| Author | Message | ||
     Hughlysses |
I hear that if you lubricate your belt with synthetic oil it will last much longer. I'd also NEVER fix a hole in my belt with a plug, it's just too dangerous. (Unless of course Chuck Norris said it was OK.)  | ||
| Buellinachinashop |
Chuck never fixes a hole, he makes them. (Message edited by Buellinachinashop on May 09, 2008) | ||
| Oldog |
I had the original gates belt break with out warning on a "bounce up" wheelie attempt, the first goodyear shed a tooth and got wayyyyyy slack after about 8k miles , I replaced belt an pullies time will tell on the longevity. Limp mode = ride it easy get home, beat on it = push. My 02 the belt is better all the way around, and with the removable plate on the X1 its not that big of a deal to service. BELT +1 | ||
| Peeping_jon |
My limp home was no warning. 2nd to 3rd shift, opps did I miss a gear nooo. Belt gone never to be seen again. If there was a warning I missed it. Still will stay with the belt. Jon | ||
| Hootowl |
I've broken two belts, both at low speeds exiting parking lots. No funny stuff, no wheelies. I suspect I'm the victim of curious folks flipping my belt sideways to look at it whilst I'm in the store. I have an X1, and I run the belt loose. | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
Interesting press release turned into an article. The usual mixture of fact and fancy allowing the reporter to present an article without knowing anything about the subject or breaking a sweat making a deadline. Happens all the time now a days. Take the New York Times for example. As has been observed many times on this sainted site: REAL MEN RUN CHAIN. And that's just about all there is to it, am I right, oh my Chain Gang Brothers?  | ||
| Crusty |
Take the New York Times for example Don't do that! If you take it, and don't pay for it, you could be arrested for shoplifting! | ||
| Reepicheep |
"Limp Home"... Thats what I do after kick starting my KLR-250 too many times. Gotta keep falling over on the stupid thing  | ||
| Rocketsprink |
until the hardware can be beefed up, the chain drive is coming off the race bike and being replaced with the belt drive. The chain, sprockets and gear ratio where great. But the hardware bent about 3 laps into my first practice session. Pulled it apart, beat it flat, which took about 3 hits (seems to made of too mild of steel) Kinda pissed me off. The chain tension was set good. But I ran out of adjustment to the point I could no longer take any more slack out of the chain. And it was SLOPPY! The bracket was removed and sent home with Steve McKay the badweb machinist, to see if he can figure out a stronger set up.   | ||
| Skntpig |
Chain for me. Broke 2 belts and said no more. I also lost a chain at Daytona on my 600 on the bank topped out. Bang! and the bike shuts off. You would be surprised how much the wind drag slows you with zero HP. My friend didn't put the master on correctly. Lucky it just spit out the back instead of into my leg or the wheel. I guess there are pros and cons to both. | ||
| 4cammer |
My XB9R is my first Buell, and my first bike w/ a belt. I will never buy a bike w/ a chain again. Don't miss the cleaning, adjusting and chain wax. Erik Buell has ruined me for most any other bike out there. | ||
| Djkaplan |
"Take the New York Times for example." I love the NY Times. I can consistently make it all the way to Friday on the crossword puzzle (damn you Will Shortz). | ||
| Diablobrian |
Love my chain....chain wax is not messy unless you go overboard with it, and I cannot afford to be stuck somewhere with a broken belt because I can't push my bike (or even walk) very far before I'd be done for. On the street, with less attention and time than I'd spend inspecting a belt for fear of a catastrophic failure, my chain will not fail me. If my chain does start to show wear while I'm on the road.....any road.....in almost any town....I can get a replacement, that day and be back on the road in minutes. Not always so when running the stock belt. This is doubly true with 03 belts! I sincerely do not see an advantage in the belt. Even the 06+ belts have failed prematurely so you MUST inspect all of the belts carefully during pre-ride checks. So much for "zero maintenance" I was hoping that the new belts would live up to the hype, for the sake of those using them, but I will not find them enticing until they no longer fail without warning. Sorry belt believers, but the "Chain Gang" rules when you absolutely, positively must ride your Buell! Especially when you are putting 100 or even more rwhp down! | ||
| Bombardier |
Had to cut my first belt off to push my bike onto the trailer. This belt drove a disc brake lock through my swingarm and just kept going round. Belt for me. Just out of curiosity - of the belts that have gone to their grave how many had the belt guards removed? (Message edited by Bombardier on May 13, 2008) | ||
| Jaimec |
The Chain Gang obviously believes what they believe and don't want to be confused by facts. There are a TON of sport bikes out there with chains... knock yourselves out. Belts are stronger, last longer, require almost no maintenance or adjustments and just flat out kick butt. The ONLY reason anyone would want a chain is to be able to secure their Buell to an immovable object when parked. | ||
