Pinion and Gates talk about their new partnership in the US - Interbike 2017
Pinion's Chriistoph Lerman (left) with Paul Tolme from Gates.
Pinion and Gates recently announced that Gates will be distributing Pinion's transmissions to the US and Canada, which opens up a number of opportunities for both brands, and their customers as well. Gates is no stranger to transmissions and drives, and while its bicycle division is a small branch, the Carbon Drive system is about as high tech as a cog-belt system gets. It's no secret that many bike makers who offer Pinion's gearbox, also favor the Carbon Drive for its simplicity and all-weather performance. The partnership with Gates seems like a perfect match. I spoke with Pinion's Christoph Lerman and Gate's Paul Tolme about their new partnership.
How critical is it for Pinion to have a distributor in North America?
Christoph: it's very important. We are already having small brands using the Pinion system here. we have seen a demand in this market, and for us, it was not just important to sell gearboxes, but to have a partner here who is also able to do some services for the technology. We are glad that we found the Gates Corporation as a partner to operate the US business.
Paul: Yeah, we had an informal partnership for several years, and that led up to this formal agreement.
Christoph: We have the gearbox on one end and they have the carbon belt on the other, so it makes sense to incorporate in this particular market.
Since he co-founded Pinion, Christoph Lerman has been a one-man show, demonstrating their transmissions at trade shows, and to potential customers on four continents. The Gates partnership is their first step towards globalization of their products.
It's not like Gates is a stranger to power transmission and drive systems...
Paul: Like peanut butter and jelly, man. We're obviously going to be distributing Pinion gearboxes to customers who will be putting chains on, as well, but the market trend is having that ability to combine a belt and a gearbox as sort of the ultimate. It's really working with designers to accommodate a belt into their frame designs.
Will you have a tech center that will stock parts, or will Pinion handle warranty issued from Germany?
Christoph: No, it's all from Denver. Marc Seemann is there for sales and service, and all of the parts as well, are in Denver for customers, dealers and OEMs, just like we do in Germany, which is a big step for us. Bigger brands were skeptical of us here, and now we can provide OE support those larger companies need.
What Might the Future Hold?
 | In a perfect world, your pinion gearbox would not need service, beyond the occasional oil change, but if that moment did arise, I'll bet that there are only a handful of riders who would dare crack open the cases to attempt a repair. Pinion's decision to open up a support and distribution center in Denver should make their customers rest easier, knowing that they can get their gearboxes serviced and their questions answered quickly from a professional Tech. The advantage that Gates brings to the table, is that they already understand and communicate with bike makers and riders who have committed to alternative drivetrains, so there is no learning process to inhibit Pinion's expansion into the US and Canada. |
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Dude I love your comment. It so perfectly contains all the nerdiness and elitism in mountain biking. All it needs is a comment about wheel size to be complete! No no, make it about ovalized chain rings! Carbon? Oh man there are so many options!
RYB dude. Ride your bike.
Kinda had to learn how to ride a hardtail again because of the different weight distribution, but makes for awesomeness! I uploaded some photos to my profile here.
I wonder whatever happened do Viral/Domahidy Skeptic? No webstore anymore.
My only issue with Pinion is that I want gearboxes on all my bikes. I'm trying to justify a Zerode to my wallet and prepare for more spaghetti. My buddy has one on his road/touring bike. He rode through thick river mud and completely submerged the box in mud and then did another 50km home with zero issues (no pun intended).
Silly enough I usually find it easier to ride a hardtail. It feels more predictable so I trust it more to find it's limits. The fully is of course better at straightlining the rubble and climbing with less worry about traction, but I find it less predictable through corners. So if I'd get a gearbox, I'd be fine just having one on the hardtail as the fully doesn't get ridden that much. But yeah if you want Pinion on both bikes, it is going to destroy your life.
But for bikes... I know several people who used to have gates belt drive... wasn't reliable, was a huge pain in the ass, expensive.
So now gates' bike division has joined up with pinion? Makes me think the actual goal is to put kooky ideas together in the same basket? Hey... maybe they should also sell Lauf forks?
Oil change would happen so rarely that you'd basically be down to suspension and maybe brakes (which are basically set and forget now a days) as the only maintenance point on a bike. (Got to love sealed bearings)
The only hassle I see in doing the oil change is taking the time to order the oil, as the actual change might be the easiest drivetrain maintenance I've ever done.
Gearboxes aren't for everyone, but you really shouldn't knock it till you actually try it. My only regret in purchasing one is that now I want one on all my bikes. I'd never run a belt on a full suspension bike unless it had an Effigear box. For Pinion, a chain drive is the way to go. The Nicolai Geometron is a horrible example/application in my opinion. The giant tensioner adds so much drag and, this is the confusing/silly part of the bike, bends the belt the way Gates specifically tells you not to do.
Sadly, people have mistaken my ride for an E-bike, but they end up really confused cause they can't find the battery. The fun part is the people who are too afraid or proud to ask where the battery is and just stare at the bike like a confused 3-year-old.
That determines final gear range that I'm focused on.