| Author | Message | ||
     Wolfridgerider |
 Let the fun begin!  DON'T TIGHTEN THAT AXLE WITHOUT THE SWING ARM BRACE INSTALLED! had to redo that  A little round stock to help out.  Almost done  Locking screw  All buttoned up.  I think I can fit a 190 tire on it now! FAT PHAT  Some left over parts  Now if it would just stop SNOWING!! I could go for a test ride! Thanks again Saintly! | ||
| Jaimec |
Does that set up provide any kind of "cush drive" to protect the chain and sprocket from the power pulse shocks? | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
 | ||
| Spiderman |
Yes it does. The XB has it in the clutch basket... | ||
| Dick8008 |
I'm fairly new to all of this but what do you gain by having a chain vs. a belt or visa versa? Thanks.... | ||
| Firebolteric_ma |
AAhhhh..The piece of mind that comes with a chain is Priceless!!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
 This wont happen with a chain. | ||
| Ratyson |
Wolf, Did you get that as an entire kit, bolton? What was your cost on it once complete? I have been toying with the idea, I just have not yet convinced myself. | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
I bought it from Saintly. It cost $225.00 + shipping. | ||
| Xb9ser |
Or this. this is an up graded 03 belt 2 weeks old  | ||
| Xb9ser |
I also got my chain from Saintly | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/406 2/265726.html?1174307326 | ||
| Firebolteric_ma |
Saintly is the man!!!! | ||
| Livnlo |
i to have been converted by saintly and love it | ||
| Jaimec |
And this never happens with a belt:  The dirt is there soaking up all the oil from the hole the chain punched into the crankcase as it let go... | ||
| Firebolteric_ma |
I am willing to take my chances with a chain... The amount of people that post about breaking a chain (very few)and something else when that chain does go (even fewer) VS. the amount of people who have had belts break (a whole bunch) and leave them stranded does not compare... Then the act of finding a belt while you are stranded (good luck!!!)...I don't know, Just call me silly.. I like my odds w/ the chain... | ||
| Ducxl |
Ducati sells a guard that helps protect against case puncture from breaking chains.Chains do break too,but i've never seen it. The chain conversions i've seen from Saintly are top notch.I'd do it with the sprocket idler instead of the smooth idler.......if i were convinced i needed it. | ||
| Dick8008 |
I did know that belts can break but so can chains. To me it seems like the belt is less maintenance. That's my style, lazy man. lol But other then the debate over durability is there any gain in performance? | ||
| Lost_in_ohio |
Getting strained sucks Wolf.....I am interested in seeing it in person. | ||
| Buellfighter |
Belts are for pants | ||
| Djkaplan |
If I ever fit a chain to my bike, I'll fabricate a case guard around the countershaft sprocket. It's not an absolute guarantee, but it'll lessen the chances of a catastrophic failure if the chain ever lets go. I haven't seen any case guards made for Buells... but they look like this...  | ||
| Spiderman |
well the nice thing about the Buells, if you do punch thru any "case" it will be the cam cover. SO If the chain doesn't "shoot" into the cam cover it's self then all you will have to replace is a cover not a whole case. On my tuber there are two rather large posts that give some sort of protection before the chain will hit the cam cover. I know the XB's have a sort of sheet metal guard that protects some wiring so that will offer a small bit of protection... | ||
| Rick_a |
It could break the case where that big swingarm drive support stud attaches. Still, I've seen a Buell throw a chain (at the track), but never seen or heard of a thrown chain on a Buell doing any serious damage to anything. They've been known to hit the right tail section rail. | ||
| Jaimec |
Chains and belts BOTH break. If you really are that concerned, get a bike with a shaft drive. Other than some early BMW paralever bikes, I've never heard of a drive shaft breaking. | ||
| Thin_air |
When I was in the Army I had a '69 shovel. Chain let go and slapped me in the back. I was cut and bruised for 2 months. Never had a belt fail and I TRY all the time. I did have a chain guard but it didn't help. .02 TA | ||
| Saintly |
Mark, That looks awesome! That's the first long wheelbase XB I've had the pleasure of supplying parts for. What was the final chain length(links) needed? Jaimec, I notice that whenever any chain related posts arise, you always jump all over trying to persuade people how bad they are. I assume that belt drives have been very good to you? If so I'm sincerely glad for you. I even envy you, as I wish that my belt drive setup had been so satisfying. The reality is, that I was stranded by my buell 3 times within the first 18 months of purchasing it new. Many Buell owners are faced with the unpleasant fact that they cannot ride their bike as they would like and as they should be able to do, without having a chase truck. Being afraid to ride your new bike out of your hometown is not fair! I came up with a solution which works well for me, and it works quite well for others too apparently. I don't twist anyones arms or force chains on anyone. They approach me when they want a chain. There are a growing number of people who trust chains more and enjoy the peace of mind that chains bring them. Do chains break? Sure they do. And so do engines, transmissions, swingarms, etc. Anything can break. If I were able to have a completely maintenance free final drive system that never left me stuck on the side of the road would I use it rather than a chain drive? Hell yeah I would!! I'ts just that such a thing doesn't exist at this time. Jaimec, I truly hope that you never have to experience getting stranded when a belt unexpectedly pops, but if you do I'll be there to help if I can. Wishing you endless safe and happy rides, Fritz | ||
| Mikexlr650 |
and he's not being sarcastic, if you know the guy (fritz)he's very straight-up. just a true "engineer type" trying to solve a problem in the simplest manner possible. i still have my belt, but i admit that i carry a spare on the bike. if my belt ever actually fails the bike will be in fritz's garage the next night being "converted". if buell's belt supplier could change the failure mode from instant "pop" to at least giving signs of a problem first i would be very "pro" belt. as it is i prefer the belt but will not lose sleep over converting should a failure occur. to each his own. | ||
| Crusty |
Jaimec, I have owned several shaft driven bikes over the years. Most of them had problems with the U-joint. Shaft drive is also low maintenance compared with a chain, but when problems develop, they become expensive very quickly. I converted two of my belt drive bikes to chain. My '88 FLHS and my 2000 M2. After 15,000 miles, I converted the M2 back to belt. That was after Buells started using the Goodyear Hydrox The nice thing about chains is that they aren't as delicate as belts. They can take rocks and sand in stride. You can tell when a chain is worn out. It's easier to change your gearing, too. I've never had a chain break on me. However, I still prefer a belt to a chain; especially on a Buell. That will probably change as soon as my belt breaks, but I'm willing to give it a chance to prove itself. (Message edited by crusty on April 07, 2007) | ||
| Rick_a |
Usually, if and when a chain breaks it's because it's had the crap stretched out of it and should have been replaced anyway, or has been poorly maintained. If a cheap chain is used, well, then you get what you pay for. With the exception of damage from debris, there is generally no warning when a belt breaks. Yesterday an '07 Harley broke a belt with barely over a dozen miles on it. No thanks. I've never seen that happen with chains. Today's sealed, internally lubricated high tensile chains are miles above the chains of old. | ||
| Jaimec |
There are plenty of people espousing chains here. I feel belts need equal representation. As for "Belts are for holding up pants" I'd like to point out that chains are for securing your bike at night against theft... I hate chains. They're messy and they're maintenance intensive. Some people like screwing around with their bikes. I just like riding them. Belts and shafts beat chains every way you look at them from that perspective. |
