| Author | Message | ||
     Whosyodaddy |
Disclaimer: I'm not a gearhead - I'd rather spend time riding than lubing and tensioning a chain. That's one of the big selling points of Buell (at least in my book). So why don't more manufacturers use belt drives? Given today's technology, it looks like a good belt would outlast a chain - and with a pre-tensioning system like Buell's, require virtually no maintenance. So what are the pros/cons of belts? Of chains? Apologies in advance if this is a typical noob question. Please be gentle. WYD | ||
| Daves |
They would then have to admit that Buell and HD is right about something! Dave | ||
| 420at145mph |
why DO all the race buells use chains? | ||
| Daves |
Easier to change gearing for different tracks. Dave | ||
| Fdl3 |
When considering my XB9R, the belt was definitely a positive for me, as well. | ||
| Darthane |
Ditto...the chain on my buddy's Katana is a major PITA. | ||
| Whosyodaddy |
One of my riding buddies has a '92 VFR. He's always having to jack around with the chain. That and valve adjustments are the biggest reasons I've not looked closer at a metric sporty - although an F4i is mighty tempting. If Glitch is correct, the 17th is when I should know if I'm going to hold out for '05 Buell or if I cross over to the dark side of the metric. WYD | ||
| Rosko |
on the flip side, if Buell used chains from the beginning, then at this point in time, nobody would be bitching about their belts breaking!!! | ||
| Starter |
From my research over the past couple of days it seems the reason the race team uses chains would be due to the power output of the bikes. The 28mm Goodyear Blackhawk PD belt on the 04 models is starting to reach it's limits on the XB12. Put it this way, of all of the belts on the market, the Goodyear is the only belt even close to being up to the task. I can't find any info for Dayco at the moment but it seems that Gates and Fenner just aren't interested in this end of the market. | ||
| Rosko |
Think of it like this...let's say that you find yourself in first place at the start of the last lap in a race, and just as you come out of the corner and put the juice to 'er....SNAP!!! (not gonna happen with a chain) | ||
| Outrider |
Chain, shaft, belt. That is the order of preference for me. Owned all of them and prefer the simplicity of a chain. A few master links and you can go anywhere and get home under your own power. | ||
| Wyckedflesh |
Think of it like this...let's say that you find yourself in first place at the start of the last lap in a race, and just as you come out of the corner and put the juice to 'er....SNAP!!! (not gonna happen with a chain) Oh but it does and alot more often then you think. My buddy is having a problem with his Bandit 1200 eating chains like candy. My ZX-6 would stretch the chain in a weekend of spirited riding. I snapped the chaind quit often on my CR500 Ninja monster. A chain is still only as good as its maintenance. If its too lose it chews up everything ti touches, if its too tight, it snaps and slices up the back of your leg. I will stick with my belt for the daily rider. Trackbikes are a different story cause a belt isn't adjustable enough. | ||
| 420at145mph |
"I snapped the chaind quit often on my CR500 Ninja monster" WHAT in the f*** is THAT?? | ||
| Spike |
on the flip side, if Buell used chains from the beginning, then at this point in time, nobody would be bitching about their belts breaking!!! Of course, if that happened none of us would have gotten spoiled by low maintenance belts and clean rear wheels.  Not to mention, a belt doesn't tear a hole in your crankcase when it breaks. I can't help but wonder . . . If you were to take all the time you spent doing your periodic chain maintenance (cleaning/lubing/adjusting/replacing) and sink that time into periodic belt inspection, how often would you be surprised by a failed belt? | ||
| Wyckedflesh |
Its a CR500 engine stuffed into a EX250 Ninja frame.Light as all hell and real fast til it ran out of gearing. Topped out at just over 100 due to the gearing. But it got to 100 pretty damn fast. Wheelied as good as my XB12 too. | ||
| Kaese |
In my book, unless racing use the belt. Less maint., no chain lube(wich is my major peeve, try some white wheels). I believe that Suzuki offered a belt drive cruiser on last year models. Maybe HD wants too much money for the technology? | ||
| Brucelee |
I love the belt. Chains are a bloody mess and they stretch and break also, taking the front and rear sprockets with them a times. | ||
| Bomber |
Kaw offered belt drive cruisers as well . . . .no one has to pay HD a thing for the tech, for it ain't HD's (these same belts used in countless undustrial applications for decades, and as timing belts in car motors for quite some time) | ||
| M1combat |
Yeah.. No chain for me. I could just imagine a chain break on an XB. It could swing up and around the upper brace on the swingarm and tear that up REAL good. It could also wrap around it just right so it catches which would lock the rear tire if it happened just right. Clutch would do no good. Not to mention the leg damage if it didn't do that. I lost two dirt bikes to chains years ago and I'll never use another one unless it's a track bike. Belts are cleaner too, which is a huge plus for a street bike. | ||
| Rosko |
you know, opinions are like assholes, everyone has one...so, do what you like. I personally prefer chains...if you maintain them, they're fine. There's no "manufacturer defect" as is with the '03 belts. You just have to make sure that you replace the chain sprocket with every other chain, otherwise, the used sprocket will eat up a new chain very quickly. Some of the same people bitching about chains are the same ones that have peviously bitched about the belts, so where are they any better off?? | ||
| Outrider |
I believe that Suzuki offered a belt drive cruiser on last year models. Maybe HD wants too much money for the technology? Gimme a break. Suzuki started using a belt in the late 1980's on their single cylinder 600 something cruiser. Regardless, I still prefer chains. The time spent maintaining one on a regular basis is nothing compared to walking home. It's part of the "Zen." | ||
| Outrider |
Think the bike I am referring to was called the Suzuki Savage. Ewww...sometimes it stinks getting old. |
