Chain or Belt? What's the difference?

[grotbag]

Why do some bikes have belts and others have chains.What's the difference?

[grotbag]

................. Helllllllloooooooooooo ............ anyone there?

[papasmurf]

Judging by the huge wedge of money a friend of mine has just paid out for a new belt on her Hardly Dangerous, (Yet another item to break because it was not replaced by the dealer at the suggested mileage), the main difference is price.
Personally I have a great deal of faith in belt drives, IF and only IF they are fully enclosed.

[grotbag]

do belts need the same sort of maintainance as chains then?



Off topic I know (sorry Spree, Rerb and Sam) but I'm now finding the HD knocking offensive. Whatever the reason you constantly repeat yourself papasmurf regarding your lady friends HD needs to stop. It read as if you're just baying for an argument each time. If you wanna knock HD at every opportunity do it here The Harley Sucks Website*-*bikerholic.com and not in the biker forum otherwise I will have to hit the button

YouTube - Smurf smoothie

[Bill CBF1000]

Originally Posted by grotbag

................. Helllllllloooooooooooo ............ anyone there?

Iza here but to answer your question .... DFK 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 ........

If its owt like when they went from timing chains to timing belts in car engines, it just means a opportunity to have to do more work and rip us off even more

[grotbag]

so chains are better then - ok bike's don't seem to 'look' the same with a belt

[papasmurf]

Originally Posted by grotbag

do belts need the same sort of maintainance as chains then?

A toothed belt drive IF it is enclosed should be good for 40000 miles, with no maintainence needed. (There may be some initial stretch that needs adjustment.)
Usually the pullies and belt are a comparable price to a chain and sprocket set.
It is possible to convert a wide range of chain drive motorcycles to belt drive.
I have no idea what the life is of a belt on the constantly variable drive used on Ridley motorcycles is, but they are low power machines.
There is, (or was) a practical BHP limit on belt drives on motorcycles, due to the width of belt needed for high BHPs.

[grotbag]

thanks for that, so belts could work out cheaper, all things considered?

[papasmurf]

Originally Posted by grotbag

thanks for that, so belts could work out cheaper, all things considered?

As long as no oil, grease or road debris can get anywhere near the belt.
(Or flakes of bad chrome plate off of the pullies, if the pullies are chrome plate.)

[BLACKPANTHER]

Originally Posted by grotbag

Why do some bikes have belts and others have chains.What's the difference?

A chain is made of chain, and a belt is made of, er, belting. Everyone feel free to
make use of my mechanical/technical expertise.