Gates Carbon Drive CDN Belt – Black - 122T
The Gates Carbon Drive CDN Belt – Black is the entry-level Gates belt: a quiet, clean, low-maintenance carbon belt for short, casual city rides, relaxed single-speed and geared-hub bikes and hub-motor e-bikes. An affordable way into belt drive, in 11 lengths from 111 to 143 teeth.
Why choose the CDN belt?
No chain, no oil. No lubrication, no rust, and dirt rinses off with water.
Gates carbon technology. The same carbon-fibre technology as Gates’ top components, in an entry-level belt rated at up to 2× the life of a chain.
Made for the city. A quiet, clean drive for everyday riding, for hub-motor e-bikes and relaxed single-speed and geared-hub bikes.
11 lengths. From 111 to 143 teeth, all 11 mm pitch and 12 mm wide.
CDX, CDC or CDN: which Gates belt is right for you?
Gates makes three belt lines with the same size and profile. CDX is the strongest, for touring, off-road, cargo and mid-drive e-bike motors up to 120 Nm. CDC is the balanced choice for daily commuting and mid-drive e-bikes up to 75 Nm. CDN (this belt) is the entry-level line for casual city riding.
Thinking about CDX? When the upgrade pays off
CDX doubles Gates’ rated life (4× the life of a chain instead of 2×), has extra-reinforced carbon cords and a very wear-resistant polyurethane surface, and is rated for mid-drive motors up to 120 Nm. It pays off if you ride most days, in all weather, with loads or off-road. The size is the same, so you keep your tooth count – and CDC is the step in between (3×, up to 75 Nm).
A clean, quiet drive for the city
A belt runs from the front sprocket on the crank to the rear sprocket on the hub – no chain, no oil. CDN is made for short, casual rides and errands, relaxed single-speed and geared-hub bikes and hub-motor e-bikes.
No chain, no oil, no mess
A belt needs no lubrication, so there is no grease on your hands and clothes and no rust, and dirt and mud rinse off with water. The drive is virtually silent in most conditions. Just keep the tension right – the free Gates Carbon Drive app measures it by sound.
How the Gates belts compare
| CDX | CDC | CDN (this belt) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gates positioning | Top of the range | Mid-range | Entry level |
| Made for | Touring, trekking, off-road, cargo and all-year daily riding | Daily commuting, urban and trekking bikes, mid-drive e-bikes | Short, casual city rides and errands |
| E-bike motors | Hub motors and mid-drive up to 120 Nm | Hub motors and mid-drive up to 75 Nm | Hub motors |
| Rated life (Gates, compared with a chain) | 4× | 3× | 2× |
| Belt material | Polyurethane with extra-reinforced carbon cords, very wear-resistant | Ethylene elastomer with next-generation carbon cords | Polymer with carbon cords |
| Rear sprockets (Gates Europe data) | Aerospace stainless steel (silver) or black coated steel (CDX:Black) | Chrome-moly steel | Chrome-moly steel |
| Belt size | 11 mm pitch, 12 mm wide | 11 mm pitch, 12 mm wide | 11 mm pitch, 12 mm wide |
Frequently asked questions
Which belt length do I need?
It depends on your frame and sprockets: the distance between the crank and the rear axle, and the tooth count of the front and rear sprocket. Gates offers a free Center Distance Calculator in its Gates Sanity Check. Not sure? Send us your frame, hub and sprocket sizes and we will help you choose.
Can I use this belt on an e-bike?
Yes, on hub-motor e-bikes: Gates rates CDN belts for front and rear hub-motor e-bikes. For mid-drive motors choose CDC (up to 75 Nm) or CDX (up to 120 Nm).
Can I fit a CDX belt as an upgrade on my CDC or CDN setup?
Yes. A CDX belt has the same 11 mm pitch and 12 mm width as CDC and CDN belts, so you choose the same tooth count as before, and Gates Europe lists it as combinable with all CDX, CDC and CDN sprockets. Your existing sprockets keep their own rating, so for the toughest setup choose CDX sprockets as well.
What do CDX, CDC and CDN mean, and what is CenterTrack?
They are Gates’ three belt lines for bicycles: CDX (top), CDC (mid-range) and CDN (entry level). All use CenterTrack: a groove in the middle of the belt’s teeth runs on a guide in the centre of the sprocket, so the belt cannot run off. The older ST (SideTrack) range is separate and does not fit CenterTrack parts.
How tight should the belt be?
Correct tension matters. Too loose and the belt can skip teeth; too tight and it loads the hub bearings. Measure it with the free Gates Carbon Drive app, which listens to the belt, or with a Gates Krikit gauge (the “CDS Krikit” with the blue plastic).
Does a belt need lubrication, and how do I handle it?
Never lubricate a Gates belt. If it squeaks in very dry or muddy conditions, rinse the drivetrain with water. Do not twist, back-bend, crimp, invert, bundle or zip-tie the belt, and never pry it onto the sprockets – damage to the carbon cords is the most common reason for a belt to fail.
Sizes and Gates part numbers
Find your belt by its tooth count. The Gates article number and type designation are printed on the back of the belt, so you can match a replacement exactly.
| Teeth | Gates article no. | Gates type designation |
|---|---|---|
| 111T | 9926-001A1 | 11M-111T-12CT CDN |
| 113T | 9926-002A1 | 11M-113T-12CT CDN |
| 115T | 9926-003A1 | 11M-115T-12CT CDN |
| 118T | 9926-004A1 | 11M-118T-12CT CDN |
| 120T | 9926-005A1 | 11M-120T-12CT CDN |
| 122T | 9926-006A1 | 11M-122T-12CT CDN |
| 125T | 9926-007A1 | 11M-125T-12CT CDN |
| 128T | 9926-008A1 | 11M-128T-12CT CDN |
| 130T | 9926-009A1 | 11M-130T-12CT CDN |
| 132T | 9926-010A1 | 11M-132T-12CT CDN |
| 143T | 9926-023A1 | 11M-143T-12CT CDN |
About Gates Carbon Drive
Gates Corporation has been a global leader in power transmission and belt drive technology since 1911. In 2007 it launched the first belt drive system for bicycles, and today more than 1,000 bike brands worldwide use Gates Carbon Drive, from city and trekking bikes to e-bikes, cargo and mountain bikes.
On the bike
