Chain or Belt? What's the difference?

[grotbag]

dont give up the day job just yet Carl

[Spree]

Belts are also used because they sap the horsepower slightly less. They work better than chains and are much more reliable when speeds and loads are pretty constant. The biggest problem with any bike engine is the hugely variable speeds that they are subject to.

I honestly can't think why Harley went so heavily down the belt route with their bikes because although the V twin isn't that revvy, they are subject to a hell of a lot of torque and they don't cope with that too well. They seem to have overcome it with using a lot of carbon fibre in the laminate.

Papasmurf, I have a few mates who run Harleys and none have had ANY trouble at all with them but they are less than 5 years old. So I would suggest your lady friend forgets a bike and gets back in the car. If she had any brains she would have either made sure that the service history was up to date and done properly or that the dealer did their job when she took it in.

personally never liked the idea of driving on a glorified elastic band, preferring steel chains and cogs which dont slip when wet, but never having ridden a belt drive ........

They have teeth Bill and don't slip. They stretch less than chains too as they are a lot stronger. The problems start when a foreign object gets between the teeth and sprocket as they run a lot tighter than a chain.

Originally Posted by Spree

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Papasmurf, I have a few mates who run Harleys and none have had ANY trouble at all with them but they are less than 5 years old. So I would suggest your lady friend forgets a bike and gets back in the car. If she had any brains she would have either made sure that the service history was up to date and done properly or that the dealer did their job when she took it in.

The service history, (at least the stamps in the book from 5 or 1/2 dozen Harley agents) is comprehensive. The problem is whenever I check anything on the bike it is very ******* obvious than NOTHING has been done to the bike since it left America except perhaps the engine oil has been changed.
My friend is not the only Harley owner (or to be more accurate ex Harley owner) who I know who has had the same problems.
As I stated elsewhere here and I told Harley Europe when I phoned them up to complain about my friend's bike, had I been caught out with buying it myself I would kneecap every so called Harley "mechanic" who was supposed to have serviced the bike, and put a stamp in the service book.

[Spree]

I would kneecap every so called Harley "mechanic"

Does that mean swinging the hammer at shoulder height

If she had any brains she would have either made sure that the service history was up to date and done properly or that the dealer did their job when she took it in.

Please read the comments thoroughly when responding to posts

[nice111]

i have had bikes with belts and they are great i wish they all had belts, they dont slip at all as they have teeth on them and they are maintenence free unlike you constant cleaning and oiling of chains,not to mention the oil of a chain getting sprayed up you back wheel aswell, and best of all they helpsmooth out gear changes as the ruber absorbs much the "kick" that is produced durng gear selection and de-clutching, its simple really if your asking this question then there must be something you like about belt drive so just go for it, if you have already ridden a chain drive you will tell the difference straight away

[grotbag]

Thanks for responding you guys and nice