yep, sounds like you've been bitten by the new bike bug. Let us know what color you get!

lol

My buddy did have his belt snap when a rock got caught in his '04 1200c. Although, he did abuse the heck out of his bike - trying get the front wheel up and such, which I'm sure didn't help with keeping the belt in good condition.

 

My $.02, 12 yrs riding couple of miles each way to the house, never picked up anything but my baggy pants leg. Small bungee solved that. Felt like I was hit in the leg with a rubber baseball bat. The only way I can think you'd pick up stones in the belt would be a passingcar or truck with mud treads that tosses gravel your way.

 

I ride gravel roads some times (because its there and I want to go that way) no problems yet. only problem is those foot deep trenchs in them sometimes,(maybe that was a trail).Not everybody can pave the way to
camp!

 

I live in a rural area and my house is 2.5 miles from the nearest paved road. So daily I log 5 miles on a decomposed granite road with some thin patches of fine to medium grit sand and a wee bit of washboard here and there. On the bike I can pick my way along and miss the majority of the washboard and potholes, so not a big deal. I've never had a problem with the drive belt at all. I visually inspect it now and then and in fact it doesnt even look dirty on the inside/pulley surface. No damage whatsoever.

I was worried about this issue too at first when I got my Electra Glide, but honestly at this point I've quit worrying about it.So far it appears to be a total non-issue. Not that it CANNOT happen, but it appears to be an almost non-existant issue.

Dusty? Yes, it is always a bit dusty of course which is aggravating, but even that isn't as bad as I'd thought it would be. It goes right into the garage every time i get home and then a bedsheet is thown over it once inside.

I'd say GO BUY YOUR SPORTSTER and enjoy it!

PS: Even the white walls aren't that big a deal to keep clean. So considering my environment I dont see why guys whine about their white walls being "alot of work" unless 10 minutes once a week is "too much".

 

Thanks for the responses folks. I'm so close to pulling the trigger but I just can't do it. I found the bike I want but it's an eight hour drive to get it so that's saving my wallet for now, but, I've got vacation to burn so who knows what will happen.

 

I ride down gravel everyday and I cant be bothered to drive slow and not kick any dust. my belts are 4 years old and holding, no probs....
I def wouldnt let that be my deciding factor. Its a non issue IMO.
Tommorrow ill screw the belt up for saying that

 

Back in '97, I got a rock under my belt that made about a 3/8" hole in the middle of the belt. The advice I got from friends was to not worry about it, but keep an eye on it from time to time. 38,000 miles later I traded in the bike with the same 3/8" hole. Point being even if you're unfortunate enough (and my nickname with that riding group was Black Cloud) to catch a rock that goes through the belt, the odds are pretty good it will still be fine (just be sure the hole is not near the edge).

 

I've driven a lot of gravel with my bike, the drives and parking lots for both of my jobs are gravel, ranging all sizes of rock, and some county maintained gravel. Never had a problem with a rock in the belt drive. But IMO your KLR650 is a better bike for the task, and probably more comfortable.

 

I'd get a BMW F800 http://www.bmwmotorcyclesftlauderdal...015&veh=435163

 

Wow, epic thread revival award for the day?

Betting the OP made a decision one way or the other in the past 8 years!