| Author | Message | ||
     Gentleman_jon |
I lost my second belt on my XB9S at 4300 miles. It had about 3300 miles on it. I was under moderately forceful acceleration, and when I shifted to second, nobody was home:-). As I was passing a car at the time, I realized that losing a belt could be more than a nuisance: it could lead to an accident under certain circumstances. As I see it, I could replace the belt, with the upgraded 2003 replacement, (under warranty one assumes, as the bike is less than a year old). I can't find the part number of the new belt, and don't want the original one. Does anyone have the spec.s on the new replacement belt? Or I could upgrade to the 2004 specification. That would cost about $400 for parts plus the belt. I would prefer not to go the chain route. Does anyone feel the upgrade to the 2004 belt is a good idea and thus worth the additional monies? I am concerned about safety as well as cost at this point. | ||
| Buell_boy_beau |
hey jon,my belt broke on my xb9r 1700kms & was replaced under warranty with upgraded belt.i have 4800kms & no trouble.i thought about 2004 spec but gearing is different.i personally prefer 03 gearing  beau | ||
| Kowpow225 |
I would think buell updated their belts in 2004 for good reason. They must've known that it was a weak spot in the bike and thus made a pretty significant change. I'd have to assume that upgrading to an 04 spec belt would be a wise decision if you have the pockets. Since this could be a safety concern (In the wrong situation), I'd say go for it. I'd much rather take a good dent in the wallet than a bad one on the face. | ||
| Daves |
Jon, I have the newest 03 belts on hand. Or, we can get you set up with the stuff you need for the change over to a 04 system Dave | ||
| Tank_bueller |
I have read a little about this problem here, and I am worried, like the gentleman above. I don't want to have a failure at a critical moment and I would like to do something about i before it becomes a problem. As far as I can read, there are two options: 1: Better replacement belt? 2: Upgrade part of driveline to accommodate different/better belt, which changes gearing at the rear wheel?? I like the stock gearing. does the upgrade make the gearing taller or shorter?? Is the new/better belt really any better/last longer/resist damage due to twisting, etc..... Thanks for a better explanation, or a link to one thanks tank | ||
| Robxb |
has anyone had a problem on the XB12r ? | ||
| Keith |
I purchased an '04 belt upgrade kit from our own Dave Steuve before the new belts for the '03s were available. The '04 belt is much tougher appearing (the carcass of the belt is probably twice as thick). The '04 pulleys are of a different size than the '03s but the ratio is exactly the same. I believe the change in pulley size is due to the fact that the '04 belt has a different pitch. Keith | ||
| Ingemar |
Yeah, the gearing difference of a 12 is in the primary, not in the secondary drive. Both pulleys are larger, so the ratio is the same as Keith already said. I also thought the larger pulleys are to prevent the tougher/stiffer belt from making small radius turns around the front pulley? Or is that BS? | ||
| Glitch |
Or is that BS? I don't think that it's BS. A larger diameter pulley would make a more gentle belt bend. Less stress makes for longer belt life. BTW, I now have almost 20thousand miles on my upgraded Gates belt, so I doubt I'll go to the 04 belt and pulley upgrade. Although I still may so I can get rid of the awful looking 03 belt guard. | ||
| Blake |
Ingemar, The '04 and later belt is also completely different. | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
Hey Glitch, nice to see you here. How are Shred and Torquer doing? How many miles did you get on your original belt? Do you have the part number of the new Gates? What are the visual differences between the old and new 2003 belt? PS What happened to your pet giant Chicken? | ||
| Glitch |
Hey John! Shred is doin' fine. He's ordered a new XB9R in yellow, due to be here early December. He ought to be well healed by then. Torqer is doin' pretty good himself. Went to see him last Thursday. Got some pretty good movement in his legs. Still not a lot below the knees. My opinion is he will walk again, maybe not by next week, but he will walk. As far as the look of the belt, I see no difference. I got too few miles from my first belt, I was a bit ham fisted while changing a rear tire and twisted it. It lasted about 60 miles after the twist. Don't know what the part number is. My guess is it's the same as the old belt with an "A" on the end. I had to put my pet away, he was scaring people  | ||
| Thepup |
I just finished putting a new belt on,broke on the way to work.I have changed two tires with no problem.This belt lasted 17,500 miles.I just stuck with the 03 belt,not sure if I got the upgraded 03 belt or not,would like to find out the part # to see | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
HEY GLITCH !! Some hooligan has made off with your ride!! Or is that you, you devil may care stud muffin maniac ? (Message edited by gentleman_jon on October 25, 2004) | ||
| Starter |
The reason the front pulley on the 04 belts is bigger cause it is the minimum pulley size for the Goodyear belts. | ||
| Glitch |
devil may care stud muffin maniac My new user name? | ||
| Daves |
G0500.02A8R is the latest part number for 03 belts. Dave | ||
| Glitch |
Knew you'd come through Dave! | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
Well, I bought a new belt from Daves even though my 2003 XB9S is still under warranty.My closest competent dealer, Edison Harley /Buell, is 140 miles away. Unless I could arrange " While I wait service", (which they refused to do the last time I called), I could be looking at 12 hours of driving to save the $150 cost of the belt. Not my idea of an great use of time, as it only takes a couple of hours to change the belt the first time you do it. I discovered that the Harley dealer that replaced the last belt, Lighthouse HD of Huntington Station, Long Island, had damaged the belt guards, which may have contributed to the early demise of the belt itself. It appears they may have put the bike back together using a too powerful pneumatic wrench, damaging several fasteners. Lesson learned: it is best to buy the shop manual & parts list and do the work yourself if you can. That way you know for sure how your machine is set up. And it can be fun too if you are handy. I have ordered the Technoresearch software from Daves, so I can do my own TPS and other electronic adjustments, thus eliminating any need at all to go to a Harley shop. On the other hand, I must say that I am a bit disappointed that I have to do all my own warranty work at my own expense with zero support from Buell customer service. One of the reasons I bought a Buell was the idea that it could be serviced at any Harley dealership. Of course that was before I has actually been to a Harley dealership...oops:-) | ||
