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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Belt drive vs. chain drive?
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Message started by Savageman on 12/15/15 at 21:54:11

Title: Belt drive vs. chain drive?
Post by Savageman on 12/15/15 at 21:54:11

If converted to chain drive we can change ratios. But what does it do to rideability if a taller ratio is achieved with sprockets? Is the power band so wide that it really doesn't matter?

Title: Re: Belt drive vs. chain drive?
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 12/15/15 at 22:05:08

There is a complete story about swapping it to chain in the Tech section. I couldn't find it, maybe you can. Barry Hutchinson did the groundbreaking and someone else decided to do it alongside.
Barry died about mid 2012, I think.

Title: Re: Belt drive vs. chain drive?
Post by gizzo on 12/15/15 at 22:06:26

The power band is so wide that when I get to third (4 speed box) I rarely have to change gears until the next traffic lights. The rubber belt does a wonderful job of smoothing out driveline snatch and vibrations. And no tensioningor chain lube mess to worry about. I love it. I'd have all my bikes belt drive if it were an easy conversion.
I don't really care about the ratios and if it could be different. I just ride it for what it is. YMMV etc.

Title: Re: Belt drive vs. chain drive?
Post by Dave on 12/16/15 at 01:58:07

There is a Table of Contents in the Tech Section, and it has a lot of information available there.
http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1181745927

The Chain thread is here:
http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?board=tech;action=display;num=1174239333

The Kawasaki Pulley change is here:
http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1384949185

Both will work with the stock engine HP - but will slow the acceleration down some. And....your 4th gear will get a lot more use as sometimes 5th is just geared too high after the change. A modified engine makes the taller gearing work better, as the increased power restores the performance lost with the taller gears.

Title: Re: Belt drive vs. chain drive?
Post by Yoshi on 12/16/15 at 19:40:32

The chain conversion makes the savage more highway friendly with the chain confersion, I did it but then sold the savage. Are you interested in a chain coversion? I stll have mine but no Savage ;)

JTR816-43 REAR SPROCKET
JTR513-17 FRONT SPROCKET
530 VOLAR O-RING CHAIN 120 LINK

Title: Re: Belt drive vs. chain drive?
Post by chzeckmate on 12/17/15 at 06:19:26

6475645D515F5546475F5D340 wrote:

Did you have chain clearance issues with the 43 rear? I've been thinking of doing the conversion but I was thinking that a 48 rear and a 19 front would work.