I've often wondered . . .

[Bill Huson]

how long a Harley Davidson drive belt lasts. Now I know. 15 years.

Blew the belt off my `93 scoot on Bryces Creek road. Yep, there it was laying on the road like a road-kill snake. My fun budget is gonna take a huge cash hit, but it's better than the alternative = chains. By now I'd be on my 3rd or 4th chain and at least second set of sprockets, not to mention all the fussing with chain adjustment.

Lucky me, only a few blocks from home. I'm strolling past the collection of nieghbor moms and their pack of playing rugrats and they're going "what Happened?"

Me: "A Harley rider walking home, what a surprise!"

[Gootz 142M]

How many....

how long a Harley Davidson drive belt lasts. Now I know. 15 years.

Blew the belt off my `93 scoot on Bryces Creek road. Yep, there it was laying on the road like a road-kill snake. My fun budget is gonna take a huge cash hit, but it's better than the alternative = chains. By now I'd be on my 3rd or 4th chain and at least second set of sprockets, not to mention all the fussing with chain adjustment.

Lucky me, only a few blocks from home. I'm strolling past the collection of nieghbor moms and their pack of playing rugrats and they're going "what Happened?"

Me: "A Harley rider walking home, what a surprise!"

How many miles on that belt before it broke?

[Bill Huson]

low miles . . .

How many miles on that belt before it broke?

40K. If one piled the miles on the dang belt could go over 100K, but like all belt/hose thingers, the environment eats them up. Best I ever got out of a chain on my previous half-dozen bikes was about 12K.

[Jeff Akers]

Bill, What is the cost of a replacement belt vs a chain and sprockets...?

Lucky you were close to home.

[Bill Huson]

$$$

Bill, What is the cost of a replacement belt vs a chain and sprockets...?

Lucky you were close to home.

My last experiance with chains was in the 80s. My `81 Suzuki 550 had an O-ring chain that was upposed to last more'n 20K. It made it to 12K. New O-ring chain was close to $90, standard chain less than $30. That fact and the fact that replacing a one-piece chain is a PITA switched me to standard chains. They go for 8K-10K. I seem to recall a set of sprockets whacked me for $50 or $60 back then. I assume prices have risen over the last 20 years.

Harley drive belt about $200 (2008 price). No sprocket change required unless one wants to diddle with the final drive ratio. Replacement is a major PITA. Probably about $300 labor. Around the same in modern dollars to replace an O-ring chain. Since I'm lazy and suffer from PITA avoidance, I pushed the Hawg into a parking spot and called the dealer - Pick `er up and fix it, call me when she's done - thank you.

[Jeff Akers]

Sounds about right, I have 17K on my stock chain (1000cc V-twin Suz). looking like it's going to run me about $220 for everything less labor..I'll do it myself ........As far as adjustments go, I have always had them done when it was time for new rubber.

Ride safe

[sam]

Jeff, I did most of my street riding at the beginning of the "Super Bike" era; chain technology was pretty far behind motor technology back then. There was no way you could get away with only adjusting the chain when you changed rubber. I started riding in 1968, things have improved dramatically from the time when anything over 50 hp was "powerful"

[Jeff Akers]

I agree with you Sam, I can't beleave my stocker has lasted this long and I'm terrible when it comes to chain maintenance , and brobly should have replaced it 3k ago

My old 70's-80's dirt bike chains would go away in no time too, the new ones with O-ring,X-rings,etc are far better and last 2x longer.........but then again the price has trippled, LOL........the price we pay for technology!

[Gootz 142M]

Thanks

40K. If one piled the miles on the dang belt could go over 100K, but like all belt/hose thingers, the environment eats them up. Best I ever got out of a chain on my previous half-dozen bikes was about 12K.

Cool, I have a ways to go on my HD...

[Skoontz]

What I thought was pretty amazing was at the Winter nationals in Pomona. They brought back Super Stock bikes to the main show after everyone was complaining about those stupid computer assisted bracket cars of which I refuse to spend my money to watch.

So, the usual sewing machines show up...And also team of Buell/Harleys. 4 in all to be exact. We thought the crotch rockets were going to run away with things as they usually do. The HD's had 10MPH on the Jap bikes, and 1 full second quicker. Final speed was like 212 while the Jap bikes hit about 202/204

What was more amazing, is those Buells, with 14" wide slick, had stock Harley belts to drive them.... I knew the belt drives were pretty amazing, but I never thought a rubber belt could be that strong

[Bill Huson]

Recent belt upgrades . . .

caused by the Buell and VRSC models. The early H-D drive belts were good to about 105 hp at the rear wheel. Not a problem with my EVO powered FLHS, stock factory hp is 52, close to 65 hp with the minor mods I've made. Those who seriously modified their engines and tried to honk out at WFO throttle stripped the teeth off the early belts. Harley upgraded the belts to handle production models with bunches of horsepower.

Yes, a Harley will honk out, but I'm happy with my lame cruiser. Although I did redo the suspension to get rid of the FLH wobble and weave.