What are the pros and cons of chain vs belt drive for a weekend cruiser?

[AuroraSC]

I’ve been trying to decide between a chain or belt drive for my next bike, a standard cruiser for mostly weekend road use. I like the idea of less maintenance, but I’m unsure if the trade-offs in feel and the potential hassle if something goes wrong are worth it.

[Dennis.T]

I rode a bike with a belt drive once. It was incredibly quiet, no lube, and it stayed cleaner on weekend rides. The upfront cost is steeper, though, and if something breaks you’re dealing with specialty parts and a longer wait.

[AveryQA]

For my weekend cruiser I stuck with the traditional setup. It’s simple to lube and adjust, parts are cheap, and if you miss a ride you’re not stuck paying a premium to fix it. The feel is a touch more springy and lively, which I kind of notice when I stand up on hills.

[BrianYW]

Do you actually want to dodge maintenance entirely, or just avoid the worry of repairs when you’re out of town?

[Ryan.W]

I tried a side by side test and, after a week of neglect, one setup felt creakier and required more fiddling than I expected. The other was simpler to keep clean, but I did notice a little delay when starting off from a stop on rough pavement.