My thought are nice!!! Quite!!! maintence free!!! Clean!!! Other than that it would probably suck:lol: I see no reason why this would not work extremely well. Most harley's use a belt for the final drive ov course harleys are kinda light in the Horse Power department...
Have you ever used a belt drive go kart in the dirt sounds like a great idea but small rocks and dust eat the belt and make it run like a dying chain if not just snap cool idea but theres a reason most real (not harleys)motorcycles run off chain drive the only wide spread belt drive in an offroad vechicle I can think of is in snowmobiles but it is a closed system
Belts on motorcycles have very little side to side flexibility, so it may be possible to derail them like a chain but I believe that the derailers(FT) that are currently available may work but would mostlikely weaken the sides of the belt and eventually cut into it bringing the drive train to a quick halt. The rear would be a challenge in just getting the belt to go through the pulley system as belts do not posess the same pivot and flexability characteristics as a chain.:-k
most derailers use both sides of the chain they would work but they would have to be rollers cut in a V because you use both sides of the chain going through the cage. But liek J sims said side to no side flexibility would be a problem and if you made a belt that flexable you would have it skipping when torqued
This is very interesing because I was just thinking about this on Friday. I was slowly grinding up a hill on my fixie and I could hear the chain. I began to wonder if I could set it up as a belt drive. Apparently it can be done, but I don't think I'd do it on my fixie.
Hugh, Andy Rut and (I) were having this exact conversation last Thursday! Hope they chime in! In general, I like the idea of a belt drive. I am sure it has been well thought out. Will it stand the test of time? Not sure! Dust, dirt, rocks, mud, friction- How will the belt be affected? How soon between belt changes.... stretching... busted belt while riding.... do you carry a spare belt... alignment issues.... Like I said, I like the idea behind the belt drive. Until enough people "evaluate" them- :?: :?: :?: I have no comment!
Too many downs in my book. Can I go out of town, bust a belt, go to the bicycle section in wal-mart and get a belt? (I have done this in Utah for a brake cable!) What about the performance in mud, not that we have alot here. Pebbles getting in there. You need a belt specific frame(I have one(Jerico))! The main deal breaker for me is increased friction. It may be minimal but a chain will always be more efficient. I have a belt drive chopper, the belt is quiet and clean thats about it... HUGH
more pics...it appears that the main ring has cut out to perhaps drop the pebble/dirt? and a test result of belt vs chain
Interesting concept, but how so you do trailside repairs? Can you replace a "link" or shorten it to limp home? And what are the steps needed to replace it, assuming you carry a spare?
Hugh i think you should get one of these as a demo and you being the monster masher can put it to the TEST! there is a long discussion about this and changing tires on the other site HERE
I'm no engineer, but isn't a chain's ability to deflect laterally the very characteristic that allows it to be derailed easily? Either way, can you imagine the width (and weight!) of the "cassette" in a multi-gear setup? A modified Rohloff or similar might be the ticket. Checked out the Spot Brand site, and there's a nice close-up of the dropout and rear cog. The belt appears solid and continuous, but how do you suppose it gets routed over the chainstay?
