| Author | Message | ||
     Comeauzee |
I don't like the looks of the upper and lower belt guards. If I take them off what is the worst thing that can or will happen? Thanks for your inputs.  | ||
| Mdm |
belt breaks, you get stranded at the bottom of valley with no cell phone coverage and it starts to snow and the sun goes down ? | ||
| Comeauzee |
Thanks Mdm, for your 2 cents.  Let me rephrase my question, what is the main job of the belt guards, what are they there for? To keep the belt in line? to protect it for rocks? If I take them off am I sure to have a failure? | ||
| Terribletim |
Honestly, the belt guard is there to keep your fingers out of it, Seriously. On top of that, it keeps rocks out of the belt whilst riding. That said, I've never heard of anyone who broke a belt due to rocks getting in there while riding. Anyone? | ||
| Trac95ker |
I also thought it was to keep body parts from getting mangled during a crash. | ||
| Mdm |
I don't agree with fingers and crash mangle prevention, ever see a bike with a chain ? Top guard on a chain is for sling. A belt may have less as well as no lube, but no holes for the rocks to get out.  | ||
| Mdm |
Comeauzee, chill  | ||
| Cycleaddict |
belts & rocks DO not get along very well at all . iv'e seen one 06' belt break due to a small rock (approx.3/16"dia.)first the rock(s) will imbed into your belt , (sometimes poking a hole in the belt) the rock will cut some of the cords in the belt greatly comprimising the strength and eventually the belt WILL break ! unless you feel lucky, leave your belt guards on ! | ||
| Bartimus |
The guards may help stop rocks from getting in, but rocks still get in there. A few years back while riding through Rocky mountain nat'l park, i rode through some construction. Didn't notice until I was on Hwy 666 heading south in New Mexico that I had picked up a rock in the center of the belt. It had gone all the way thru. I kind of panicked, rode it like a baby into Gallup, NM. Searched for a dealership, HAH! nove to be found. I lived in Phoenix at the time, and managed to make it all the way back, about 800 miles all total, with a hole in the middle of the belt from that rock. So, my theory is, if you want to take the guards off, go ahead. The belts are pretty tough, I haven't broken one yet, wore a few out, but none broken. | ||
| Cycleaddict |
bartimus, how many miles has it taken to wear out your drive belts & how will i recognize a worn out drive belt ? | ||
| Saberworks |
Just a note, Buell won't cover broken belts under warranty if the factory belt guard has been removed or replaced with an aftermarket one. | ||
| Tx05xb12s |
I've ridden 10,000 miles with the guards removed. My belt still looks brand new, and I don't expect any problems. However, I never ride roads that have gravel on them. If you do, I'd leave them on. | ||
| Terribletim |
Well, my bike was used, no warranty. Guess I can take 'em off if I want. I don't ride gravel roads, and Bartimus, I always steer clear of any road named "666"!  | ||
| Deuceman |
I've been riding about 10,000 miles on the stock '03 belt without guards. No problems; no holes. The bike looks much better without them on. | ||
| Mdm |
Can they be taken off w/o removing the wheel ? | ||
| Tx05xb12s |
See if you've got a socket extension and a T27 driver long enough to go in through the wheel spokes. I'd go ahead and take the wheel off though. You'll probably want to do a little cleaning in spots you normally couldn't reach anyway, right? | ||
| Kdan |
No guards for about 8k miles and never broke a belt or punched a hole in one. I changed my 1st 03 belt after about 13k cause the manual told me to. I may change this belt out because I got another one for a reduced price. But really have no reason to. I drive on gravel roads whenever I get a chance and my driveway is 535' of gravel. Granted I don't live there anymore, but I do love to go by at 3:00 in the morning when my drummer is feeling scampish. | ||
| Jgeo |
I am definitely going to leave mine on... I snapped a belt around 3500 mi. and being stranded really sucks. I think the cause was that I got stuck behind a construction vehicle that was kicking up all sorts of dirt and rocks at me on the highway. Thought nothing of it, just a small dirt shower going 70mph. Got off the highway and no more than 1 mile later...SNAP! Belt cost about $160 plus the time for me to put it on, of course after getting stranded and calling a friend to come with the trailer. A nice day for riding turned into a day of suck. But I have talked to many other riders that have never had a problem. Just my $.02. | ||
| Terribletim |
Yea, them belts are expensive huh? I ripped mine in half on my Harley and it was cheaper to convert it to a chain than buy a new belt. That included the cost of new sprockets and spacers. Still, I think I really want to take it off. They look so much better! |
