| Author |
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Saintly
| | Posted on Thursday, May 25, 2006 - 11:32 pm: | 
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}The 03 belt works fine when it is properly handled.
I strongly disagree. |
Ridesinnm
| | Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 12:02 am: |
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I see that American Sport Bike sells an upgrade kit for the 03s. It includes new sprockets, an idler pulley, guards and an '06 belt for $398. Might solve your problem.
Brad. |
Ortegakid
| | Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 12:39 am: |
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My friends, have had the original belt on my 02 xb9r forever,(11k),never a problem,never an issue, might be the way you check before each ride,, always clean and pre check 'for ride,have not had a belt gaurd on since day one,still on orig,(not replacement), belt, been to the track twice, better check align, etc,should not be a prob!!! |
Skyguy
| | Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 01:29 am: |
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My bike spends a lot of time dirty. The roads where I live are very messy all winter. The bike has seen everything from snow and loose red cinder to dirt and mud. It gets rinsed off sometimes.
I spend lots of time before and usually in the middle of a ride going over the bike looking for any issues. This belt at least looks like it is going bad the other two just failed. (yes I handled each correctly)
The idler pulley is thrashed but I am sure it was good a couple of months ago. I can see where the belt and pulley would take a beating in anything dirty. That thing is tight.
I would like to take the time to figure out a chain conversion for the price of a 2004/6 belt upgrade. Time is as short as cash these days.
I am still unsure how a chain drive will work or feel without a cush drive so I am a little reluctant to go chain on a Buell.
Any thoughts on rideability or feel of a chain VS. an 06 belt?
I imagine it is close to the same as long as the chain is tight being as how the belt is tight? But I am just guessing I am sure there are a few here that know much more.
I emailed Al at American Sport Bike as he is an hour and a half from me and might ride down there Saturday and pick up the stuff I need. I have to call toorrow to see if his stock came in though. Hope the belt make it there and back.........
Unless of course I hear about chains and have chain(ed) my mind |
Bads1
| | Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 07:51 am: |
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One thing you may decide is to not run the pulley guard in the rear. But you'll need the front guard as your 03 one will not fit. |
Trojan
| | Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 08:14 am: |
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We were forced to run the OE belt on our Uly based race bike for the first couple of meetings this year as we had some machining problems with the front sprockets of our race chain kit. Our bike has 103bhp at the rear wheel and 106ft lbs of torque so isn't stock but isn't tuned to the max either. Anyway, at the last round the bike managed to strip ALL of the teeth from the drive belt without damaging the outer casing at all. This belt is the very latest Goodyear item, had 600 miles on it from new and showed no previous signs of damage, nor had it been mis-handled in any way. I have sent the belt to H-D UK for evaluation as to why it broke and am very interested to see what the results will be.
We have now fitted our chain kit (the first one we have fitted to a '06 model with the longer swingarm) and first tests yesterday were very encouraging. We run a standard 520 non O-ring chain and alloy rear/steel front sprockets. Adjustment is with our unique adjustable tensioner as on the older models, so the stock swingarm is retained.
We tested the bike at Bruntingthorpe in England. This is the standard test ground for the UK auto industry. In addition to every conceivable corner type the track also has lots of bumps, surface changes and a 1 mile straight, so gives chains a hard time. The bike lapped in the same time as a Ducati 999R and was significantly quicker than the stock XB through the course. The chain worked perfectly throughout and the only adverse comment was that the low speed drive was slightly more snatchy. |
Twig
| | Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 08:14 am: |
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I got a grand total of 600 miles out of my so called (new and improved 03 belt) Yes, it was installed correctly. I've been working with my hands since '78 building gas pumps. I took it step for step by the manual. Two fellow badwebers helped me with the '06 belt conversion 3 weeks ago to get the sour taste out of my mouth. Yep, I was fortunate to be able to get it done with alot of volunteer weekend overtime. Thanks again U4euh and Rubberdown! |
Dago
| | Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 08:27 am: |
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Very interesting commentary Trojan. What's your opinion on why the Uly is quicker around the track than the XB? |
Spatten1
| | Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 08:39 am: |
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Dago,
There is no way it is as fast as your XB. |
Spatten1
| | Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 08:43 am: |
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"Buell isn't a race bike. The RR is a race bike."
The above comment is true. However, the XB is sold as a sportbike and you can expect people to beat the tar out of them. I keep reading about the European testers they used that are so much harder on components. Why didn't the belts break for them? I don't get it. |
Ronlv
| | Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 09:00 am: |
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the chain drive feels awsome with no cush drive, you have nothing to worry about
if anything it will feel quicker because there is no lag
i even went to higher gearing and it feels just as fast down low and i have more up top
i would never go back to a belt
these bikes should come from the factory with a chain
if a chain wasnt better than why does the rr come with one? (they could of made diffrent size pulleys and belts for diffrent tracks) its because they dont want a failure.
later, ron |
Dago
| | Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 09:08 am: |
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"Dago,
There is no way it is as fast as your XB."
Oh... no way.  |
Imonabuss
| | Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 10:07 am: |
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Skyguy,
If you ride with lots of debris, my experience is that you will get a lot of wear on any drive system other than a shaft. My lengthy experience with chains in these conditions is that they will need endless cleaning , adjusting and replacing. Especially with a big displacement long stroke twin. My old Ducati 900SS race bike absolutely devoured chains compared to multis and short stroke twins. Personally, I would opt for the newer belt, which has been developed to be the best it can be in these conditions due to the Ulysses. I'm betting it will be a lot less work and maintenance than a chain. But you will still need to check it and replace it from time to time. |
Spatten1
| | Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 10:24 am: |
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"My lengthy experience with chains in these conditions is that they will need endless cleaning , adjusting and replacing."
