Chain drive vs. Belt drive
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 1,057
Likes: 10
From: SF Bay area
Way way way back when I got my '91 Softail, Harley did have an emergency temporary belt. I remember it was spendy, & went together with allen cap screws & nuts.
Wonder if they still offer one.
Wonder if they still offer one.
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,505
Likes: 56
From: Vancouver Island, British Columbia
Agreed, belts are smoother, less maintenence, last longer, but why the hell does Harley Davidson designers have their heads up their asses and make it such at major / expensive job to replace the drive belts. If you look at the Victory's and I think the Yamaha's the drive belts are outside the clutch nubs, it looks like it would be about a fifteen minute job to change a belt on a Victory or a Yamaha.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
Agreed, belts are smoother, less maintenence, last longer, but why the hell does Harley Davidson designers have their heads up their asses and make it such at major / expensive job to replace the drive belts. If you look at the Victory's and I think the Yamaha's the drive belts are outside the clutch nubs, it looks like it would be about a fifteen minute job to change a belt on a Victory or a Yamaha.
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 1,057
Likes: 10
From: SF Bay area
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
It is worth pointing out that for the heavy weight touring bikes the belt width has reduced over the years to 1 1/8" and more recently only 1" wide. The sidecars had a heavy weight wide belt, but the modern trikes use a heavy weight 1 1/8" belt. So technology has improved belt strength over time, to more than offset bike weight and increased power.
Stage II
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: South Carolina
Chain drive
5 hr job.??? To change out a chain I can do it in 2 hrs.
You by a good 530 oring chain with pressed in master link . you will never have to replace it.
I've broken belts . worn them out. There rubber chain is steel .. Hmm ill go with chain I can fix a broken chain on said of the road u cant re attach a broken belt
You by a good 530 oring chain with pressed in master link . you will never have to replace it.
I've broken belts . worn them out. There rubber chain is steel .. Hmm ill go with chain I can fix a broken chain on said of the road u cant re attach a broken belt
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 68
Likes: 1
From: ct
Both have there advantages and drawbacks.Want to put a really big or really small rear sprocket and chain on your Harley? easy.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 157,518
Likes: 57,069
From: Michigan 15 Minutes East Of Hell
5 hr job.??? To change out a chain I can do it in 2 hrs.
You by a good 530 oring chain with pressed in master link . you will never have to replace it.
I've broken belts . worn them out. There rubber chain is steel .. Hmm ill go with chain I can fix a broken chain on said of the road u cant re attach a broken belt
You by a good 530 oring chain with pressed in master link . you will never have to replace it.
I've broken belts . worn them out. There rubber chain is steel .. Hmm ill go with chain I can fix a broken chain on said of the road u cant re attach a broken belt
Actually you can in an emergency situation ... the question is how long will the HD Repair Kit hold up.
The rear problem ( if you do ) break a chain is what other damage will be done. Seen many chains go through an engine case ( especially on the old Jap bikes ) and a couple of primary cases on HD's