06-08-2016, 03:57 AM
(06-08-2016, 03:16 AM)Redbird_imp Wrote: The belt drive is interesting though...less maintenance then a chain I think.
I don't know. a little less maybe. I think my chain has been adjusted 3 times in 21,000 miles. Just took a 1,000 mile trip and it didn't need adjusting or lubricating.
Todays' chains last longer than a belt I believe, about 30K on a chain, (I've gotten more than that on my last couple of chains) and 11-20K on a belt (at least that is what I have heard) and chains don't require special tools to adjust like a belt does.
The big bugaboo about chains is still the mess they make of the rear wheel/hub, but then again the belt on my YPV400 was so bad not only was the wheel black but it totally blackened the (2) air cleaners within 5,000 miles.
My 94 HD Sportster had a belt final drive that was maintenance rfee for 10k but I sold the bike before it needed replacement so I have no idea how many miles it would have gone or what the replacement costs would have been.
Edit I tried to google it but answers were so far all over the map as to be useless. Some guys said their belts snapped at under 10,000 miles and belts cost $350, other guys said their belts went 100,00 miles and cost a lot less. General in the middle consensus seemed to be about 5K-50K miles and cost about $180 for the belt, plus advising to replace both belt pullys with the new belt, labor excluded. Funny all the ones that said their belts lasted a long time mentioned frequent adjustment and maintenance as the reason for their longevity, and a special tool required to check tension. my favorite response was from a guy that said he saw 100+ horsepower Harleys with 100,000 miles on their original belts every day... lol oh really? another guy said he was on his second engine but was still on his original belt..that one cracked me up too.