Yeah, but did you ever get stranded without plenty of warning that a chain was in horrible shape? Did you ever lose 50% of a $170 track day?
I don't want to even have to think about something breaking. Chain maintenance does suck and I'm lousy at getting it done, but a broken belt is worse.
If I just did highway miles and was not so abusive to my bike I'd rather have the belt, but I buy sportbikes to beat on them. |
Buellfighter
| | Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 10:30 am: |
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Go with the chain Skyguy, you won't be sorry!
Remember, belts are for pants (kidding)! |
Hogs
| | Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 10:42 am: |
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Hey Trojan,
I wonder IF... 103bhp at the rear wheel and 106ft lbs of torque,More so the Torque!
HAd maybe something to do with it ...LoL |
Debueller
| | Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 11:16 am: |
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I agree with Spatten.
As a person that has done the majority of my learning on a dirt bike, I have a diffcult time fighting the urge to pound on the throttle at slow speeds, especially in the dirt while on my Uly.
I've had lots of chains wear out, and I have no problem with that. I also do not have a problem with the maintence, cleaning,(my bike is usually dirty anyway, due to off pavement use) and noise.
What I do have a problem with is failure with almost no warning. A chain and sprokets will wear progressively with visual and audible signals usually before a complete failure is emminent.
In all my years of riding chain and one shaft driven bike none have experenced complete failure except the Buell.
I really enjoy my Uly alot, but as someone said on this board earlier the belt drive on the Uly is the ackilies heel (spelling) of these bikes.
BTW, the '06 belt has no offical replacement interval. That is ridicolusly optomistic. |
Bads1
| | Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 01:44 pm: |
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Very untrue Ronlv. They do it only for gearing reasons only. Its easier and cheaper to do sprockts and chains in racing. At a moments notice. |
Chainsaw
| | Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 02:07 pm: |
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BTW, the '06 belt has no offical replacement interval. That is ridicolusly optomistic
Neither do the belts on Harley's. |
Rhun
| | Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 02:30 pm: |
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"Yeah, but did you ever get stranded without plenty of warning that a chain was in horrible shape? Did you ever lose 50% of a $170 track day?"
Dodge city Kansas 250 miles from home, scrambles track, a few decades ago, weak rear brake no front brake (not allowed) 60 MPH straight into a hairpin at the end; miss the turn 50 feet of grass then barbed wire fence. Downshift hard to back it into the hairpin. Chain snaps (less than a dozen races).... to answer your question....YEAH  } |
Thansesxb9rs
| | Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 04:52 pm: |
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When I raced motorcross I was always having to replace the chains, and remember when you replace a chain you have to replace the sprockets or the chain will wear out quicker, I have had many chains just break.
Skyguy I think it is just the environment you ride in, do you still have your belt guards on?
Yes you can do a chain conversion just remember that you will have to replace sprockets and chains plus make sure it isn't to tight or to loose.
The reason any bike has a belt I would think is because it is so maintance free compared to a chain.
The nice thing about a chain is you can always carry a spare one incase it breaks to get you home.
Oh ya there is a idler pulley on ebay right now that is only at $5.50 and an 04 belt that is at $5 and the rear sprocket at $20. Buy yourself a new front sprocket and new 06 belt and you have your conversion. |
Ronlv
| | Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 07:36 pm: |
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bads1
why dont buell make diffrent pulleys and belts for the race bikes? they cant afford it? i dont think so. everyone has there own opinion.
i prefer a chain on all 4 of my motorcycles
later, ron |
Bads1
| | Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 08:25 pm: |
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Goe's like this Ron. To change the gearing with a belt it would mean that they would have to replace the rear pulley for sure and in some cases the front one as well. then you'd have several different belts for your gearing options. That would be time consuming with all the different belts and such. With a chain its easy... just a little tool that you take a link or two or add a link or two. Your work is is cut by 80%. Now to have all these pulleys and different belts laying around would be costly and pain in the neck to keep track of which one would which. Its not a thing of affording it its a thing of what works for the application in which is racing. As for your opinion I wasn't slamming you in any way at all. Just giving a reason. |
Xb9ser
| | Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 09:19 pm: |
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My o3 xb9S is on its 5th rear tire I just put on the 03 up graded belt at 10,ooo miles at my last tire change about 2 weeks ago. I allways took my wheel off and took it to dealer to be changed.My old belt still looks ok per the manuel but for peice of mind I changed it when putting on new tire. I put it up as as spare if I need it. |
Pipefittermike
| | Posted on Monday, May 29, 2006 - 11:55 am: |
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I have an 03 as well and after reading all the posts about this the peace of mind I once had is long gone. The fact that Buell will not perform a recall is incredible to me, if not shameful. The company I work for is a manufacturer of equipment for data centers (server rooms) like UPS systems and the cooling equipment, as soon as a problem is found regardless of how limited every unit world wide gets the upgrade. This may seem extreme but they take pride in the product they put out and take care of their customers- reliability is everything in this business. Its too bad Buell doesn't do the same, maybe it will take someone getting killed for them to open their eyes. Or Eric is just too greedy and doesn't care, that's possible too. I have a hard time believing that even though he is the boss they won't let him, I don't think anyone has to hold him back. |
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