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SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl General Category >> The Cafe >> Opinion on removing the belt guard /cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1502785012 Message started by IslandRoad on 08/15/17 at 01:16:52 |
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Title: Opinion on removing the belt guard Post by IslandRoad on 08/15/17 at 01:16:52 I would like to remove the belt guard, for purely aesthetic reasons. I read a comment on this forum where someone described that as a newbie-mistake. Anyone got an opinion, or experience, about this? I don't carry a passenger so protection for the passenger's left foot is not going to be an issue. What could go wrong? |
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Title: Re: Opinion on removing the belt guard Post by Oldfeller on 08/15/17 at 01:50:00 You get in a bind, take a dab, in which case your leg and foot always move back some 'cause the bike is still movlng ...... then wham !! your pants cuff cycles around the pulley once and bangs your ankle up something fierce as the cloth gets sucked in while it is doing it ---- the yanking always shifts your weight on the seat some throwing your balance off ---- then you crash a little bit 'cause you lost your dab on the low side. Or, you stretch out a bit while cruising down the freeway and WHAMMO, your pants cuff gets caught and pulled in at high rpm ...... breaking your ankle or worse. Then you crash the rest of the way at 65 mph. |
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Title: Re: Opinion on removing the belt guard Post by IslandRoad on 08/15/17 at 02:02:48 Thanks Oldfeller, I hadn't considered that scenario. Good enough for me. The guard stays put. I'm not that desperate to look coo! |
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Title: Re: Opinion on removing the belt guard Post by Dave on 08/15/17 at 04:56:45 If you are talking about the chrome belt guard that is attached to the swing arm......about the only danger is the rear tire throwing crap onto the belt. Little stones can be wedged into the teeth and damage the belt or pulleys. My Cafe bike has a much smaller guard that is located where the front of the tire passes the belt. If you are talking about the pulley cover on the engine.....it is best to leave that in place as your shoe laces and pant leg can get caught between the belt and pulley. On my Cafe' conversion my foot is back by the pulley cover, and even with the pulley cover in place I did have my boot laces get blown into the narrow slots in the cover.....and the belt/pulley yanked my shoe laces off my boot! You could possibly trim the cover a little bit and reduce the size....without making the area too dangerous. |
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Title: Re: Opinion on removing the belt guard Post by Oldfeller on 08/15/17 at 05:51:08 To my knowledge Dave is the most graceful rider of all of us, and in all his years riding trials he never had to take a dab, ever, nor has he ever done anything dumb, like stretching his feet backwards (he stands up on the foot pegs instead). And yet Dave, DAVE no less, has had his laces snatched off his riding boots by a hungry belt and pulley. ::) enough said What do you think happens to the normal type folks like MM and me ? :-/ We bleed. |
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Title: Re: Opinion on removing the belt guard Post by IslandRoad on 08/15/17 at 06:23:50 Dave, yeah I was referring to the guard that covers the belt, not the one that covers the pulley. It's not a huge issue, just an idea I thought might make the bike look a bit more the way I want it to. Your comments have inspired me to consider having a go at making up something smaller. Ultimately, I would love to do a bobber conversion but I ride the bike all the time and would like to keep it road legal. Most of the distinctive aspects of a bobber are definitely not road-legal here. So I'm just trimming mine down a bit for a more minimalist look. I've been researching some options and I reckon I could probably come up with a legal-bobber but I'll have to wait until I can afford a second bike purely as a project. The Savage was only released here for a few years originally. So there aren't many cheap ones around. On the other hand the older bikes qualify for 'club plates' so registration can be simpler and cheaper. |
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Title: Re: Opinion on removing the belt guard Post by Serowbot on 08/15/17 at 06:32:00 Mine's been off for 10 years,... and I'm Dave's polar opposite. If there was a way to get myself tangled in the drive, I would have. Stay away from huge bell bottoms and flowy dresses and you'll be okay... :) When I was a teen, I had a Hodaka. In mid jump, my bell bottom pant leg caught in the chain and pulled my ankle tight to the engine case, killing the engine. When I landed, I couldn't get my foot to the ground, and the bike naturally fell to left onto the trapped leg. Ever try picking up a bike that has you nailed to it on the kickstand side?... It took some embarrassingly awkward gymnastics... ;D |
