| Author | Message | ||
     Cityxslicker |
I snapped my first one at 9200 miles, now at 12750 oil change and tire change, I had to have it replaced again, because a snap was eminent! Any other dirty riders having really short belt lifespan? | ||
| Arcticktm |
City, Is it FOD (foreign object damage, like rocks) or some other kind of "imminent failure" you are seeing? I know you ride your bike off-road a lot, so I was wondering if you have the Uly belt guard on to keep most rocks out. I've only got about 7K on my '06 Uly, and no visible concerns with the belt so far. | ||
| Paochow |
I'm at 11.3K with a bunch of dirt riding and it still looks good. I bought a replacement to carry on long trips, but I may use the old one as a spare as the new one is very stiff to try to pack away. Granted most of my dirt is dry desert riding (rocks and sand), without the mud (most of time) that riders in other areas may subject the bike to. | ||
| Windrider |
I punched a hole in mine at 11K from a rock. The belt is resistant to rock damage but if one gets stuck in the belt and it goes around and around and punches the belt in the same place it will punch it. I have never broken a belt. I figure that if they last 20K they are cost even with a chain drive. | ||
| Brad1445 |
I killed one at 14,000 | ||
| Iugradmark |
For those that are breaking these, what do you look for? Are there clear signs when it is getting worn and close to replacement? | ||
| Chadhargis |
I just inspected mine when I was changing my rear tire. It looks fine. No cracks or other damage. I have right at 12,000 miles on mine. | ||
| Lowflyer |
Mine snapped at 15600 miles. I don't do track days and my motor is completely stock. I ride less than 5% dirt. My use is mainly commuting with long trips on the weekends. I do occasional wheelies, but nothing habitual. I am also only 200 lbs and rarely ride 2-up or loaded down. | ||
| Chadhargis |
I'm 235lbs, wheelie a few times for fun, do track days, have a Race Kit installed, and acclerate "briskly" whenever possible. No problems yet...but I may replace the belt this winter just to be safe. I'll keep the other one as a spare. My warranty runs out at the end of November. | ||
| Jameslaugesen |
Some blogging from when I snapped my belt; http://uly.jl.sg/2007/03/first-broken-drive-belt-1 6000km.html Regarding using the old belt as a spare... I don't think it's a good idea, because the old belt could be damaged during 'transport' more easily that a new belt. And the last thing you want is to have your backup belt fail... I think it could be a dangerous false-security. Also consider that the backup belt may need to be put through the same conditions which (may have) caused the first belt to fail. Ie, maybe you picked up a small rock from riding through some sand, which you'll need to ride through again later to get home. I'll ride with my worn belt until they fail, or start looking undeniably close to failure. | ||
| Lowflyer |
I think any backup is better than no backup. If you are going to have to fold the thing up, it would be most economical to do that to a belt out of which you have gotten some use. My idea of a backup is a temporary fix to get me to a place where a permanent fix can be carried out. I don't think one needs a brand new belt to do that. If I had pulled my belt at 10k to use as a spare, I'd have had another 5k miles before it failed. That is what I plan to do with my latest belt anyway. YMMV | ||
| Paochow |
+1 I was contemplating leaving my old belt on the bike and carrying the new one, but after removing the guards, footpeg bracket, rear fender, and swingarm brace I figured I'd put the new one on instead, while I had the better tools and jack. | ||
| Etennuly |
I was wondering if anyone has noticed the belt having gaps on one side of the teeth of the rear pulley. As I rolled mine out of the shed the other day it became apparent that the belt is stretching/wearing. The belt was tight on the one side of the cogs but I can get a .008 wire gauge in the other side of the cog/tooth gap. That is a consistent measurement all of the way around the rear pulley. I'm trying to find out from my dealer if there is a wear limit specification that has been exceeded, or in order to use the "lifetime warranty" on the belt, will I have to use it until it breaks and leaves me stranded? Does a person just have to surrender and buy a new belt. That makes a warranty kind of useless on it. I have nearly 20,000 on it and I am heading out for a 2000+ mile trip in a week or so. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
The uly swing arm is longer, I dont thing the covers will cross over. I will post up in KV for that. It was severe side wall wear, ie the bands were cracking and there was a couple of big spots out of the belt. It is being warrantied, but still.  I would have thought I got more than 4500 miles out of one. | ||
| Diablobrian |
Wait a minute guys, I thought that the new belts were supposed to last the life of the bike!?!? At least thats what I keep hearing every time someone asks about converting to a chain drive...  I certainly hope that our bikes are supposed to last longer than roughly 13k miles! (An off the cuff average of what I see on this thread and others)  | ||
| Stevem123 |
