Well, maybe I should stay out of this, having zero belt-drive experience, but my curiosity continues.
Question for Klaus (or anyone) regarding steel wire reinforcing of the belt. It seems Klaus is saying no steel in the belt but I'm not completely sure that's what he means. I AM sure the belt is not supposed to stretch.
Then, there is the point of belt slack providing cush. Isn't the belt always in tension, either on the top or bottom run, and doen't this apply to chains, as well? In any case, I'm having trouble seeing yanking on the belt or chain as equivalent to cush.
Finally, there is the issue of what I think is an unusual amount of spline wear that I have guessed is due to lack of cush. Anyone disagree that this is the likely cause?
Finally, finally, the experience of two race riders with regard to the benefits of cush, or lack thereof, might be very different from us joy riders. Is it unreasonable to think that race riders have an expectation of frequent engine and clutch rebuilds on their race bikes?
Finally, finally, finally, I am not ignoring or disagreeing with Klaus' heavily experinced recommendation for belt drives, just curious about open questions.
Richard L.
Hi Richard,
for you I read in the producktion line from the belts I drive.
They are lined with a glascord tensioncord, to avoid streching
Norton or Triumph belts, I gues they are Harvards have stainles steel wire cords inside.
I m lucky if a belt fails, that there is no wraping the wire cord around the clutch or the pully.
It s only a few minutes to fit a new one.
In my tankbag is every time a spare belt but all the years I dont use a one.
About the tension, I mm sure in other engieneering the tension is much stronger.
But in case driving on a cluth the tension had to be low.
By running the engine and chlutch get hot and so the pully and the chlutchbasket, its minimal in extension but the belt get tighten.
Finally, this spline wear can only be done by a losen chush drive.
Finally, Finally...hmmm I do a hight amount of milage every year ( about 20.000 miles) with my beesas, and I think its a big advantage to drive the belt.
For rider how only puddle around the block, with a low milage can save the money for this goody.
Finally, Finally, Finally, hope I could wash away any doubts.
cheers Klaus