I think it looks cool as hell but not sure I'd trust one for a daily use bike.
That and they cost a crapton of money.

 

One thing to add, no matter how cool it is, I would not convert the final drive from belt to chain, hate oil throwing on my leg, more maintenance.

 

Money is the #1 reason

 

They look really cool, but like most people have already stated they're expensive, and I'm not sure how practical they really are.

 

Money here. Love the looks of them but too expensive.

 

I use a BDL enclosed belt drive ... only cost me around $600 ...

At first I was kind of wondering why the open belt drives are more expensive ... but, I think it is that they require a (normally billet) support for (what would be the inner primary) bearing at the clutch side ... and also to support the starter jackshaft and pinion gear ...

For a while I kind of toyed with the concept of cutting the primary cases up to use the inner primary for the purpose of the bearing support ... maybe keep a little bit of the front section as a guard/deflector and keep the rear topmost portion for the starter ...

I suppose if I let the concept rattle around in my head for a while I may eventually give it a try ... at this point rather doubtful, however ...

My belt drive is the narrow type ... the enclosed type are generally not the 2" or 3" ones like you see on custom show bikes ... more like the type you see on bobbers ... I actually prefer that look myself ... more of the raw metal vice the highly polished billet ....

I don't find the thing particularly noisy although when I have had the outer primary off, it does make a little more noise ...

The one major difference is that the drive shaft from the crank does not have a compensator ... the front pulley goes directly onto the shaft ... so, it makes the power transmission from the motor to the transmission much more direct and sometimes seemingly abrupt ... it takes a little more finesse when shifting and releasing the clutch takes a little lighter touch ...

The purported benefits of the belt drive system are (i) weight savings of the belt drive system over the chain drive, and (ii) draws the reciprocating mass of the system closer in to the centerline of the bike ....

R/
'Chop

 

Can you post a picture? What does enclosed belt drive mean? I don't see a point putting one on my bike unless I can see the belt spinning. Am I missing something?

 

Not much to see from the exterior ...



A couple of photos during the install ...

 

I think my bike has the perfect look and style to pull off an open primary. And practicality? Pshhhh. 16" apes rolled forward, bare bones seat, slammed shocks, jockey shift...the practicality train has fully left the station.

I just don't have a few grand to plunk down on a single item for my bike.

 

Ditto the above......