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Title: Re: Opinion on removing the belt guard Post by batman on 08/15/17 at 06:53:57 Rather than remove it I bobbed it just past the rear of the shock(I cut the curl off as I didn't like the look) the guard still provides protection for both me and my passenger.If your doing a bobber make the cut at a 45degree angle or to match the angle of your rear fender. |
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Title: Re: Opinion on removing the belt guard Post by verslagen1 on 08/15/17 at 07:35:34 That's what I've done on beast, been that way a couple of years. |
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Title: Re: Opinion on removing the belt guard Post by Dave on 08/15/17 at 08:37:19 57747C7E7D74747D6A180 wrote:
Thanks for the compliment....however my trials riding did have some creative spills now and then. One day I popped up onto a log and while I was balanced on the back wheel on top of the log......it turns out I was in 2nd gear and the engine stalled. I was too high to reach the ground, and the bike and I tipped over to the right side and I slid down a creek bank head first and stuck my helmet in the mud! My neighbor and his son were walking in our woods.....and got to see the whole thing! Look at the RYCA site and there are plenty of cut down belt guards to look at. Once fellow made cutouts and inserted screen - it looked cool. http://www.rycamotors.com/RYCA-customer-builds-page2.html |
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Title: Re: Opinion on removing the belt guard Post by gizzo on 08/15/17 at 11:48:31 My bobber's never had the pulley cover or the belt guard on. Hasn't caused me any problems. |
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Title: Re: Opinion on removing the belt guard Post by jcstokes on 08/15/17 at 12:33:02 Unless you intend doing extensive bobbing or modding, I don't really see the point, your resale on a stock bike may be better. |
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Title: Re: Opinion on removing the belt guard Post by justin_o_guy2 on 08/15/17 at 17:10:29 746E6A686957667573756E636062070 wrote:
Crash and get something that matters in a pinch point and that won't be true any more. The shields are there for the rare moment when you need it. |
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Title: Re: Opinion on removing the belt guard Post by IslandRoad on 08/15/17 at 17:36:45 646D7D7A61656B7D0E0 wrote:
I have considered the resale value. At the end of the day I've decided to make the bike they I want it to be, not the way I think the next owner might want it be :) Not that I have plans to sell it! |
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Title: Re: Opinion on removing the belt guard Post by IslandRoad on 08/15/17 at 17:37:17 Thanks for the feedback guys. Some really interesting comments there :) |
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Title: Re: Opinion on removing the belt guard Post by MMRanch on 08/15/17 at 19:44:45 What do you think happens to the normal type folks like MM and me ? We bleed. Motorcycles aren't dangerous enough ... now your thinking about taking the chain/belt guard off ??? ::) It doesn't weigh enough to justify the added hazard-ness. Just paint it so it don't show (satin or flat black ) |
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Title: Re: Opinion on removing the belt guard Post by IslandRoad on 08/15/17 at 21:03:17 MM, it's not about weight ... just looks 8-) My boss said to me "everything on a motorcycle is there for a reason". I don't doubt that, and I always think twice (and seek advice where possible) before making mods. However, sometimes the 'reason' is not always what we think it is. For example, I found a throttle restrictor in my bike. As best I can tell it was there for noise compliance reasons - Noise compliance on a stock S40!? Funny thing is, when I first bought a bike I said to my friend "I don't want to muck around working on it, I just wanna ride it". That's partly why I first bought a Ninja. But, motorcycling, and the S40, have taught me a lot about myself in a short time. I've discovered, among other things, I like to tweak ;D |
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Title: Re: Opinion on removing the belt guard Post by IslandRoad on 08/15/17 at 21:10:05 I'll offer another example, just because I've got a day off work and I'm in a chatty mood :) I'm swapping out my turn signals next weekend. I want them to look a specific way, but I also want them to be seen by car drivers, and not to let in water! I forked out 100 bucks a pair for quality billet aluminium signals with clear lenses and amber LEDs, and have had a hell of a time finding a minimalist mounting system that will put them at just the right spot for looks and visibility. However, it's been great fun, and very rewarding to manufacture my own brackets etc. And I get to spend a day with my son (who is a sparky) next weekend while he 'supervises' the re-wiring. This little bike is the gift that just keeps giving. |
