| Author | Message | ||
     Devonthedoug |
I'm just wondering if its worth the money to do the conversion to chain, whats the advantage/disadvantage of a belt? | ||
| P_squared |
Advantage: -Doesn’t break engine cases if it breaks -Doesn’t require regular cleaning/lubing -Doesn’t require regular adjustment (chain stretch) Disadvantage: -Makes final gearing changes more difficult Just my opinion, but unless you’re racing, the $$$ you’d spend converting to chain would be better spent on other things such as suspension, etc. For all around, real world riding, it’s hard to beat the belt. | ||
| Devonthedoug |
thanks, I appreciate the input. what kind of suspension alterations? I think it handles really well stock. | ||
| P_squared |
what kind of suspension alterations? Work on the stock setup & fine tuning it to your riding style & weight. Most trackday operators have a suspension "guru" available as well who can help tune it for you for a small fee. Once you've maxed that out, then you can get custom suspension designed specifically for your weight & riding style (springs, valves, etc.) Just my opinion & YMMV, but unless I was racing/making it a dedicated track bike, I'd spend my $$$ on just about anything/everything for the bike before I converted to chain. | ||
| Badlionsfan |
Even before you buy suspension stuff, go take an advanced riding class such as the Lee Parks Total Control course. I just took it Sunday, it was the single best motorcycle related money I've ever spent. | ||
| Fresnobuell |
For all around, real world riding, it’s hard to beat the belt. I friggen love the belt! | ||
| Pizzaboy |
The number one disadvantage to the belt is that you can't be cool like your IL4 buddies and their loud annoying chains | ||
| Chadhargis |
+1 on taking a riding school. I've taken Reg Pridmore's CLASS school as well as Ed Bargy's Race School. Both were excellent. Even managed to bump into Kevin Schwanz at Road Atlanta during a track day and got some impromptu coaching from him. That five minutes was awesome. Not often you get advice from a MotoGP World Champion. | ||
| Froggy |
Another disadvantage of the belt is that it rare that you get warning of a failure. They usually just snap out of the blue. | ||
| Xnoahx |
Chains can just snap out of the blue too. When you replace a chain you might need to replace your sprokets too | ||
| Coolice |
+1 on the Reg Pridmore schools  | ||
| Zac4mac |
I love the belt. The new ones are tough enough to roll up and stick a spare under the seat. Still running the belt that was under my seat for 2 months. I'm at 21.2k miles now, 5k miles on the "abused" belt and running strong. It takes 30-40 minutes to change on the side of the road. http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/290 431/450851.html?1249395589 Z | ||
| Hellgate |
Fugly | ||
| Ponti1 |
Fugly What's 'fugly'? The belt? IMO, these belt drives are WAY better looking than a chain. No rust, no chain lube mess on the surrounding area, and the rear sprocket for the belt is a thing of beauty! | ||
| Mrbear |
I love the belt ,and am still surprised that more companies are not using them on street bikes. They are nearly maintenance free, quiet, clean (don't discount this one), and the tire-changing process on the bikes from the XBs forward is about as easy as it gets. I have wondered about how they will hold up on track day use, but I'm pretty sure some people have done them with no adverse affects. I would like to hear from people on that one myself. | ||
| Dirty_john |
also a belt is less tolerant of slight alignment issues and will not tolerate incorrect tension like a drive chain will. The benefits of a belt outway the disadvantages providing wheel alignment is spot on, tension is maintained thru the full range of suspension travel and does not become excessive at suspension top out - hence free spirit tensioners on XB range are a good idea in my opinion - and by the way I am an engineering power train design engr. | ||
| Ccryder |
So John, I guess you can appreciate everything that has gone into the design ;+} | ||
| P_squared |
Mrbear, I believe Paint_shaker can vouch for using a belt on track. http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/158 664/483676.html?1250215074 | ||
| Jdugger |
The belts are fine on the track, the real drawback being unable to change gearing. I'm not racing, but track my 1125r 3-4 times a month. I mostly use 2nd and 3rd gear on the tracks around here. | ||
| 4cammer |
Disadvantage? It is just one more thing your envious old-school, I-4 loving friends will make fun of.  | ||
| Dentguy |
Chains can just snap out of the blue too. I can say that after almost 40 years of riding/racing, I've never snapped a chain. Not saying it doesn't happen, but I have read about plenty of belts breaking on this site. There are advantages/disadvantages to both chains and belts as people have already said. As for your question about worth the money to do the conversion to a chain? Unless you need to change final drive gearing, or you keep snapping belts, it's probably not worth it. | ||
| Chadhargis |
