tensioning of the belt drive during wheel changes. And our Co-Motion eccentric offers secure tension during setup and throughout the life of the bike. Oil changes are easily performed at home or on the trail, recommended service interval is once a year or every 5,000km (3,100 miles) whichever comes first. Rohloff guarantees a flawless and technical fault-free running of the Speedhub for a period of 2 years after the date of purchase.

Pinion C1.12 Gearbox 12-speed

The Pinion gearbox is a revolutionary new bicycle transmission from Germany. Similar to the Rohloff Speedhub, the gears are sealed from the elements in an oil bath and offers low maintenance with ability to run a Gates Carbon Belt drive. The Pinion mounts in a custom frame bracket in the center of the bike, connected to the crank spindle which provides excellent handling and a well balanced feel. The C1.12 gearbox is made of magnesium, so it's lightweight but has an incredible 600% total range with even steps in between gears. Perfect for lighter duty road and gravel bikes. On the Klatch 700c model with 45mm gravel tires, the low gear would be 17.6" with a high of 105.4 gear inches.

Stainless steel Co-Motion designed thru-axle sliding dropouts keep the belt drive secure under tension and makes setup a breeze. This setup also eases installation and removal of the rear wheel without need for re tensioning of the belt each time the wheel is changed. Oil changes are a breeze with our Pinion Oil Kit and recommended every year or every 10,000km (6,200 miles) whichever comes first. The Pinion C-series gearbox is covered under warranty for a period of 2 years after date of purchase.

Pinion P1.18 Gearbox 18-speed

The Pinion P1.18 gearbox is equally impressive as the C1.12 and has an industry leading 636% overall gear range. This stout gearbox is cnc-machined from aircraft quality aluminum and rated for expedition touring and heavy mountain use. And just like the lighter 12 speed version, it mounts down low and centered on the bike for great handling. On the Americano 700c model with 37mm tires, the low gear would be 17.6" with a high of 105.7 gear inches.

Stainless steel Co-Motion designed thru-axle sliding dropouts keep the belt drive secure under tension and makes setup a breeze. This setup also eases installation and removal of the rear wheel without need for re tensioning of the belt each time the wheel is changed. Oil changes are a breeze with our Pinion Oil Kit and recommended every year or every 10,000km (6,200 miles) whichever comes first. The Pinion P-series gearbox is covered under warranty for a period of 5 years after date of purchase.

Gear Inches

Descriptions and examples above refer to gear inches for comparison purposes. Gear inches refers to the effective equivalent wheel diameter per pedal stroke.

For example, if you're pedaling a Divide 29er with 50mm (2.0") tires and a Pinion P1.18 gearbox in the first gear, each full rotation of the crank will produce the equivalent of one revolution of a 17.8" diameter wheel. The eighteenth gear will produce the equivalent rotation of a 111.7" diameter wheel.

Gates Carbon Belt Drive

The Carbon Drive has revolutionized how we sync cranksets on tandem bikes and transfer power from the cranks to the rear wheel. They save weight, reduce maintenance, and best of all last longer than a traditional chain drive.

CDX - Is the latest technology and iteration of carbon belts from Gates Corp. They incorporate a center tracking design in both the rings and belt to ensure alignment. This feature when tensioned properly eliminates any lateral movement, making it virtually impossible to derail. Estimated mileage on a CDX belt is 9,000 miles although we've seen timing belts on tandems go up to 14,000 miles regularly.

Tandem - We've incorporated the tandem timing belt since its launch back in 2009 and it's been a successful upgrade on many tandem models ever since. These are now available in two configurations in the latest CDX format; original 130mm bcd 5-bolt with 66/69/74 tooth rings, and newest 104mm bcd 4-bolt pattern with 39/42/46 tooth rings. Please see the FAQ section for more information on compatibility and installation.

Touring - Carbon belts are great for touring application when paired with a Rohloff hub or Pinion gearbox, for all the obvious reasons. All of these components are low maintenance, durable and reliable. Plus you can easily carry a spare when in doubt as they coil up small and weigh about the same as a candy bar. Each Co-Motion bike designed for integration with the Rohloff or Pinion has the ability to use a Gates carbon belt drive. Chain-stay length and drive ratios have been calculated and optimized based on available belt/ ring combos, each models' intended use and its tire size range. In some cases the drive ratios and gear ranges can be changed depending on available belt/ sprocket combinations and minimum ratios per manufacturer's specs.