| Author | Message | ||
     Thepup |
Spatten,I have had to have my transmission rebuilt 3 times,seems the belt is to tight and wearing the main shaft out,I am going to try to notch the idler,hopefully that works. | ||
| Spatten1 |
Mine only had to be rebuilt once.... That aftermarket tensioner with the built in spring sounds like a good idea too. You can't beat the price of slotting your own though. The way the factory has stuck with the non-adjustable belt set-up seems really odd too me. Most people have zero issues, but those that do have problems seem to repeat. I wish I knew what their reasoning is. If you are going to go against industry accepted practices, and you have statistically significant failures, why keep working to improve the technology rather than just making an adjustable belt setup or going to chain? | ||
| Beachbuell |
The chain is a waste IMO unless you NEED it for whatever reason. Like drag racing or to go with an extra wide tire kit. Other than that it takes away from the Buell "Different In Every Sense" gimmick. Besides who wants to do belt maintenance? | ||
| Spatten1 |
When your belt keeps breaking and stranding you or your entire engine needs to be rebuilt because the drive gear bearing was too stressed it can be a good motivator to be less different in every sense. | ||
| Roadrcr |
It seems to me people who just ride everyday roads should stick with the belt drive. If you put the Buell through what it is made for---Corners---hard in and quick on the throttle coming out of the corners, a be;t just will not last. Also the chain is adjustable for different roads and race tracks. | ||
| Xb9ser |
putting on a chain is diffrent in every sense to other buells  | ||
| Diablobrian |
Don't forget the other advantage of chains; the ability to change the gear ratio quickly and cheaply. Gear it tall for touring/freeway droning, and gear it shorter for general hooliganism and back road scratching. I don't see chain maintenance as a big deal, and the belts (even the 06) are not "zero maintenance" as they have been billed. They can and do fail long before the end of the bike's lifetime is over. | ||
| Cycleaddict |
for my bike i installed the (free spirits)belt tensioner--- "it" keeps belt tension constant, provides "give" if a rock "went through" the pulleys and should help extend the life of my belt. what about the lack of "cush-drive" on the chain drive conv.? all chain drive street bikes that i have ever ridden were equipped with a cush- drive of some sort ! | ||
| Beachbuell |
So what is it you "chain guys" are smokin? Might as well bought a Honda or something. | ||
| Buellfighter |
Chain smokin, yeah that's what my Buell is with a chain! | ||
| Diablobrian |
Buell has what equates to a crush drive incorporated into the clutch hub. It's not a problem. As far as what we are smoking, we are just nutty enough to want to make it home on our bikes, and have seen too many belt failures (and heard of even more) for the belt to make sense. Even with the 06+ belts there have been failures reported by people that have never touched the belt or it's guards. If I had to check the entire length of my chain before each ride to check for fraying, damage or holes I wouldn't call that zero maintenance. My chain gives me more peace of mind and requires very little hassle. Modern o/x-ring chains are worlds away from the old days of flinging oil and nasty messes, at least if they are cleaned and lubed properly so the old arguments of mess and hassle are no longer valid. I'd say having a belt snap without warning is much more hassle than what I have to do. I have never had a chain fail without warning, and don't know any street riders who have. Can anyone say the same about the belts? We constantly hear about belts failing miles from home, belts that showed little or no signs of wear before the ride. I wonder why no one is clamoring for an emergency chain kit to limp them home?  | ||
| Spatten1 |
Well said Brian. | ||
| Spatten1 |
Beach: If it wasn't for people on this board like Saintly helping to solve this problem economically, I would be on a Honda, Kawasaki, or Triumph now. | ||
| Firebolteric_ma |
I would be waiting in line for a new Duc. 1098.  Still thinking of adding one to the stable as a 2nd bike. Will see how they review once they actually get delivered and tested by consumers. | ||
| Cycleaddict |
the spring things(cush?) on the clutch basket is designing absorb the out of balance vibrations of the(v-45)motor .also most motorcycles have the spring thing (on clutch basket)in addition to the "normal"(back sprocket) cush drive ! as far as o-ring chains are concerned you don't need to lubricate the roller pins -- you need to lubricate the rollers & sprocket teeth only !now on all my motorcycles this lubrication eventually finds it's way onto the wheels ,swingarm,sprocket sides, sprocket covers etc. the only way a chain can be as clean as a belt is to not lubricate it.! | ||
| Beachbuell |
