Yes I meant late production models

 

I know the feeling...I quit for 25 years before coming back.......I was at the dealership and asked the salesman where the kickstart was.......He pointed to an original Dynaglide inside one of those plastic bubbles......then laughed has a$$ off.

 

Howdy, John, Welcome "back" and welcome to the "zoo". Mine "still" have chain drive, but the new ones are all belt. Only hassle is changing it. But, by your post, I assume (dangerous, I know) you will not be doing any 4000 rpm drop the clutch in first gear maneuvers , and as such, the belt will give you excellent service. If the day comes when you want to "move up" to 130 cu. in.+ , there are chain drives available for a price to hold that kind of "horse". Again, Welcome back to the fold. Like was posted, there are some great forums here, and the guys, and gals, areGREAT to help out with ?'s. Enjoy your stay.
I'm GUMBY Dammit !

 

I guess if you are callingas early as 1980 "late production", you would be correct.

 

for the past 18 or 19 years they all are belt drive.

 

+1 on all above, the belt driveis very reliable.

 

Not so [sm=chairshot.gif], wheelies can be done with belt drives:

Extreme rider Craig Jones (2002 European Champion plus a few world records), uses Buells and Harleys (he's British!!!) http://craigjones.com/about/profile.htm

Two times European stunt champion and Indoor Streetbike Freestyle World Champion 2007 Chris Pfeiffer uses a BMW F800S which is belt drive (nice bike, Ihave an F800 too [sm=icon_rock.gif]). http://www.chrispfeiffer.com/Biograp...8/Default.aspx

It's not just pro stunters, there'svids around of belt drive Harleys pulling wheelies (and BMW F800s too) on the net.

A while back Isaw a guy on a sporty showing off, pulled a wheelie ........ front wheel went up, stayed up and he rode straight into a hedge [sm=outcold.gif]. I just about fell off my bike laughing [sm=icon_rofl.gif]

 

My '05 E-Glide has 70,000 on it with original belt... Plan on changing it at 80k or so. Haven't had to mess with the belt at all, 100% reliable.

 

The only problems with belts is lack of maintainance.As long as they are taken care of you should have no problems.

 

as long as you keep them adjusted correctly - which doesn't take much - they'll last a long time. they've been reliable for years. i put 25000 on a 1980 Kawasaki 440.