The Shimano Nexus 7-speed internal hub delivered smooth changes and ‘flawless’ shifting when properly tuned.
Riders found that the gear ratio managed almost every ascent on a hilly city commute.
Paintwork smacked of quality application. A small amount of touch-up was provided for free.
This steel steed was both lightweight and tough.
In place of a chain is the Gates carbon belt-drive; deemed quiet, efficient and grease-free.
At this price, the L-Train’s quality and resilience struck owners as great value.
Customer service was understanding, fast and responsive. Reimbursement was given where appropriate.
The L-Train is festooned with an abundance of eyelets for racks, mudguards, wine-holders &c.
The chromoly frame was forgiving over the cracks and potholes of lonely city streets.
She’s a nimble whippet, with quick and responsive handling mated to ample acceleration.
Those with a designer’s eye cooed over the subdued colorways in ‘Hudson Blue’ and ‘Subway Grey’.
The finish was lauded for white accents in cabling, coupled with chrome trimming.
The leather / pleather saddle and grips were both comfortable and stylish.
Incredibly low maintenance was a boon, with a lubeless belt-drive and internal gearing.

7 reasons not to buy

Changing the rear tire on a belt-drive bike required a new skill acquisition.
A few buyers found one or both of their wheels required truing.
Some folks found the initial tuning of their internal hub to be a little tricky.
Some cyclists just aren’t digging a gripshift-style gear-changing mechanism.
Smokers and the elderly yearned for a lower gear or two in steeper terrain.
One expert felt the L-Train was a mite weighty.
Being an all-season commuter, an expert felt that disc brakes would have been great.

Bottom line

Innovation faces confrontation. The L-Train is no different. Brilliant have put a lot of thought into what the ideal commuter would be – and then attempted to integrate those factors into this bike. It features a quality chromoly steel frame for strength and comfort on rough roads. It’s comfortable and simple. But best of all, the seven gears are tucked away in an internal hub, while the chain is swapped for a carbon belt-drive that requires no lubrication and is grease-free. This means no concern over shameful chain-stains after your commute to work. This Brilliant bike is definitely one L-Train I’d be happy to run.

Expert Reviews

No scored reviews yet (2 reviews in total)

Apply to become an expert

KevCentral

Level 1 expert

Brilliant L-Train Belt-Drive Commuter Bicycle

Level 1 expert

The styling alone makes it a hipster delight, and the smooth ride of that steel frame and fork makes commuting nice and easy.

Visit full review

Bicycling

Level 5 expert

The Brilliant L Train Just Might Save a Quarter-Million Commuters

Level 5 expert

Overall, I appreciate the L-Train’s pleasant ride on rumbly streets, how predictable and smooth it feels in corners, and its ability to somehow make me want to tackle big-city traffic.

Visit full review

Apply to become an expert