| Buellfighter |
Sorry Jaimec, BELTS ARE FOR PANTS  ...although I do seem to remember a incident where I was in a wedding and it was an all day affair and miles from nowhere. I was dressed in my finest and was enjoying a perfect get together when it happened! You guessed it! My belt buckle failed leaving me in an awkward position. try as I might I was not able to reattach my buckle to the leather portion and had to spend the remaining afternoon having to hold my pants up with one hand. Damn belts...oh....wait...err wrong thread  (Just Joking) (Message edited by Buellfighter on May 13, 2008) | ||
| Blake |
If belts are for pants, then chains are for bling.  | ||
| Buellfighter |
Blake, I'll go with that  | ||
| Spike |
And pants are for men. The only disadvantage I see for belts is that they're more likely to break. Everything else about them is better: lighter, cleaner, quieter, and no maintenance. Belt technology has been continually advancing over the last few years and the belts keep getting stronger. At some point they'll be stronger than chains. When that happens there will be zero reason to run a chain, except to make quick gearing changes at the track. Meanwhile, chain technology appears to be stagnant. The move to o-rings was a nice step, so was modern chain wax. However, unless someone develops new alloys that are self-lubricating and don't stretch over time chains will always be messy and maintenance-intensive. | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
messy and maintenance-intensive  I've got a DID X ring chain on my Uly. The only thing I've ever done to it is wipe it down with some Kerosene when I'm in bike cleaning mode..... and that doesn't happen that often. (Message edited by wolfridgerider on May 13, 2008) | ||
| Buellfighter |
 EXACTLY | ||
| Jaimec |
Belts already have a higher tensile strength than a chain, so that point (belts stronger than chains) has already happened. | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
My belt only lasted 9200 miles before it left me sitting on the side of the road. My chain has over 16000 miles on it + a bunch-o-wheelies. When it breaks I will let everyone know. | ||
| Spike |
So you're running no external lubrication at all? What are you wiping off of the chain that requires kerosene? Has DID perfected the chain so that it no longer stretches or requires adjustment? Let me know how those sprockets are doing after ~20k miles. | ||
| New12r |
Chain= Cleaning, lubing, adjusting, replacing, new sprockets, heavy, loud and IF it breaks will take out lots of other stuff too(remember I lost an engine to a failed chain) Belt= No cleaning, no lubing, no adjusting, no replacement(kind of), no sprockets to replace, light, quiet and if it breaks wont take out my engine. I choose Belts......  | ||
| Buellfighter |
Owned my S1 for seven years now (as of Apr 14) and am on my second set (RK-oring, AFAM aluminum rear, stock HD front) and first set still looked good. This set after three years is showing no signs of wear and all I do is put it on the stand, spray with wd-40 to clean, spin it through a rag and that's it. It takes literally minutes to do and don't even need to wash my hands after. It has only needed adjusting ONCE in the three years. If you want pics I'll take some this eve. I repeat this same procedure on my KX-250. Belts for some, chains for others, that's all. | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
Let me know how those sprockets are doing after ~20k miles. Thats what I like about a chain, It will tell you when its time to replace it.... and thats about every 20K miles. A chain has never claimed that it would last forever. My belt had "lifetime" in the description. I thought it would have lasted longer than it did. To answer your question about what I'm wiping off.... dirt...road crap and the like. I use K-1 because it wont hurt the O-rings. I'm happy with my chain.... You're happy with your belt..... We are both happy.....and its all good until I say..... I use AMSOIL!! | ||
| Cowboy |
I ride a buell and a V-Rod both belts 40,000+ miles on buell 35,000 on V-Rod the only draw back to the belt is if you get some foren object in it. I have broken them with rocks and broke one on a pine cone. If we had a better cover system I think they are bullet proof. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Man, I am spoiled. 1983 Honda VT500FT Ascot with shaft drive and two Buells with belts. No complaints with either system. | ||
| Spike |
Seven years and no sign of wear on the sprockets with NO lubrication?!? Either: You've discovered the magic chain/sprocket formula that doesn't require lube and doesn't wear. In that case you should patent it and sell it, because the rest of the world has yet to discover it. I just did some searching on another motorcycle forum to make sure I hadn't gone crazy. The rest of the world is still replacing chains and sprockets between 10k-20k miles, and that's with proper cleaning and lubing. *or* You should get out and ride that thing once in a while. |
