Belt Drive Questions

Pete, Doug, or anyone else who's had a belt-drive bike:

1. How long does a drive belt last?
2. How much does it cost to replace?
3. Can you think of a good reason why, if belts are so much lighter and
maintenance-free compared to chains, why aren't we all getting around with a
strip of Aramid running around next to our left calves?

Big polemic about it on another forum I'm on.

 

In aus.motorcycles on Fri, 6 Feb 2004 12:05:05 +1100

In my experience (hard ridden GPz250) longer than the bike. I did I
think around 40,000km on the bike before the crank started making funny
noises (probably due to the camchain tensioner dying twice and breaking
things twice)

The belt and sprockets were in perfect nick, and didn't need adjusting
in that time.

didn't buy one, at the time I think it worked out as 2x a high quality
chain.

Width is one, especially on modern tractor-tyre-size-rear tyre
sportbikes. The Gpz's ripsnorting 33hp had a belt over an inch wide.

another is "why change". Chains are working, and the punters won't go
for the extra cost of belts to start when they have no need. Hogs tend
to be a special case because the riders in their biggest market want
low/no maintenance, but not shafts on their nostalgia bikes.

Zebee

 

My first one went just on 130,000kms. The second was still on the bike
when I sold it with 180,000kms.

More expensive than a top class chain but the sprockets/pulleys won't
need replacing unless you want a gearing change.

Ultimately, I believe it's the high horsepower of some bikes that
preclude the use of a belt. As for the rest, fuxme why they're not using
'em...

Quiet, clean, rarely need adjusting and never need lubing. Ace.

 

Good point. But the H-D belts aren't 2-3 times that width.

That might account for the belt (and bodywork) on the Scarver - the
marketing people confected a "need".

The few Scarvers I've seen have been owned by girlie types who would be
hard put to find a chain, let alone adjust it.

Gary (but an interesting bike all the same)

 

In aus.motorcycles on 6 Feb 2004 16:36:41 +1100

They do have narrow tyres though. The belt sprocket would have to be
well outboard of the hub, even if the belt was only 1.5" wide.Zebee

 

1. How long does a drive belt last?

That is the indication i get from anything i've ever read, if not longer too.
usually something like 30,000kms between adjustments or so.

My manual indicates you should change the pulley's, but then again it could be
a nice revenue raising ploy. Actually i'd replace the belt if'when it started playing
up badly and loosing more than a couple of teeth (if it ever does, touchwood it doesnt)
But the pulleys would have to be mangled with a good effort for them to need replacing
Expense of manufacturing a bike is one thing that comes to mind. weight is another
what people are "used" to is the biggest one of the lot.

I just had my rear tyre changed on Tuesday or so, and believe me, the pulleyst AINT
light, would have weighed 3x or more than an equivalent sprocket, the belts aren't
much lighter than a moderate chain anyhow.

My belt is about 4cm wide, has teeth 7mm deep and 8mm wide

except when it has "cold morning" sqeaks

Mike.S

 

80,000 out of the original. It only broke 'cause I'm too slack to modify
the belt guard and put it back on. I had the rock wedged in it for about
10,000 before it finally let go tho'. A bloke I know with the same model
has got 140,000 and still going strong.

I think Harley wanted about $450 but I got one off the mob who makes 'em
for 'em for about $300. The pulley's were fine.

Hassle to change, especially for me! Squeaks a bit in the wet sometimes
and on dirt roads. Other than that, **** all, they're the ducks guts.

I've found I only need to adjust them once after a short initial run in
period.

I just happen to have the old one lying here on the bedroom floor (don't
tell them what's in the wardrobes BT!). My packet of Tally Ho's tells me
it's 36mm wide, 4mm thick with 6mm teeth. Feels heaps lighter than a
chain.

You can run 'em with 'a wide as you can get tyre' on a Harley if you space
the primary and pulley to suite.

 

First belt had one adjustment. At 16,000kms. No adjustments thereafter.

need replacing

Unless you ride it in sand all the time, they'll last longer than you will.

If it squeaks, it's too tight. If you *do* decide to lube it, use graphite
powder.

Doug Cox.
Work to ride, Ride to work...

 

Hi;
I have a CM250 with a belt drive and its done over 80thou. k's with the
origianal belt and still looks good.
I think the thing to remember is to keep oil and detergents away from them
and they'll last for ages.
I can think of heaps of advantages over chains especially since I drive a
lot on dirt roads and I could never get a chain to last .Also I used to have
a CB750 K4 and the chain noise used to drive me nuts ,where a belt drive is
as quiet and smooth as.
As for the cost mine is worth about the same as a good quality O Ring
chain but I know wich I'd rather.
A lot of the big bikes use them so they must be strong so I dont know
why they arent used more ,maybe people need something to play with like
regulary oiling and tensioning then cleaning all the oil stains off
everything.
Cheers,
Brian

 

Or if the rubber wore off and exposed the fibres beneath,eh Mike?


Postman Pat (I never tyre of that one...)

 

Or if the rubber wore off and exposed the fibres beneath,eh Mike?

Ah your a tyreing fellow Pat, very tyre-ing indeed.
I got Phil to replace my tyre on Wednesday. He also put the belt on the correct tension too.
Thus far i've only put about 100kms on the new treads

b.t.w these bad jokes just keep just going around & around & around.

Mike.S

 

Also the Hogly's aren't exactly making Hayabusa horsepower numbers

JL
(did a GPZ250 *really* put out 33hp ? That's about what the GPX puts out and
it's a newer motor isn't it ?)

 

In aus.motorcycles on Sat, 7 Feb 2004 10:27:21 +1100

That was what the brochure said. I presume it was very small little
pitponies at the crank.

Zebee

 

Long time until a rock gets in under the belt and the pulleys

Lots, but in between that for a chain and shaft.

Yep, most bikes can be converted from belt to chain with minimal dramas, but
not the other way around. Belts aren't wonderful offroad.

Tell them that they are really Sandgroper.

Hammo

PS bloodu PGs getting others to do their homework.

 

Surely you don¹t mean pulleys?

Hammo

Post accident memory flashbacks...

 

[tee hee giggle snort]
Clem