| Kaveman |
Is this a recall/warranty item or just a bad part. For now... Don't want to find out the hard way if it breaks... If it's a recall I want to get it changed! Thanks Kaveman | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
Hi. Unfortunately, Buell currently has a no recall policy. Motorcycles are high risk items, and I guess that Harley's Lawyers have decided the most cost effective strategy is to never admit anything went wrong. In the case of the belts, you don't have much to worry about with a Blast or 2004 or later belts. The problem is with the early Gates belts on the XB9 s. This is a minor scandal: these belts are way undersize, the sprockets are too small, Buell knows it, and doesn't use them any more. None the less, they refuse to issue a recall for them. The parts and belt are worth about $600 at retail. They have tried to improve the Gates belt, and I just put one on: I sure hope it works:-) It would be nice in my opinion if the people in this forum who have the early belt got together, and demanded a recall. Believe me, it is scary when your belt gives up the ghost just when safety calls for more power to the rear wheel, or you are on a track day, and it goes just as you are powering out of a corner: I saw that happen too, at Loudon. I think Buell is opening themselves up to one whale of a lawsuit if someone gets hurt as a result of a broken belt: their lawyers apparently disagree. | ||
| Honu |
Just got the parts in for the 04 belt/pulley upgrade from DaveS. $525 and change. After breaking the second R revised belt and being stranded $525 did not seem like much. Will start installation today. | ||
| Reepicheep |
The new belts are better, and was one of the reasons I got a new 9sx instead of a used 9. That being said, didn't most of the original belts seemed to do OK for 10,000 miles, so long as you left the belt guards on? | ||
| Xb9er |
No. Based on anecdotal evidence and experiences of fellow riders, early Gates belts were just as likely to break on bikes with belt guards as on bikes without them. That's because breakage had to do with the belt construction and it's integrity after improper handling. Not because of foreign objects, which can in fact damage or break any belt. It seemed that belt breakage would happen in a few thousand miles. If yours didn't break, say after 5,000 or 6,000 miles, then chances are you could make it to 15,000 just fine. My original belt stayed intact without a belt guard for close to 6,000 miles. My dealer's service manager took it upon himself (or was this H-D covering their butt?) to replace it with the upgraded belt at that time while it was in for replacement of a swingarm damaged in a crash. I wasn't charged for the new belt (at least not yet). Mike. | ||
| Xb9er |
In my opinion, it's all about $Greed$. The belt issue is identical to the wheel bearing safety service bulletin in my mind. Belt drive system replacement should be handled in exactly the same way as they handled bearing replacement. What I mean is 2003 bikes should get the pulleys, tensioner, belt, the works at no cost. H-D/Buell would just need to sell a few more chrome bits, chain wallets, tube tops and doggie outfits to make up the costs. 2003 XB9 buyers got the shaft when 2004 XB9's came out: 1. 2004 2-year factory warranty. 2. 2004 MSRP significantly reduced. 3. 2004 bullet proof belt drive systems. 4. 2004 long life wheel bearings standard. 5. 2004 useable rear view mirrors (9R). 6. ? That's some thanks for those of us who were "early adopters" of these bikes. I like my Buell but it's going to take something major to get me to buy a second Buell. Mike. | ||
| Daves |
I guess to your way of thinking I have gotten the shaft on every single thing I have ever bought. My 99 FLHT, bastards came out with new brakes and stiffer axles the very next year. My 99 Expedition, new ones have 30 more HP and IRS.I think Ford owes me a new motor, installed for free of course and a new rear suspension system! My computer, nuff said. My 92 Dodge, they changed the body style the next year, where is my whole new body for my truck? My first microwave was 600.00, my last one I bought was 89.00 and works better. My Mathews bow, new versions are better with more speed and less vibration. The list goes on and on. Guess I should never buy anything again because they will just find a way to make it better or less expensive a couple years down the road. All companies improve products and sometimes lower the selling price. Get used to it or lead a very unhappy life where you think you are always getting screwed. On the bright side, you got to ride your new Buell for at least a year(maybe two) before they came out with the new models. Dave | ||
| Gowindward |
To all of you "early adopters". THANK YOU!!!! The engineers and innovative companies of the world need you. | ||
| Lovematt |
XB9R, In my opinion, those are not major issues...major in my book is 25% more power or hydraulic Roller Cams/Lifters over solids or something like that. I agree the ones you point out are not chump change when added up but at least it gives you something to look forward to! The way I see it is things are improving rather than going downhill... | ||
| Lovematt |
Oh yeah...I have over 10,000 miles on my belt (old '03 style) with no problems after 4 rear tire removals. Of course I did them myself and took my time but no problems that I can see...given the chance I will likely upgrade to the '04 style since it is an option...especially if other things are due to be replaced anyways... | ||
| Aldaytona |
Gone over 10,000 miles on original belt on my XB9R and will upgrade to 04 spec at 15,000 miles. When mine was new MSRP was $9995.00 +. The bikes have gotten less expensive to purchase in 04 and 05 but I kinda feel sorry for someone just getting one for the first time even though they paid less now, I've got almost a 2 year headstart in the KICK-••• FUN department. I don't believe one can put a dollar value on that. |
