2016 Diavel goes belt drive

[lucian]

Was admiring the new Diavel and was surprised to see this. Nice looking machine for a cruiser. Anyone know why the switch?



http://seacoastsport.com/listings/2016-ducati-x-diavel-s-black/

[rocker59]

Catering to the (cruiser) customer base, I'm sure.

[Bonafide Bob]

Belts are good and reliable for final drive.

[Kev m]

Belts are good and reliable for final drive.

I'm guessing they did it cause it works and it's easy.

I noticed just the other day that the Polaris Stryker or whatever that new car-like 3-wheeler they have which is big and powered by a 2.3 or 2.4L motor is using a belt final drive. That's gotta be some serious loads.

[JeffOlson]

I'm guessing they also did it to smooth the power delivery...

[leafman60]

Polaris Slingshot.

GM EcoBoost car engine.

[leafman60]

I really like the belt drive systems. Efficient, simple, light, low maintenance.

[lucian]

Are ratio ( sprocket ) changes an option w modern belt drives ? I have never owned a belt drive bike but I know a lot of HD guys w a sh#t load of miles on them without a single belt change. I imagine thy must run a lot of tension to keep them from stripping off teeth no?

[jas67]

I really like the belt drive systems. Efficient, simple, light, low maintenance.

 :1:   It was definitely a big factor in my choosing to purchase the F800GT.

[canuguzzi]

Belt drive is arguably the best final drive for a motorcycle. They last a very long time, are quiet and very efficient.

No lubing, no seals, no gears to wear out and easy to fix if something goes bad. They are also lightweight compared to shafts. Best of all worlds.

[kingoffleece]

EcoBoost is Ford.  SlingShot has a Cobolt motor.
Belts are great until they break or pick up a stone.  Changed three so far on my 2003 RoadKing. Stones will get trapped  between belt and sprocket and make a hole. All done at that point and 600 to change one as the swingarm needs to be removed. Thunderbird has coated final drive "sprocket" good for 50K.  Most belt drives are good for less than that.  The sprocket will wear.

Belts are a very good option-many like these as the best of both worlds.

[fotoguzzi]

I love my belt. changed it out at 20k so I'd have a spare.. it takes an hour or so to change on my Uly. once you line up all the tools which is different than working on a Guzzi that takes fewer and simpler tools for servicing.

[jas67]

EcoBoost is Ford.  SlingShot has a Cobolt motor.

Ecotec is the name for the motor, and yes, it is a GM motor that is used on the Cobolt.

[rocker59]

Belt drive is arguably the best final drive for a motorcycle. 

Best at what?

[oldbike54]

Best at what?

 At getting people to say it is the best kind of final drive 

  Dusty

[Doppelgaenger]

Are ratio ( sprocket ) changes an option w modern belt drives ?

In short, Not really. I'm sure it can be done, but you'd need a new belt that is fitted to "sprockets" and bike. It's not like a chain where you break it to length and install, and belts are up around $400. But almost all belt drive bikes have huge torque so there's not really any need to re-gear them. The only belt drive bike I can think of that comes even close to being a stunt bike is the Buell.

I see no reason for Ducati to run a chain. Belts are quieter, last longer and they're lighter... And best of all, they're CLEAN and don't need adjusting every five seconds. God I hated chain maintenance.

The only big downside I can think of for belts is that they don't do offroad because dirt gets between the belt and sprocket and destroys the sprocket.

[leafman60]

Ecotec is the name for the motor, and yes, it is a GM motor that is used on the Cobolt.

Okay, sorry.  Yes, Ecotec.  The Slingshot has the GM motor. It also has a shaft that drives the front part of the powertrain. The belt is the final drive.

[leafman60]

I've logged a lot of miles on H-D belts and never had a failure.

I built a high-powered Evo motor for a friend and had to shave 1/4 inch off his belt to fit his choice of tire on a custom-made Dymag wheel. He basically drag-raced the thing for several years and also toured(!) on it with no belt failure.

