| Author | Message | ||
     Biomechanic |
Just wanted to ask my first official question on this site. I have been getting information on just about everything regarding my bike. So, thanks in advance for all the help. I wanted any opinions/experiences on the plastic belt guards - is it fine to take them off? I see pics of other bikes with them removed and thought it looked much cleaner. I know Buell put them on for a reason, but while I am in the process of powdercoating and doing the undertail I thought I might remove these. Let me know what you guys think. | ||
| Duff24 |
I've put about 35k miles on both my bikes together. First thing I did was take the belt guards off. No broken belts yet! | ||
| Rpm4x4 |
I was just asking about this same thing. Here is the link. http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/406 2/428244.html?1231812571 | ||
| Bo_sox |
OFF!!! I removed mine on the 2nd day of ownership and 7K miles later and no problems. | ||
| Boltrider |
Yep, take 'em off. I took my rear pegs off too. | ||
| Biomechanic |
Thanks for the help guys. I thought they should come off, but wanted to make sure I wasn't going to have any belt wear issues. I will take them off today. | ||
| 4cammer |
I have both of my guards on and inspect my belt each time I change my oil (2000 miles). Last time I checked I had a big dollup of uncured tar with assorted rocks adhered to the rear sprocket. Took almost an hour to get that crap off. How that got past the giant/ugly upper and lower guards is beyond me. Checked over the belt and it looked fine, no cracks or splits. | ||
| Dtx |
I also do not run with the belt guards on. It looks better without them IMO. But, I have noticed after doing some track days, that little chunks of rubber get embedded, smashed and melted onto the idler pulley and rear sprocket teeth. | ||
| Jaimec |
Ask yourself a question: Do you HONESTLY think the engineers at Buell put them on your bike for no reason? If you think you know more about motorcycle engineering than they do, then by all means take 'em off... | ||
| Fastxb12r |
Im not smarter than a engineer in ALL things but SOME things im sure I am.  Seriously the engineers put them there because they have to if they didnt put them there and the belt broke people would sue the shit out of them if they got injured. | ||
| Ochoa0042 |
where the hell is the bitchslap clipart for Jaimec!!! | ||
| Boltrider |
Ask yourself a question: Do you HONESTLY think the engineers at Buell put them on your bike for no reason? Yeah I think they put the guards on for shits & giggles! | ||
| Cycleaddict |
sure take your belt guards off . . . the roads i ride on have gravel on them, and belts do not survive very long with gravel punctures. i have witnessed first hand a failure on an '06 firebolt. (two small rocks ) you can admire your "clean,better look'n " belt guard-less buell while sitting on the side of the road with a broken drive belt. | ||
| Paint_shaker |
I am sure there is some Federal reg somewhere that states manufactures have to put belt/chain guards. All in the name of safety you know! Remove them, leave them on... whatever works for you! Just be aware if you do remove them, your belt MAY be more suseptable to damage from foreign objects. | ||
| Spike |
Just for reference-- The only requirement for the drive belt to be covered by the factory warranty is that the OEM or factory accessory belt guards are in place. If you're outside of your factory warranty and don't mind the increased risk of belt damage go ahead and yank them off. | ||
| Cowtown |
Pull them! And knock the coating of the pulley teeth.  | ||
| Old_man |
My first motorcycle had a completely enclosed chain case. It kept out any dirt and kept the lube inside. I think it was the BEST. I don't care what it may look like. An enclosure makes more sense than leaving it open. I will leave the guards on my bike to help protect this delicate arrangement from unnecessary damage. On your bike, of course, you can do as you please. You paid for it. | ||
| Miko_k |
Well, if you get a BLAST, you can have a similar thing going on. The belt will last forever  Don't you guys just love the belt guards on the Blasts?  | ||
| Moosestang |
mine are off. I think they are there to keep your feet or your passengers feet/pant legs out of the belt, more than to protect the belt. Imagine going down in your flip flops and getting your toes caught between the belt and sprocket.  | ||
| Skinstains |
Keep the upper to help in keeping the oil from your chain drive from getting all over your gear. | ||
| Metalstorm |
If I had an 03 I would probably say to hell with it and remove them almost certainly assuring belt failure on that belt system just because I don't like the look of them. The 04 & 05 models look ok to me. I'm leaving mine on on my 05. I'm on the fence with the 06+ models. I don't really like them but they're not terribly hideous like the 03 ones. If you ride on gravel or really crappy roads I'd leave them on for sure. If you're on nothing but smooth, clean, beautiful asphalt, there's probably not much to fear riding sans guards. That's just a paver's view. I make roads, not motorcycles so I'm not really one to say. But I said it anyway! |
