| Author |
Message |
    
Rkc00
| | Posted on Thursday, April 14, 2005 - 07:16 pm: | 
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My first belt broke at just under 5000 miles. There was no mishandling of the belt and there was no rock damage. I am on my second belt now which is the upgraded 03 belt and have 5000 miles on it. We will see how this one lasts.
Gentleman_Jon I hope it does not brake this weekend on our ride to NJ. Our riding partner might not like it. |
Whodom
| | Posted on Thursday, April 14, 2005 - 07:20 pm: |
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Exup- While you are understandably ticked off about the belt failing, you can't blame worn tires on the bike. Surely the wheel bearings were a warranty/recall item? I don't believe anyone has had problems with the replacement bearings. If you go to the land of the rising sun, you are going to go back to periodic valve adjustments, chain/sprocket lubrication/replacement, throttle body synchronization, PLUS tires.
Before you give up on your XB, I'd suggest you replace your belt with the upgraded version and see some of the recommendations here about better lasting/better handling tires (Pirellis, Metzlers, etc.). If you want to go the extra step, buy one of the 04 belt replacement kits. You can do a WHOLE lot to your XB for what it will cost to replace it. |
M1combat
| | Posted on Thursday, April 14, 2005 - 07:23 pm: |
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My belt has 8K on it, I've landed about eight jumps with it (small jumps, but I'm sure not real drive train friendly anyway). It's the stock '04 belt.
I broke one at about 5K but it had a hole in it from a small rock. That hole was there from about 500 miles until about 5K miles. It broke landing a jump off of a sidewalk in first gear. It held up to about 10 jumps in third gear at about 65-75MPH with the hole in it.
I still prefer the belt. No slack to screw up my brake to throttle transitions in turns, no adjustment, ne mess, no destroyed leg when it broke, no buckled swingarm when it broke. Belts are good.
Just for the record... I've swapped my rear tire five times or so and followed the proper procedure each time. No troubles...
From what you say about the proper techniques for installation and the fact that you're an architect who doesn't see the issue... Maybe that's why you're not an engineer? Twisting or bending a belt backwards is not what the belt was "engineered" to withstand... It was "engineered" to withstand the load of being stretched in a STRAIGHT line. No more, no less.
The song remains the same... The VAST majority of XB owners don't have trouble with their belts as long as they are using the latest part numbers.
Why?
"it is hard to imagine, and I have never heard anyone explain how, putting a few foot pounds of twist on a belt, whilst changing a wheel, could damage it more than several orders of magnitude more tensile load."
Twist and tensile load are entirely different animals. The belt was not engineered to withstand twist loads or to be bent backwards.
I don't mean to sound like I'm flaming you... It could have been the person that put it into the box. Maybe when they received the belt at the dealer they pulled it out of the box and didn't treat it right. Who knows... |
Chainsaw
| | Posted on Thursday, April 14, 2005 - 08:17 pm: |
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I have 16,500 miles on my original belt.  |
Tucsonxb9s
| | Posted on Thursday, April 14, 2005 - 08:21 pm: |
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I've got 14k miles on a stock '03 belt, two tire changes, and no failure. I must be blessed or something. You would think living out here in the desert I'd be picking up rocks left and right. Luckily, knock on wood, (knocks on forehead)this hasn't been the case. At 15k I plan on going to the upgraded '03 belt instead of the full conversion. Hopefully I'll be able to get even more mileage out of it! |
Oneway
| | Posted on Thursday, April 14, 2005 - 11:06 pm: |
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knock on wood,i'm 165 lbs with 8,300 hard miles no prob as of yet. sounds like i see a chain in my future |
Ronlv
| | Posted on Thursday, April 14, 2005 - 11:45 pm: |
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i will have my chain conversion done before my bike is even broke in, just waiting on one more part
then i can sell you my 05 sprockets and belt |
Krassh
| | Posted on Friday, April 15, 2005 - 12:06 am: |
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I have over 13,000 on my '03 XB9S and two tire changes that I did myself and no problems. Heck I wish my GTS1000 had a belt and it would be practically maintenance free. |
Ortegakid
| | Posted on Friday, April 15, 2005 - 12:26 am: |
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I have 9k on my 02 9r original belt and as anyone in socal can attest, it's been abused!, 9 sets of tyre changes,flogged within an inch of it's life every time ridden, no belt guards since mile 35,never a problem. Will be going to chain someday, just so's can go to the big track and not be on the limiter from 7 on, I like the belt! |
Elyaswolffxb9s
| | Posted on Friday, April 15, 2005 - 12:29 am: |
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How much does the upgraded 03 belt cost? |
Barkandbite
| | Posted on Friday, April 15, 2005 - 12:33 am: |
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3 sets of tires, 15,000 miles on my original 02/03 belt. Just swapped it out @ the 15K to the upgraded 03 (not '04) belt.
No belt guards, either.
Lucky (I guess and hope!)
Chris |
Xbolt12
| | Posted on Friday, April 15, 2005 - 09:00 am: |
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Well I just got my the belt on my 04 xb12r replaced under warranty at 12,800 miles. I was getting ready for my first trackday and had the pulley cover off to change the rear tire. I noticed that all the teeth had a crack running across the base of the tooth which opened up and the belt rolled across the idler pulley.
SD Harley changed the belt and the mechanic said it would have lost teeth and failed shortly. I was told that it probably was failing early because I use engine braking a lot while riding. Guess I might be one of those .01% riders Erik mentioned in the Cycle World article 
Anyway, I think I will probably change the clutch cable at 10,000 mile intervals from now on and the belt around the same time, depending on a visual inspection.
xbolt12 |
Trojan
| | Posted on Friday, April 15, 2005 - 09:08 am: |
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Our chain conversion is now finalised and will be available to order in the next week or so. It will utilise the stock swingarm with an adjustable chain tensioner, sprockets and idler wheel to stop the swingarm getting damaged by the chain. This kit is based on the one developed for our race bike and which is still going strong after 2 seasons of racing with no failures at all.
 |
Wyckedflesh
| | Posted on Friday, April 15, 2005 - 03:50 pm: |
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Will it allow for gearing changes? Estimated price? |
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