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Title: Re: Opinion on removing the belt guard Post by xaman on 08/16/17 at 07:13:17 79435C515E54625F5154300 wrote:
I feel the same way. Please post some pics and a review of the signals when you get them mounted :) |
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Title: Re: Opinion on removing the belt guard Post by Serowbot on 08/16/17 at 07:34:13 0D3728252A20162B2520440 wrote:
Ask him about the chrome head covers that block our access to the spark plug... :-? |
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Title: Re: Opinion on removing the belt guard Post by IslandRoad on 08/16/17 at 14:39:11 435A565A553B0 wrote:
Will do :) :) |
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Title: Re: Opinion on removing the belt guard Post by IslandRoad on 08/16/17 at 14:42:08 2335223F27323F24500 wrote:
Ask him about the chrome head covers that block our access to the spark plug... :-?[/quote] Aren't they little mirrors so people can see who took the photo when you post an image of the bike on a forum? :) |
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Title: Re: Opinion on removing the belt guard Post by verslagen1 on 08/16/17 at 14:47:40 1B213E333C36003D3336520 wrote:
Ask him about the chrome head covers that block our access to the spark plug... :-?[/quote] Aren't they little mirrors so people can see who took the photo when you post an image of the bike on a forum? :)[/quote] Well... that explains why the crazed then melted after the 1st pic. ;D |
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Title: Re: Opinion on removing the belt guard Post by IslandRoad on 08/16/17 at 15:03:38 706374756A6761636837060 wrote:
Ask him about the chrome head covers that block our access to the spark plug... :-?[/quote] Aren't they little mirrors so people can see who took the photo when you post an image of the bike on a forum? :)[/quote] Well... that explains why the crazed then melted after the 1st pic. ;D[/quote] ;D ;D |
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Title: Re: Opinion on removing the belt guard Post by gizzo on 08/16/17 at 16:48:31 5D4244435E5968586850424E05370 wrote:
Crash and get something that matters in a pinch point and that won't be true any more. The shields are there for the rare moment when you need it. [/quote] Sigh ::) . This isn't my first rodeo, you know? I do realise the small risk presented by the choice I made. IR only asked what other people were doing so I shared my experience. I would never try to impose My values on the rest of you. I think that you guys are just as capable of making your own choices as I am. |
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Title: Re: Opinion on removing the belt guard Post by MShipley on 08/17/17 at 10:27:55 I don't run the belt guard......hope I never regret it. |
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Title: Re: Opinion on removing the belt guard Post by justin_o_guy2 on 08/17/17 at 10:56:03 Just a small deflector at each pinch point would be a good idea. |
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Title: Re: Opinion on removing the belt guard Post by IslandRoad on 08/17/17 at 12:50:55 687771766B6C5D6D5D65777B30020 wrote:
I like that idea JOG! My small saddlebags are probably larger deflectors than what you had in mind for the rear pinch point 8-). They are a bit contradictory to the minimalist look I'm working toward, but they're a practical necessity (and they are removable). I'm just picking little things on the bike and kind of tidying it up :) I've seen a photo of a bobber-style Savage that had a hidden battery, no air-box, and a very thin low seat ... and saddlebags. I wouldn't have expected that to work visually. But it actually looked great - for those times when "you ride a bad-ass bobber, but the missus wants you to pick up milk and bacon!" ;D |
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Title: Re: Opinion on removing the belt guard Post by Blade on 08/18/17 at 04:00:38 One Aussi without- |
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Title: Re: Opinion on removing the belt guard Post by IslandRoad on 08/18/17 at 22:02:49 Great looking bike! ... But I can't even imagine riding with those handlebars!! :o |
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Title: Re: Opinion on removing the belt guard Post by Blade on 08/19/17 at 02:43:58 It's all about the hand - foot relationship! |
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Title: Re: Opinion on removing the belt guard Post by jcstokes on 08/19/17 at 03:09:47 Blade appears to have significant forward controls, these may keep his feet and legs clear of the belt, if car drivers attack. But then again, they may not. |
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Title: Re: Opinion on removing the belt guard Post by justin_o_guy2 on 08/19/17 at 06:36:23 There is no danger of shoving a foot into a pinch point just rolling down the road. Sliding, all bets are off |
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