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Message started by jorge__mendez on 12/31/14 at 07:44:39

Title: Belt drive and chain drive difference?
Post by jorge__mendez on 12/31/14 at 07:44:39

I have been curious about why some bobbers have a belt drive and others go for a chain drive. What will that do and what are the ups and downs if I switch for a chain drive bike.

Thanks in advance

Title: Re: Belt drive and chain drive difference?
Post by Serowbot on 12/31/14 at 07:52:59

A chain allows for easier final drive gearing changes...

Some just think a chain is more "old school"...(actually a belt is older school than a chain)...
:-?...

The bad thing about going to a chain drive,.. is you have a chain drive...
Heavier, dirtier, more maintenance, shorter life....

Title: Re: Belt drive and chain drive difference?
Post by jorge__mendez on 12/31/14 at 08:00:57

5046514C54414C57230 wrote:

Does it affect with speed and torque?

Title: Re: Belt drive and chain drive difference?
Post by Serowbot on 12/31/14 at 08:14:53

Well, higher gearing will slow acceleration, but lower rpm at cruise...(not really needed unless you ride at speeds of 70mph+ often)....

...and a chains extra weight, works like a flywheel, slowing acceleration as well... (this is why racers will spend so much money trying to make their wheels, tires, and chains, lighter)...

Title: Re: Belt drive and chain drive difference?
Post by jorge__mendez on 12/31/14 at 08:46:16

Aaaahhh I get it now!

What are the advantages and disadvantages of sticking to belt drive?

Title: Re: Belt drive and chain drive difference?
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 12/31/14 at 09:18:09

The Immediate benefit IS, you don't gotta do nuthin...

Title: Re: Belt drive and chain drive difference?
Post by Dave on 12/31/14 at 09:20:55

7E7B66737179717A70716E676061707D7B140 wrote:

Aaaahhh I get it now!

What are the advantages and disadvantages of sticking to belt drive?

The advantage of sticking with the belt is that it lasts 4-5 times what a chain does....without all the mess and noise. A few folks have some squeaks - but I can't hear those high pitched noises anymore so I don't have any problem there. It is very low maintenance and very clean.

The disadvantage is that gearing changes are difficult...the only way you can accomplish that is by switching the front and/or rear pulleys to Kawasak pulleys - which takes a good bit of machining skills and equipment. Another disadvantage is that a steady diet of gravel roads can be a problem. You also are stuck with a single belt length - so making a custom hardtail conversion requires you to switch to chain drive.

Title: Re: Belt drive and chain drive difference?
Post by jorge__mendez on 12/31/14 at 10:10:21

Is there any tutorial on how to change those pulleys? I am not looking into changing to a hardtail, i heard it gives you lots of back problems and I am already f#$% up haha ..but i do have interested in learning how to change those pulleys because i want a smooth ride with this bike.

Title: Re: Belt drive and chain drive difference?
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 12/31/14 at 10:16:18

How is changing the pulley gonna get you a better ride?

Title: Re: Belt drive and chain drive difference?
Post by jcstokes on 12/31/14 at 10:19:25

I don't know if a chain conversion would make the ride smoother. As Dave points out, you would need your own lathe and very good tooling if you want to do it yourself. There were posts on how to do this but I can't direct you to them.

Title: Re: Belt drive and chain drive difference?
Post by jorge__mendez on 12/31/14 at 10:33:08

5A454344595E6F5F6F57454902300 wrote:

How is changing the pulley gonna get you a better ride?

idk, ask one with more experience than me man. Thats why im using the forum to learn 8-)

Title: Re: Belt drive and chain drive difference?
Post by HondaLavis on 12/31/14 at 11:17:10

I think JoG was trying to ask why you think changing pulleys will make your ride "smoother."
36332E3B393139323839262F28293835335C0 wrote:

I do have interested in learning how to change those pulleys because i want a smooth ride with this bike.

Are you referencing lower RPMs at cruise speed? Remember, it's a trade off. For lower high end RPMs, you lose some of your acceleration.

