Thinking about belt conversion
- Thread starter Ralph_imp
- Start date
Lord Popgun
Road warrior
They don't list a kit for our bikes on their site. Do they even make one for it? Have they even seen a CB1100? I'd call and ask. I've never done business with them, to keep on topic.
Thanks for the reply popgun, our bikes can't be that much different than other Honda models. I was looking for someone that has done business with scootworks because there are differing opinions as to their honesty on the web:huh:Lord Popgun_imp said:
ralph
ChipBeck_imp
Road warrior
Ralph,Ralph_imp said:
Having changed both front and rear sprockets on my CB11 I can tell you it's pretty tight in there and I can't see how even a very narrow belt would fit. Keep us posted.
Chip
Ralph,ChipBeck_imp said:
Having changed both front and rear sprockets on my CB11 I can tell you it's pretty tight in there and I can't see how even a very narrow belt would fit. Keep us posted.
Chip
Will do, chip. I took my chain cover off and measured it. I have about 1 1/8 to 1 1/4" of space. There is a metal cover re-inforcement plate on the inside of the inner metal cover that the slave cylinder for the clutch mounts to. If I remove that there would be another 1/8th inch of space.
The belt is about 1" wide so its possible the pulley is about 1 1/4" wide and with a small inset into the pulley it might fit with only a re-design of the crankcase chain guard which would not be needed with a belt drive.
ralph
JustPassinThru_imp
Been there
Out of curiosity, long ago...I looked up "Belt Conversions" in general. I liked the idea of a belt - they seem to work well on Harleys; and I'd seen one on a Suzuki Savage. A nice driveline on SUCH a lame bike...
It seems, according to what I found five years ago...there aren't any. Apparently belt width and tensioner and wheel width make it something that has to be engineered into the design - or else have heavy modding on swing arm, wheels, transmission assembly, the whole nine yards.
A pity. A toothed belt would be THE way to go with most machines - virtually maintenance free; and if it were a quality rubber compound, it could last five years and more miles than most riders would ever put on it. Yet, we're still screwing around with chains.
It seems, according to what I found five years ago...there aren't any. Apparently belt width and tensioner and wheel width make it something that has to be engineered into the design - or else have heavy modding on swing arm, wheels, transmission assembly, the whole nine yards.
A pity. A toothed belt would be THE way to go with most machines - virtually maintenance free; and if it were a quality rubber compound, it could last five years and more miles than most riders would ever put on it. Yet, we're still screwing around with chains.
ClassicVW_imp
Road warrior
Apologies if I'm stating the obvious, but belt alignment is very critical, much more so than a chain. Improper alignment will chew a belt up fast. I would be more confident if there was a kit made for the CB, and be hesitant just try to make something work on my own. But then there's a voice in my head asking that if you're changing both sprockets anyway of course when you do a conversion, what's the problem?
JustPassinThru_imp
Been there
I'm sure it could be done. ANYTHING can be done, when you throw enough money at a project.
I suspect that when it's finished, though, the benefits for the cost would be so nebulous that you'd wonder why you bothered. The HOURS of frustration; the modding the swingarm; the custom case cover for the output shaft...balance that against a few moments each week to lube the chain and wipe away splattered dirty oil...
Like Suzuki, Honda did ONE belt model, long ago. I saw it, stopped at a light, when I was out and about on my BMW some years ago...did a double take. Didn't have time to talk to the rider. Later I looked it up...yep, Honda had that one small machine with a belt. The Honda team tried it...didn't like it...and that's that.
I suspect that when it's finished, though, the benefits for the cost would be so nebulous that you'd wonder why you bothered. The HOURS of frustration; the modding the swingarm; the custom case cover for the output shaft...balance that against a few moments each week to lube the chain and wipe away splattered dirty oil...
Like Suzuki, Honda did ONE belt model, long ago. I saw it, stopped at a light, when I was out and about on my BMW some years ago...did a double take. Didn't have time to talk to the rider. Later I looked it up...yep, Honda had that one small machine with a belt. The Honda team tried it...didn't like it...and that's that.
Django
Road warrior
+1JustPassinThru_imp said:
I'd like to add, that if you want to do such changes to your bike to make it accomplish to your needs, it's probably the wrong bike and you should look for something else. That saves a lot of money and gives you some easy time.
the Ferret
Road warrior
You know I think my chain has been adjusted twice now that wasn't when I was getting a new rear tire. Twice in a year and a half and 17,000 miles. One should easily go 30,000 miles. For most people that is about 6 years. They can be dirty, that I will admit, but maintenance is hardly an issue on modern drive chains IMO.
redbirds_imp
Road warrior
A problem area for belts is suspension travel. Because a belt must be kept at more tension than a chain, it works best on cruisers with their limited suspension travel. I recall that the belt drive Buells had tensioner pulleys because of their shorter swing arms and added travel. Belts also run on quite large sprockets which I take to mean that belts wear too fast if smaller sprockets are used. The Suzuki Savage cafe racer I built on a Ryca kit had belt sprockets that seemed large enough to mount tires on.
I see no real advantage to a belt drive given the excellence of today's O-ring sealed chains. I can't remember the last time my CB's chain needed adjustment and using a synthetic chain wax, there is never any messy fling on the rear. Changing a worn belt would require removal of the swing arm while chain and sprocket changes are easy by comparison.
I see no real advantage to a belt drive given the excellence of today's O-ring sealed chains. I can't remember the last time my CB's chain needed adjustment and using a synthetic chain wax, there is never any messy fling on the rear. Changing a worn belt would require removal of the swing arm while chain and sprocket changes are easy by comparison.