I used to not be a fan of belts, but that was mostly due to misinformation. I've owned a belt driven bike for nearly 5 years now. I don't putter putt around. I've done track days with it. I've done wheelies. I've put it through it's paces. After two years, I proactively changed the belt. I still have the stock one. I'd heard stories of people breaking belts, but I've never actually known anyone personally who's broken one. Not saying it doesn't happen, I know it does, but I have several friends who have belt driven bikes and many report having 50,000+ miles on the factory belt. Try that with a chain. I was at a track day, and saw someone sheer teeth off a belt once. Luckily it was a Buell Inside Pass day and they gave him a new belt for free. According to some research I've done, the strength of the new belts is comparable to a chain. One minuscule disadvantage is that it makes the swingarm wider, because a belt is wider than a chain. You also can't bend them as much, so the sprockets have to be bigger. But those are minor. | ||
| 46champ |
I'm still running a belt and I've probably ran them longer than most here. 1985 FXRS in 138,000 miles broke two belts both of them were after injesting FOD and breaking some of the strands. They broke several thousand miles after noticing the damage. I drag raced this bike for a season and a half with a slick and wheelie bar with no problems. 2002 XL 883 broke one belt in 32,000 miles I think I abused it while doing a tire change also only belt I ever had that was service spec tight. 1999 M2 have 54,000 miles I have never changed the belt and as far as I can tell nether did the former owner. | ||
| Reepicheep |
I've owned a number of chain bikes, and two belt bikes. In maybe 25k of chain drive riding, I have broken one chain (that sucked), and replaced three chains and four sprockets (that sucked too, those damn things are pricey). I've had to lube them frequently, which is a messy bother. In about 60k of belt drive riding, I have, well, just ridden. Nothing broken, nothing lubed, nothing cleaned, I just rode. And factor in the new XB setup that means I don't have to perpetually screw around with axle adjusters every time I am changing tires, it's even better. I have a replacement belt for the XB, that has been gathering dust in the garage for about 3 years now. I'm sure I'll need it sooner or later... I will say I wouldn't mind being able to play with the gearing on the XB9SX a little bit, but I can't decide which way to take it. Gearing it down a bit would make the commute a LOT more fun, making the bike a little wheelie machine. Gearing it up would make it get better fuel economy, which is what I really should do. So maybe where it's at is what I really want after all. (but I would probably gear it down if I easily could  ). | ||
| Brent1125russ |
Some more advantages/disadvantages of a belt: Advantages: 1. lower unsprung weight 2. less rotating mass 3. better drive efficiency 4. no backlash with the tensioner set-up 5. no sprocket wear or sprocket replacement Disadvantages: 1. nowhere for contaminants to escape...if you suck a rock up into the sprocket, it can snap. 2. Less service factor for shock loading 3. less resistant to abrasion 4. you can only get it from a Harley dealer, chains are easier to acquire in emergency conditions. Of course, you can handle those disadvantages by: 1. Keeping your belt guards on 2. Use a slipper clutch to absorb shock loads (thanks Buell!) Oh, and don't jump your bike and land with the throttle full on. 3. Check to make sure nothing is rubbing on the belt 4. Buy and carry a spare belt at all times, they are easy to pack. This is the first belt drive bike I've owned, and I can honestly say I absolutely love not having to screw with chains anymore. For you racers out there, maybe if you ask nice Buell will design a central hub on the sprockets and offer a variety of gear sets that bolt on. | ||
| Chadhargis |
Then you have to have different belts for each sprocket. Don't see why they couldn't do it, but they don't. | ||
| Fresnobuell |
I don't know why they don't do it that way, other than the fact that 3-4 front sprockets combined with 7-8 rear sprockets makes for alot of combinations. I am sure you wouldn't need a belt for ALL of the combos, but it could get complicated I suppose. | ||
| Dentguy |
If the front/rear pulleys are made to different sizes it will change the way the tensioner works in relation to the suspension movement. It would throw off the formula for keeping constant tension on the belt as the suspension moves. Just a thought. | ||
| Hellgate |
Ponti - Don't get me wrong the belt is great, works perfectly, quite, clean, etc. I really like the function of it. I just think it looks silly, childish and out of place. I mean a 146 hp, bad ass bike should have a manly chain, right? Not a childish rubber belt and a giant pulley/thingie. | ||
| Fresnobuell |
Ponti - Don't get me wrong the belt is great, works perfectly, quite, clean, etc. I really like the function of it. I just think it looks silly, childish and out of place. I mean a 146 hp, bad ass bike should have a manly chain, right? Not a childish rubber belt and a giant pulley/thingie. ; ) Wow, you actually care about the something like that after admitting the belt plain works? You have gotta be kidding. Stop worrying about what your friends think.} |