Title: Re: Belt drive and chain drive difference?
Post by Dave on 12/31/14 at 11:26:09

You need to ride your bike for a while before you decide you need more gearing.......I think I rode mine about 4,000 miles before I made the change. Any if you are over 200 pounds or ride double a lot - the stock engine most likely won't like the taller gearing. The first step up is to just to the front pulley.....then for more of overdrive feeling in 5th you can add the rear pulley conversion.

Here is the basic info for the pulley conversion. If you get the Kawasaki pulleys.....you just use the stock pulleys to tell you how much to machine off or where to drill holes. It is not rocket science....it is machinist math. The front pulley is really hard, and a carbide cutter is necessary for the machining.

http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1384949185

This is only worthwhile if you spend a lot of time on the open road. I changed both pulleys and I don't even shift into 5th at speeds below 60 mph. My bike is light and the motor is hopped up....it pulls 5th easily up to about 85 and then just runs out of power....faster speeds require that I shift back down to 4th for some extra rpms until I reach terminal velocity. A stock bike (weight and horsepower) might not do so well with both pulleys changed, and it you don't do 70 mph regularly you might not even like the changes doing just the front sprocket. Serowbot tried the front sprocket for a while...and switched back to stock.

One negative of the pulley conversion....is 1st gear gets to be really tall. If you are a new rider...this tall first gear may be an issue.

Title: Re: Belt drive and chain drive difference?
Post by jorge__mendez on 12/31/14 at 12:13:45

Wow so interesting. But i dont think i will need this conversion since I will be using this bike just to ride around town, not planning on going on open roads unless is needed.

I think as of right now since I am a newbie with all this, i will stick to what came with the bike and little by little as I get to understand more about modifying a motorcycle, i will get into stuff like this.

Maybe a dumb question but, what is the difference between acceleration and RPMs when it comes to a "trade off" with this conversion.

Title: Re: Belt drive and chain drive difference?
Post by Dave on 12/31/14 at 14:34:18

I have no idea what the difference in acceleration vs. speed is with the change in pulley ratios.......we seldom get into drag races with this bike. My goal was a nice comfortable cruise when I was on the highway.

Title: Re: Belt drive and chain drive difference?
Post by pgambr on 12/31/14 at 15:23:53

Has anyone done the chain conversion? I have a 16 / 43 combination on my KLR and it does wonderfully on the highway. It will maintain a speed of 70 mph at 4,650 rpms. I would really enjoy taking the s40 on tarmac more if I could duplicate those figures. I know rica offers that combination; although, it mentioned their are clearance issues. Thanks.

Title: Re: Belt drive and chain drive difference?
Post by Dave on 01/01/15 at 07:17:43

2235333F3020520 wrote:

Has anyone done the chain conversion? I would really enjoy taking the s40 on tarmac more if I could duplicate those figures. I know RYCA offers that combination; although, it mentioned their are clearance issues. Thanks.

Go into the Tech Section and look for the Chain Conversion thread. It discusses the gearing differences and several combinations are discussed.

Because the sprockets are much smaller than pulleys.....you do get clearance problems with the chain conversion. It would be easier for you to do the Kawasaki front pulley change.....which does make a noticeable improvement at highway speeds.

Title: Re: Belt drive and chain drive difference?
Post by Serowbot on 01/01/15 at 07:41:46

A stock geared Savage is about 4650rpm at 70mph...
Going to a 140/90-15 will lower that to 4550rpm...

http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1341162964

Title: Re: Belt drive and chain drive difference?
Post by busterboy on 01/01/15 at 17:11:54

I think some people convert to a chain because they are stretching the frame, and it's easier to get a chain to work (lengthwise)

Title: Re: Belt drive and chain drive difference?
Post by pgambr on 01/01/15 at 17:38:11

Dave & Serow:

Thanks for the insight. When I go to gearingcommander.com and when I plug in 16/43 they estimate a speed of 74.9 at 4550 rpms. That would be ideal; although, I really don't want to have to deal with any clearance issues. I don't have access to a lathe or anyone that probably has the expertise to do the work properly. I'll just keep using the belt and cruise about 65 - 68. It's not perfect, but it's pretty darn good.

Happy new year's :)