Belt Drives
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Seasoned HDF Member
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From: TEXAS!!!!
Belt Drives
I've seen that almost all of the customs coming out have belt drives (is that the right term?) instead of chains. I sat on a chopper that had one and it was really in the way and made the bike extremely wide. Is there a reason these are so popular lately and is there any advantage of having them as far as performance is concerned?
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RE: Belt Drives
Well; They last longer, require less maintenance, are totally quiet running, don't throw oil all over your bike, are lighter so less inertial drag, the 'sprockets' last far longer, and did I say last longer? (100K miles as opposed to 15K miles with a chain (with constant adjustment)).
BClem
BClem
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RE: Belt Drives
I'm thinking you're talking about belt driven primaries?
If so, a lot of the same advantages apply except that they're generally unneccessary until you get into the crazy horsepower built motors. For what it's worth, you can have the advantages of a belt driven primary without going with a 3" wide open primary. A buddy of mine is building a bike right now with a closed, belt driven primary. If I understand him correctly, it'll look just like a normal, stock primary, except it will have a belt instead of a chain and will be oil free.
If so, a lot of the same advantages apply except that they're generally unneccessary until you get into the crazy horsepower built motors. For what it's worth, you can have the advantages of a belt driven primary without going with a 3" wide open primary. A buddy of mine is building a bike right now with a closed, belt driven primary. If I understand him correctly, it'll look just like a normal, stock primary, except it will have a belt instead of a chain and will be oil free.
Road Master
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From:
RE: Belt Drives
Ricky,
THere are several advantages to the Belt Driven Primary. The idea of right side drive comes about due to the lack of space to use a left side belt (unless you use a jackshaft design (ala Borget- Patented)....The use of the right side drive WITH a belt makes the bike extremely WIDE, and possibly unbalances. I dislike this approach because it also drives the position of the pipes out wide and lots of chances for burns, etc.......
THe problems become worse as the tire gets wider!
BRUCE
THere are several advantages to the Belt Driven Primary. The idea of right side drive comes about due to the lack of space to use a left side belt (unless you use a jackshaft design (ala Borget- Patented)....The use of the right side drive WITH a belt makes the bike extremely WIDE, and possibly unbalances. I dislike this approach because it also drives the position of the pipes out wide and lots of chances for burns, etc.......
THe problems become worse as the tire gets wider!
BRUCE
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From: Texas! Ya mean there's someplace else?
RE: Belt Drives
ORIGINAL: investorsc
Ricky,
THere are several advantages to the Belt Driven Primary. The idea of right side drive comes about due to the lack of space to use a left side belt (unless you use a jackshaft design (ala Borget- Patented)....The use of the right side drive WITH a belt makes the bike extremely WIDE, and possibly unbalances. I dislike this approach because it also drives the position of the pipes out wide and lots of chances for burns, etc.......
THe problems become worse as the tire gets wider!
BRUCE
Ricky,
THere are several advantages to the Belt Driven Primary. The idea of right side drive comes about due to the lack of space to use a left side belt (unless you use a jackshaft design (ala Borget- Patented)....The use of the right side drive WITH a belt makes the bike extremely WIDE, and possibly unbalances. I dislike this approach because it also drives the position of the pipes out wide and lots of chances for burns, etc.......
THe problems become worse as the tire gets wider!
BRUCE
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Road Master
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From:
RE: Belt Drives
Skip,
You are correct. The fact remains that most bikes are NOT balanced even though the engine/trans are in alignment. The wide tire phenom. causes items like pipes, etc. to be out wider from bike center, and seldom, if ever, does right side moment off center equal left side moment. I have test ridden a few of the offset bikes- and tell you they are work to ride.
BRUCE
You are correct. The fact remains that most bikes are NOT balanced even though the engine/trans are in alignment. The wide tire phenom. causes items like pipes, etc. to be out wider from bike center, and seldom, if ever, does right side moment off center equal left side moment. I have test ridden a few of the offset bikes- and tell you they are work to ride.
BRUCE
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From: Escondido, Ca.
RE: Belt Drives
Seems all the pros have been listed, how about the cons like why are they open - because they get too hot, put more stress on the engine and tranny bearings and god forbid you are wearing loose fitting pants or rain suit. I think they look cool but I know two people who went back to chain primaries who were very critical of their belt drives, one was a BDL and I am not sure what the other one was. I have also heard good things about them, quiet, no leaks, etc. If you have loud pipes, you can not hear the difference anyway. I used a chain primary on the custom I am working on now, it was in my budget. Oh yeh, chain primaries are cheaper to maintain too, so I have heard.