This rider should have bought a Moto Guzzi.

[twowheeladdict]

 

[Guzzistajohn]

He'd probably trash a Guzzi too. Chain maintenance ain't exactly rocket surgery 

[Moparnut72]

I put a belt on my Bonneville a couple of weeks ago. Tired of the mess for one thing. Kind of Guzzi content, the conversion kit was made in Italy, superb quality and fitment.. 
kk

[JJ]

Modern chains are fine...but they do require a little TLC... (No big deal, IMHO)

...as do shaft drives (changing the rear end fluid occasionally)

...and belt drives (occasional adjustment...)

 

[Perazzimx14]

I'd bet the condition of the chain more a case of abandonment vs neglect. Even the rollers are rusty so it was not ridden in this condition.

[twowheeladdict]

I'd bet the condition of the chain more a case of abandonment vs neglect. Even the rollers are rusty so it was not ridden in this condition.

Parked in a store parking lot. Frequent rains and salt fog where I saw it.

[sdcr]

I put a belt on my Bonneville a couple of weeks ago. Tired of the mess for one thing. Kind of Guzzi content, the conversion kit was made in Italy, superb quality and fitment.. 
kk

How about a pic of the finished installation. Personally, I didn’t think these products existed.

[Moparnut72]

How about a pic of the finished installation. Personally, I didn’t think these products existed.

Pics, parts plus finished product.

[Dave Swanson]

Pics, parts plus finished product.

Name of the company?  Or link? 

Very nice!

[Moparnut72]

This is the company where I got mine. The muanufacturer, Spirit, doesn't sell direct. There are other distributers but this is the company I used, very good to work with.
kk
https://newbonneville.com/shop/free-spirits-belt-drive-conversion-kit-for-triumph-bonneville-thruxton-and-scrambler/

[krglorioso]

I like belt drives, but for $900 (tax and shpg included) I'll keep the two chain drive bikes and let the Scottoilers do the maintenance.
Ralph

[nc43bsa]

As previously stated, a case of sitting in one spot, wet.

I've seen much worse actually being ridden.  One came into the shop with mere bumps on the driving sprocket where the teeth used to be and the chain tight as a bow string.  The complaint?  Too much vibration.

[normzone]

I like belt drives, but for $900 (tax and shpg included) I'll keep the two chain drive bikes and let the Scottoilers do the maintenance.
Ralph

Do they make a conversion kit for my Bassa?   

[kballowe]

"patina"

[Fredrik]

Belts are good until they snap in the most remote area thinkable. I prefer chain or shaft.

[Moparnut72]

Lots of Harleys running around with 100,000 miles plus with the original belt. Belts aren't what they used to be. Timing belts in hot auto engines last for many many miles. I don't get off paved highways except for an occasional gravel driveway. I would rather have a driveshaft but that isn't always possible. The Mandello didn't turn out to be what I hoped for, maybe the Stelvio will be but I bought my last new bike. Yeah I know famous last words.   
kk

[Vagrant]

I was hoping they would have a kit for my 2016 Versys 650. I hate chains.

[Fredrik]

Lots of Harleys running around with 100,000 miles plus with the original belt. Belts aren't what they used to be. Timing belts in hot auto engines last for many many miles. I don't get off paved highways except for an occasional gravel driveway. I would rather have a driveshaft but that isn't always possible. The Mandello didn't turn out to be what I hoped for, maybe the Stelvio will be but I bought my last new bike. Yeah I know famous last words.   
kk

I have owned plenty of Harleys and it is a myth that ”many run 100.000 miles on same belt”. There is a few, but far from all. The worst of them all was Buell, total crap both the bikes and their belts.

[tazio]

 
 

[Bulldog9]

I've had ONE motorcycle with a chain since 1984............... I hated every second of it.

[krglorioso]

Do they make a conversion kit for my Bassa?   

By golly, Norm, you've hit on something here.  Try Harper's.

Ralph

 

[Perazzimx14]

I have owned plenty of Harleys and it is a myth that ”many run 100.000 miles on same belt”. There is a few, but far from all. The worst of them all was Buell, total crap both the bikes and their belts.

