Just put my Yamaha up for sale so I can close the deal I got going with my friend on buying his HD. Here is what I have sitting in my garage: Title says 1985 FXSB. It's been rebuilt and punched out to 103". I've been trying to research this bike and everything I find says 'belt drive' & '4-speed tranny'. Fact: it is chain drive and i'm 90% sure the last time I rode it I went thru 5 gears.

Anybody got some wisdom for me? Sound like a Frankenstien bike?

 

FX makes it a Super Glide (predecessor to Dyna)
FXS makes it a Super Glide "Low Rider"
FXSB came out in '83 I believe, the "B" designated the introduction of the belt drive.

Should have come with a 1340 Evo, 4 spd, belt drive, and both 'lectric and kick start.

So guessing the prior owner did an entire drive train swap along with the 103.

 

It would have came with a 4 speed solid mount engine in a slightly altered shovelhead frame made to fit the evo engine. it probably has a 5-in-a-4 aftermarket tranny in it.

 

Got more info from my friend. Tranny rebuilt with 5 speed 'kit'. Motor punched out to 101" not 103" as I was thinking.

Asked him about the chain drive and he said it was chain drive when he got the bike, then told me it was a 'Sturgis Edition' (not sure what effect that would have?)

Yes it has (had) the kick start as well. The kick lever has been removed as the 101" rebuild came with hi-comp pistons that made it a hazard to kick start for all but the largest of riders.

So at this point I guess I just want to understand why it's chain and not belt, and how much trouble would it be to convert to belt?

 

An FXSB Sturgis edition should have come with belt drive, not chain... at least the shovelhead FXSB Sturgis editions did.

Keep the chain... with a build like that, there is no reason not too. Does it have aftermarket jugs and cases? Like Delkron, axtel etc...