I have heard of rocks getting caught and poking through belts but that seems to be a rarity.

[rocker59]

At getting people to say it is the best kind of final drive 

  Dusty

LOL!  Ain't that the truth.

[rocker59]

I see no reason for Ducati to run a chain. Belts are quieter, last longer and they're lighter... And best of all, they're CLEAN and don't need adjusting every five seconds. God I hated chain maintenance.
 

On the Diavel, I guess that's true.  It's a boulevardier for non-traditional Ducati customers who probably came off a cruiser with a belt.

Otherwise, chains are stronger, have less power loss, have easy gear ratio changes, easy repair and replacement with master links.  And, when you count the (light) weight of the sprockets with the chain, they have little if any weight deficit vs. the belt and its heavy pulleys.  Not to mention the unsprung weight penalty of the belts' heavy rear sprockets, and their added rotational inertia...

But belts are the best.  Yeah.  That's it.  Belts are the best.

 

LOL!

[fotoguzzi]

Are ratio ( sprocket ) changes an option w modern belt drives ? 

not really, but you can easily change the primary drive and achieve the same thing.

[Lcarlson]

Despite the rumor mill and "spy shots ", it's not at all clear that production Diavels will have belt drive anytime soon. As a former Diavel owner, I hope they do (I hate chain final drive). But I'm skeptical.

[kingoffleece]

One of the fastest riders I've ever seen rides a Diavel in New England.  She, yes she, has NO problem keeping up with track guys on Speed Triples!

[Kev m]

I too have never had a belt failure with tons of miles on belts.

Yes, you can change sprocket ratios, though yes at a point you need to change the belt too.

I've only owned a few chain drive bikes, but I've never needed to change ratios on them anyway so that's a moot point for my usage.

Personally I'll take a belt or shaft drive bike over a chain any day.

[jas67]

not really, but you can easily change the primary drive and achieve the same thing.

Really?   For what bikes?

I changed the counter sprocket on my Monster 796 from 15T to 14T, as it came geared a little too tall.

The 796 is a bit rough under 4k RPM.     With the 15T, 6th gear was basically unusable below 75 MPH.    The gear change brings that down to a more reasonable 70 MPH, and makes launches smoother.

I certainly couldn't have made a primary gear change on this bike so easily.   I doubt that parts are even available to do so.

That said, I've never ridden another bike that I've felt compelled to change final drive ratio on.

[pyoungbl]

Belt vs chain...don't forget that the belt is wider and the sprockets are wider still. 

Peter Y.

[Kiwi_Roy]

Says it right in the blurb

Belt drive
The XDiavel is the first Ducati to use final belt drive. The system has been developed for XDiavel in order to guarantee reliable and safe power transmission. The benefits of the belt are silence, cleanliness, less maintenance and a fluid response when the throttle is twisted, as suits a Cruiser.

[fotoguzzi]

Really?   For what bikes?

probably any Harley, for sure the Buell, It's common to swap the XB9 primary into the XB12, more grunt less top end.

[Kev m]

probably any Harley, for sure the Buell, It's common to swap the XB9 primary into the XB12, more grunt less top end.

Yeah, I'm familiar with it for the Sportster motors.

I'm not sure BT owners are as interested in it, but mechanically it should be similarly simple.

[jas67]

Yeah, I'm familiar with it for the Sportster motors.

I'm not sure BT owners are as interested in it, but mechanically it should be similarly simple.

But, are the pulleys and belts any more available to change ratios on the primary than on the final drive?
Not that the typical market for Sportsters are going to care to change the ratio.

My comment was regarding, specifically my Monster 796, as in, if it was belt drive, the gearing change wouldn't have been a simple $30 sprocket.    I do prefer belt to chain for reasons previously stated, but, on this particular bike, I was happy to be able to change the gearing simply and inexpensively.