That's odd my 06 Uly used the same belt as several other Harleys.

[blackcat]

According to this forum, the belts on HD's can last from 40 to 80 to 130,000 miles. It all depends on conditions, etc. And the owner's manual recommends changing the belt at 100,000 miles.

https://www.hdforums.com/forum/general-harley-davidson-chat/1192559-drive-belt-how-long-do-they-last-2.html

[bacongrease]

According to this forum, the belts on HD's can last from 40 to 80 to 130,000 miles. It all depends on conditions, etc. And the owner's manual recommends changing the belt at 100,000 miles.

https://www.hdforums.com/forum/general-harley-davidson-chat/1192559-drive-belt-how-long-do-they-last-2.html

   Belt. Broke on the Needles highway on my FXR,  50000 miles.   Possibly my fault.  The belt  probably was too tight, and a lot of engine braking.  $900 repair. Fortunely did not have to pay a tow. The Shoulder from the white line was about 18".

[twowheeladdict]

   Belt. Broke on the Needles highway on my FXR,  50000 miles.   Possibly my fault.  The belt  probably was too tight, and a lot of engine braking.  $900 repair. Fortunely did not have to pay a tow. The Shoulder from the white line was about 18".

I hate getting caught on a gravel road with my Road Glide because a rock chip can do a lot of damage to a belt. 

A broken chain can and has cracked the case on a few motorcycles rendering the bike useless until a major repair is done. 

[brider]

I just saw a Duc Hypermoto in my work parking lot with a chain as dry as a bone, and the center rollers that ride the sprocket teeth were revealing rust underneath, on their pins. I thought of leaving a sticky note kindly suggesting he lube the chain, but then I thought nah, he'll just think I'm being a dick since the bike is so new can't I see it doesn't need any maintenance. Chains are NOT a big deal to maintain, 'specially on a road bike.

[Huzo]

   Belt. Broke on the Needles highway on my FXR,  50000 miles.   Possibly my fault.  The belt  probably was too tight, and a lot of engine braking.  $900 repair. Fortunely did not have to pay a tow. The Shoulder from the white line was about 18".

It will not be the engine braking that contributed to the break.
There is less torque on the pulleys on overrun, than that which is produced under acceleration, thus less tension.

BTW.
How do you achieve correct and constant tension on the belt, when each and every movement of the swingarm is acting to alter the centres between the front and rear sprockets ?
I accept that you can sort of “get away with it”, if the swingarm pivot is close enough to the front sprocket and a straight enough line between the front sprocket, swingarm pivot and rear sprocket centres.
Is this the case ?

[Dr. Enzo Toma]

A gentleman with some media coverage on him, Charlie Weisel "Traveling Chopper", has a Harley-Davidson chopper that is racking up long distance miles. 250k+ miles on the chopper. He's had stones punch holes through his belt drives (primary and secondary with no cover or guard on either), but treats the belts as consumables and carried extras as one would reasonably do while traveling cross country or internationally. Replacing either belt on an HD is a bit involved in my opinion, but replacing it on some other bikes like the Zero SR/F can be done in just a few minutes with only removing the belt guard. Almost as simple as replacing the belt on a bicycle where you only need to split the rear triangle to feed a new belt through.

BTW.
How do you achieve correct and constant tension on the belt, when each and every movement of the swingarm is acting to alter the centres between the front and rear sprockets ?
I accept that you can sort of “get away with it”, if the swingarm pivot is close enough to the front sprocket and a straight enough line between the front sprocket, swingarm pivot and rear sprocket centres.
Is this the case ?

The tension is not constant because the distance varies with suspension travel as you point out, same as with a chain. Achieving the recommended tension however is very easy with the right tool, a "Krikit" belt tension gauge. You simply press it against the belt until it clicks and then it has marked what the current tension is, then you make the necessary adjustment of moving the axle same as with a chain drive. The same company making many of the belts, Gates, also makes the tool and it's the same concept between motorcycle drive belts and bicycle drive belts.