| Author | Message | ||
     Teeps |
The zero maintenance drive belt is one of the reasons I bought a Buell. Oh well, "there's power to gain from the free running chain!" Wouldn't hurt to carry a spare master link and a kit of J-B Weld, just in case. | ||
| Djkaplan |
"... if there was ever a single part of the motorcycle that begged to be improved it is the chain." In the 31 years I've been riding motorcycles, I've never had a broken chain... I don't think I ever knew anyone that experienced a broken chain (not personally). I can't count the belt failures I've read about here on tubers and then XBs... the first time my belt breaks and leaves me stranded... I'm converting to a chain. But... I have 34,000 hard miles (lot's of clutch popping and wheelies) on my original 7 year old belt, and it's been absolutely trouble-free. It's been practically maintanence-free, too - only adjusted twice the whole time. The pulleys look like they'll never wear out, and they don't have to be changed when the belt is replaced. Good sprockets and chains were always a significant expense. I also believe the efficiency advantage chains have over toothed-belts is lowered by o-rings, so they aren't as "free running" as they could be. The belt's been a good thing for me, but... I always wonder if it's going to leave me stranded. If it does... it's gone. | ||
| Cowboy |
I have only had one belt failure and it was not the fault of belt or bike I ran throught a bunch of pine cones and got one up in the belt most of the belt prob is due to foren matter in belt. I hope they never change. I use to break chains on my old sporty and have went through several sprokets as well. | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
NO BELT IN STOCK AT THE LOCAL DEALER!!  | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
Now there is a REAL surprise!! I guess with the new unbreakable belt, there is no point in stocking them, am I right? Did the dealer tell you that he can find one the Harley Dealer network, and have it for you tomorrow? Didn't think so. I would: 1. Email Court 2. Call Andy at Appleton HD, a sponsor, or Stone Mountain , or Tilly's. 3. Call Saintly, find out more about his chain conversion. Keep smiling, ok?  | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
I'm not surprised at all!! 1 = Emailed Court last night. 2 = I will let the dealership do what they do. (with some pushing) 3 = I have emailed Saintly and waiting for more info. I've got a smile on my face because I am still making oxygen turn into carbon dioxide......... I guess Al Gore will be pissed at me for that!  | ||
| Djkaplan |
At least with an XB it's a fairly simple, straight-forward repair you can make yourself. On an M2, S3 or S1... you got real problems on your hands with a belt replacement. | ||
| Xb9ser |
gentleman_jon Tilleys does not stock belts for 03s thats one reason I run a chain | ||
| Nutsnbolt |
Wait.... You broke your belt after riding through pine cones? Did everybody else just miss that? Pine Cones? Pine Cones? Oh My God... Pine Cones... So this Bitchin' Belt DOES have A weak spot... and we ALL bore witness to it and found out what it was... Pine Cones. Beware of the the Late fall/early spring roads. Mine are cluttered with them. Moreover, if you live in any mountain area with trees, you are bound to encounter these tyrants. You know what? I have used em all. Chain, Shaft and belt. (sounds like a closet in a bordello) but, so far... My cards on the belt table. I don't mind it one bit. I loved the chain on my Ducati... and my MZ Skorpion, but man, I was a bit hesitant about the belt when I got my bike, but after riding a few thousand miles here and there, I like it. Does it scare me that it could go at anytime? Yep. Did it wig me out that my chain could go? Yep. Shaft Drive... You're screwed if that goes. I never once carried a chain repair kit. I know that some of you do, but I think that MOST people don't. We might have one at home, but probably not on our bike. I'm not sure why. I'm sorta with Court on this. The chain is a bit antiquated and could use a re-do. Does the belt have it's flaws? You bet. They all do. When a chain goes... and it will eventually. The carnage is great, usually. When a belt goes....(as I've heard. Mine's good so far, knock on wood) You're usually just left on the side of the road fuming from anger. Anger passes. Destroyed farings and other misc. parts unassociated with the chain will hit you deeper than pride... They'll hit ya in the pocket book. A lot of engineering and planning went into the XB, I have great confidence that Erik DID NOT sit at that table and say, "Hmmmm... Here's an idea, people... I know, lets use INFERIOR belts on purpose, we can save a little money." I actually believe that the XB in the way it's built is the way Erik wanted it, belt and all. That's good enough for me. Am I preaching from the Gospel of BELT? No way. Are chains easy to maintain? Yeah, relatively. Is there more peace of mind from a chain vs. a belt if you have a repair kit handy? Yea, I suppose. Don't we all take chances when we hop on that thing? Answer this, though. If your warranty runs out, and your belt goes south due to defect, are you screwed and have to buy one, or does HD/Buell replace it? What's the deal on that? Has anyone ever had that happen to them and pursued that? Mark | ||
| Court |
Did the dealer order it? There is no reason it can't be there tomorrow. Did you explain to the dealer your need? COMMUNICATION is key. Let them know your expectations, lest they treat it (understandably) as "normal". | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
I gave them the low down on the Hoe-Down and I'm sure it will get fixed ASAP. I have been dealing with them for years, they all know me by name (for the most part). I just do a lot of poking to make it better for other Buell Owners........... | ||
