Savage_Greg wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:03:Yeah, but if I remember back to page 1, this topic is concerned with changing final drive ratios...not whether belts are cleaner or chains are narrower. We probably wouldn't have this discussion at all if there were optional pulley and belt sizes....me thinks.
You are right there Greg, if they made different size pulleys, I know a lot of you would be playing with ratios. I think that it might be an engineering challenge for the belt pulleys, when you think about it. If you look at the size of the STOCK pulleys, they are huge compared to the chain sprockets OD's, even for the same ratio. I'm not sure how much smaller you could go with the front pulley without throwing a belt, and you sure can't go bigger because of lack of room. It looks like you would only be able to play with the back pulley to change ratios. I don't know what the price of the back pulley is, but I know the back sprocket is a lot more than the front, and the front is a lot simpiler to change once you get the nut off the first time. I just looked up the price for a Harley back pulley, OEM is $230. As I said before, I have had nothing but bad luck with belts, and years of no trouble with chains. The new chain lubes are awesome, no mess, and I just like being able to fix things quickly. The playing with ratios is a VERY big plus.
As long as the chain is checked frequently and adjusted, along with the other spot checks, like oil and bolt tightness, there is no problem. If You just want to start and go,and never check anything, then all I can say is GOOD LUCK with anything you own. Everyone has there preference, mine happens to be chain.