Buell.... We are just like every other bike now, we have a chain. Have fun with that chain lube! | ||
| Firebolteric_ma |
Unbelievable!!!!!....I'm speachless to those who can't figure it out, and if I had to explain it (AGAIN) you still would not understand. I am switching for MY needs, NOT yours, NOT buells, and NOT....ahhh forget it!.... | ||
| Xbob |
but its ok for everyone to change the exhaust? | ||
| Djkaplan |
If the belt on my bike ever left me stranded, there would be a chain on it the next time, that's for damn sure. As it stands, I haven't had any problems with the belt at all, but I certainly understand why some feel it is imperative to change to a chain. | ||
| Diablobrian |
cycleaddict, the reason the lube finds it's way onto everything in most cases is because of 1)overlubrication and 2) failure to clean the chain properly. It isn't hard to do right, it is hard to get people to stop thinking of them like traditional chains and overlubing them and blaming the chain for the mess when they do. No one is trying to force Buell to change over to chains. This is a decision many of us have come to on our own. According to Buell engineers the springs in the clutch are more than up to the task. I think they probably have a pretty good idea of what the design can and cannot handle. | ||
| Buellfighter |
Hmmmm, chain maintenance 1 Put bike on stand 2 Lube chain 3 Wipe off excess Absolutely NO "fling". Killin me with this "chain fling" crap!! | ||
| Xb9ser |
Beachbuell the reason I went to a chain is I had a new 03 upgraded belt break in two weeks.A fellow bad webber had bought a new upgraded belt from same dealer same week his lasted 600 miles. I put my old belt back on and as soon as I had extra money I went to a chain.Works for me maybe not you.If I would need a new chain to get home. I could find one anywhere not true with a belt.My local dealer dosenot stock 03 belts.I went to a chain for almost the price of one belt. I have put as many as 900 miles in one weekend.So I like the piece of mind I get with a chain. Not for everyone but don't knock use that think it is better.  | ||
| Cycleaddict |
did the "same" engineers design the belt final drive ? ( not trying to flame anyone--just a civilized d-bate!) the belt final drive is one of the features that attracted me to the buell in the first place ! clean ,quiet,maintenance-free and The most effcient m/c drive system to date.it's o.k. to do whatever you you want to -to your own bike! but sometimes it pays to look at the big picture ! | ||
| Firebolteric_ma |
The most effcient m/c drive system to date. I am no expert but I wouldn't say that belts are more efficient. Ever spin a tire with a chain and then one with a belt? The chain will spin more freely and longer. | ||
| Spatten1 |
Technical point, try hard to grasp it: A belt is not very efficient when it no longer connects the drive gear to the rear wheel because it is on the side of the road. | ||
| Firebolteric_ma |
but sometimes it pays to look at the big picture ! which is why we Have switched.  I say if belts work for you then keep it, But for some (like me) it doesn't. Doesn't mean I/WE are ANTI BUELL, nor trying to changing the whole "be like every other bike" thing. ALSO For some it is a Safety Issue. | ||
| Diablobrian |
Actually the belt was not designed by Buell. They wrote a spec, but Gates and Goodyear IIRC designed the belts. It's a small point, but it's an important one. I do not believe it is Buell's fault that the belts are not living up to the design intent/specification as it was written. While I do think there is further work to be done re-dsigning the belt drive to make it live up to the hype (having a lifetime of the bike replacement interval), that is, I think, squarely in the belt manufacturer/designer's court. Anyhow the flexibility of being able to select my own final drive ratio, and the peace of mind when I roll out of my driveway outweigh the theoretical advantages of the belts. | ||
| Sokota |
(Message edited by sokota on January 02, 2007) (Message edited by sokota on January 02, 2007) | ||
| Vonsliek |
does anyone know how/where i can get hold of the axle adjuster/holder blocks for the swingarm that i can then have welded into place to have a chain setup that is like the HALS one, yet not the so cutely put *spendy* amount they want??!! it MUST be possible to find them premade, if not, does anyone kow of anyone making these weld-in-able blocks that i can order from, or is it something i shd have a machinist make for me on cnc, or similar?! i totally like the HALS one for all its strength & longer w/b, but $2450 is - to put it politely, not for me! btw brian & spatten .. haha .. funny, tho intelligent posts!  paul. | ||
| Spatten1 |
If you don't mind a longer wheelbase maybe you could get a junked swingarm from another bike and cut/weld the section into the Buell swingarm. I think it would be tough if you wanted to keep the wheelbase the same, but you should have more flexibility in re-working it if you can add some length. |