| Court |
Few companies in the world are as responsive as Buell. Ain't it neat? Cool beans! | ||
| Lost_in_ohio |
Sorry to hear about the luck wolf. I am wondering if I should change my belt preventatively at my tire change???? Any idea how much a new belt costs??? Doesn't surprise that farrows does not have it in stock. I have had a chain fail.....On my cr125 bout 30 years ago....cracked my crank case. Bob Hannah was my hero. | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
That would be a lot of belt changing. Maybe every other tire change. I didn't ask how much it was going to cost because it will be covered by my warranty but I will do a little looking into it. I may buy a spare belt to have in the side case until the warranty runs out on the bike. Then I may be joining the chain gang. | ||
| Reepicheep |
There is not excuse for a dealer to not be stocking at least one of each type of belt, that's just stupid. I'm hoping it was a communication failure. The best approach is probably just to have a belt in a box in your garage safely packed. Ride until your belt breaks, call someone to bring you the belt (or fed ex it if you are on the road), and replace it and ride home (on the XB's anyway). On my M2, where the belt replacement process was fairly daunting, I might have considered a chain if the belt broke, but that has more to do with the M2 then belts or chains. | ||
| Firemanjim |
I have over 100k miles on my S-2's with no belt failure.My daily ride had 65,000 on the belt before I swapped it--and the only reason for that was I was taking it to run at Bonneville.And that new(er)belt was subjected to multiple dyno runs and passes at Bonneville with 180 HP,I still have it on my street S-2.I have had chain failures on several bikes over the years,and a good set of sprockets with matching chain is going to set you back about 200.00 | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
A new belt retails for $162.00  | ||
| Etennuly |
I hit a piece of road debris with a Honda 750 chain drive at about 65 MPH. It was lubed and properly adjusted. When it came off the rear sprocket it gained enough slack to take out the front sprocket, cover, and side case. That was an expensive repair and it took a couple of months to get it back. Have the belts caused any other damage than to the belt itself? | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
Dealer has placed the order.... The Dealer network shows none in Ohio.... The computer shows them to be in stock at Buell.... How quick will it get here??? Hopefully soon.  I teach my first Riders Edge class this Thursday thru Monday sure would like to ride to class instead of driving the cage.. | ||
| Wolf102 |
i had my rear wheel lock up on the freeway when a piece of road debris got stuck between the chain and sprocket.i would rather have a belt brake | ||
| Court |
>>>How quick will it get here??? D4epends entirely on A. D. Farrow and where they put the check mark. There is no reason it can't be on your bike tomorrow. It's ENTIRELY up to you and A. D. Farrow and how well you are communicating. If you have told them the things you have shared here, you'll be riding by 9AM. | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
I think they checked the down bike box on the order form. Is that the super duper ship it asap box? | ||
| Court |
Enjoy the ride . . . | ||
| Jaimec |
I already posted a photo of a friend's Triumph on the side of the road because the chain snapped and tore a hole through the transmission case leaving a huge puddle of oil on the ground. The maintenance-free belt is one of the many reasons I bought a Buell over any other sportbike. I would've bought a paralever-equipped Beemer but they are stupid expensive compared to the Buell. Besides, I already have one BMW, and I don't like having all of my eggs in one basket (especially with BMW closing dealerships left and right). 36,000 miles on my M2 Cyclone's belt before I traded it in for my XB12Ss. 13,000 miles on this one (so far). Even properly maintained chains don't last 30,000+ miles, and they require constant maintenance and leave the back of the bike filthy. Too much of a bother. The less I have to fiddle with a bike, the more I can spend just riding it. | ||
| Court |
The salient issue at hand is not, although it's always fun, the perpetual belt v. chain discussion, but in getting this Buell owner fixed up and on the road. I've done all I can. . . now I got homework to have done by 6:40PM.  Bye for now . . . . Ride safe and enjoy the Buell. Court | ||
| Toe_cutter |
I had a chain break on my old 77 kz1000a. When that big ol' 620 chain went it took out everything on the left side. Both sprockets, aluminum covers and even managed to chew up the rear passenger peg. Not to mention locking up my rear wheel for a few seconds at 60+. I guess there's some good things about a belt, I can't imagine it doing that sort of damage. | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
Enjoy the ride . . . I guess that means it will be here ASAP I'll keep you posted | ||
| Naustin |
Hope it gets done in time for MSF! Nick  | ||
| Americanmadexb |
Wait.... You broke your belt after riding through pine cones? Did everybody else just miss that? Pine Cones? Pine Cones? Oh My God... Pine Cones... So this Bitchin' Belt DOES have A weak spot... and we ALL bore witness to it and found out what it was... Hey Nutsnbolt! You might wanna read the thread and see that it WOlf is the one who started the tread and it and Cowboy is the one who ran through pine cones!! (Message edited by americanmadexb on March 19, 2007) | ||
| Old_man |
There is no valid excuse for a Buell dealer not to have a belt in stock. |
