Universal Transmissions Universal Transmissions is an OE partner and R&D service provider for the bicycle industry. In addition to the distribution of Gates Carbon Drive and Bosch eBike Systems, we offer services from drive implementation to complete product design as an engineering company.

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About us

Bicycle mobility re-imagined

An experienced partner for future-proof products

Universal Transmissions GmbH was founded in 2006 by Karlheinz Nicolai with the aim of separating the development and construction of internal bicycle gearboxes, in particular the GBOXX system, from the Nicolai bicycle brand in order to offer this technology to other bicycle manufacturers as an OE supplier.

In addition, UT focused on researching and testing new drive concepts for bicycles. In 2007, Universal Transmissions started a joint engineering partnership with the U.S. company Gates. With Karlheinz Nicolai's expertise and many years of experience in bicycle construction, UT was the ideal partner to optimize Gates' new Carbon Drive belt drive and develop it into a top-quality product ready for series production.

Today, UT is the exclusive European distributor for all Gates Carbon Drive products, both for the industry and in the aftermarket business. As an OE partner, UT supports and supplies all European bicycle manufacturers and brands that offer the Carbon Drive System on their products or want to add it to their product range. Manufacturers who plan to develop new bicycle models using the carbon drive system are supported by the UT R&D team with comprehensive technical support.

UT has also been an official distributor of Bosch eBike Systems since 2015. UT supplies small and medium-sized bicycle manufacturers with Bosch motors and drive technology and supports them with comprehensive technical support on Bosch system integration and the development of new eBike models.

In 2021, UT expands its premises at the Muehlhausen site with a larger warehouse, new workshops, a modern office complex and even its own test track.

Official
Distributor

Distribution

Universal Transmissions is the specialist for drive technology. With Gates Carbon Drive and Bosch eBike Systems as a distribution and OE partner UT unites two of the strongest brands in this segment under one roof.

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Official
Distributor

Distributors

Gates Carbon Drive

Clean, smooth, low-maintenance, durable and lightweight: The Gates Carbon Drive is simply superior to a classic chain drive. As an exclusive distributor, UT supplies all European bicycle manufacturers. Regardless of which eBike systems or drive components are deployed, Gates CD products cover the entire spectrum.

Bosch eBike Systems

As the industry leader and pioneer of technology, Bosch eBike Systems has been convincing customers with its outstanding performance, quality and usability for more than 10 years. UT has been a Bosch partner since 2015 and - as an eBike Systems distributor and OE partner - supplies small and medium-sized European bicycle brands.