I've got over 26K on my original belt and it's showing the signs of cracks between the teeth. I have a new one I'm carrying for the time when it breaks. I'm just going to run it till it fails to see how long it will go. It's still running true and I don't baby it so who knows how long it will last. So far it's done better than my 2001 S3T ever did on the old version sportster belt. I went through three of those before going to the new version we now have. BC Steve | ||
| Lowflyer |
"Wait a minute guys, I thought that the new belts were supposed to last the life of the bike!?!?" Geez...never heard that before.   | ||
| Diablobrian |
My tongue was planted firmly in cheek on that last post. Just havin' a lil' fun witcha!  | ||
| Jameslaugesen |
Buell only ever said the new belts have no specified replacement interval. And, if used within the criteria defined in the workshop manual (less than 6mm chips on the wheel pulley, no damage from grit/rocks, etc) then it will last the life of the belt. But clearly, in reality, that is absolutely impossible. All the "the new belt lasts the lifetime of the bike" bs was MADE UP by BUELL OWNERS who interpreted what they want they wanted to beleive from Buell's publications... +1 for the Buell marketting team, hahah. | ||
| Diablobrian |
Like I said, I was pokin' fun, because I hear about how messy chain lube is waaaaaay too often when responding to inquiries about chain conversions from fellow BadWeBbers. The usual follow up to the chain lube statement is "And the belt will last the life of the bike too!" (even when the person asking has.....a broken belt!) So I took the opportunity to have a little fun. I know, I know that it's beneath me......(sinister voice) Or is it?  Of course the rhetoric on both sides of the debate is a little over the top. We all want to believe that our choices are the absolute best choices a person could make in any situation. Unfortunately that is rarely the case. BTW Chains rock! Or actually they don't get damaged by rocks, or at least not those smaller than Gibraltar!  | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
I believe that if your belt breaks you should assume that the life of your particular bike has been reached. If still under warranty, Buell should replace the entire bike since the life of the bike has been expended. | ||
| Lowflyer |
Okay, now that is funny right there. I'd still rather take my chances with the belt. At least when it breaks, it leaves you stranded with all of your appendages still attached.  | ||
| Etennuly |
I'm feeling that the no particular interval for a belt change is near for my bike. I haven't heard any mention of a break in method specifically for the belt. I would guess that people using the Motoman method would say "rip it if you got it". But being from an older school, I believe something with rubber and fiber chord cogs on a now used set of pulley teeth should get a little bit of "run in" time to help its longevity. Just my opinion of course, now I need to take a dump and drink a cold beer. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
yes, yes, if the life of my bike is only as long as the belt, then I am in need of TWO new Buells. Where is that warranty paperwork ? Actually that they are going to warranty the belt the way I ride a "city" bike ;) pavement be damned | ||
| Oldroadtoad |
The '07 brochure stated that the belt never needs adjustment and will last the life of the bike, so if it does not, then why would it not be replaced sans any charge? Seems to me that if that is not true, then why bother to state as much. I know that I would be upset if the belt failed or became so worn as to be worth less and in need of adjustment or worse yet, replacement. I threw the brochure away, but I could stop by the dealer and get another one or perhaps Buell's web site states the same. Again, why state some thing about your product if it is not so? Oh, and Cityxslicker, my sister lives in Silverdale so if ever I get the chance to visit her I will be certain to stop by your shoppe. El Toado Verde | ||
| Windrider |
Oldroadtoad, I have never seen that claim. I have seen that the belt has no regularly scheduled replacement interval. This doesn't mean that it will last forever, only that you should inspect it and replace as needed. I think that many have interpreted "no regularly scheduled replacement interval" to mean "lasts forever". I know from experience that it is covered for the 2 year warranty period, unlimited miles, as long as the stock belt guards are in place. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
There are some really nice off pavement roads up here, You can ride for hours and never see another bike. and just as light on law enforcement. When I get the need for some speed, I hit the trails and let traction slide where it will  | ||
| Kieefer |
I've got over 26K on my original belt and it's showing the signs of cracks between the teeth. BMW gives their belts a 25K mile service life. Clutch splines will vary though, depending on the simple maintenance schedule.  | ||
| Old_mil |
BMW gives their belts a 25K mile service life. Wow...their belt drives have the same service life as their shafts! | ||
| Fwiw |
Wow...their belt drives have the same service life as their shafts! So... what are you saying? If you buy a BMW you either get belted or... ahem... shafted?  |
