pipeking said:
3DTOPO said:
Well as you point out the primary is a belt drive and I have had absolutely no problems with it and all I ride is off-road.
As to why dirt bikes have chains, I suppose it's for a number of reasons. Chains can handle mud much better and can be a couple percent more efficient than belt-drives. One of the primary benefits of going with belt drive is it is much quieter, but I am sure that isn't a concern on IC bikes since you can't hear the chain over the engine.
Uh well, I have. Had problems with my primary drive getting packed with mud and whining... you think a belt is quiet? wait til the pulley gets packed with mud.
Did you see the photo Adam put up of the wear on his primary drive gears from dirt? I did. He upgraded to a primary chain drive because he is doing proper off road stuff...
Na honestly as the dirt bike guys, they don't use belt drive on any motocrosser
Belt snaps when your miles from home, your walking. Chain, and you just use your spare link (always got one, taped to bars)
You raise some good points. It wouldn't be very difficult to carry a spare belt but would be a huge PITA to change on the trail compared to putting a new masterlink on (which I also carry with me).
I did get my Sur Ron early enough last Spring to ride under wet conditions, and while the ground was wet, it was never sloppy muddy. For where I live that is about as muddy as it gets and I never had a problem with the primary belt.
That said, if the primary belt did fail on me now - that would be a potentially very long walk home! I haven't been carrying a spare belt with me, and I am guessing that one would be even more a PITA to change on the trail. For that reason, I think I will consider converting the primary to chain too. Do you know where it is available? As a bonus, it might run a couple percent more efficient too.