Why do you have to buy a drive belt, especially for a bike that is only 3 years old?    We got '87 year models running their original belts and other folks running belts with holes in them from rocks poking thru --

Them durn belts are practically indestructible and immortal and you killed one in jest 3 years?

Wassup?

Jest curious ....

I've got one but it's not an '07

You named them correctly.


YOU DO NOT NEED A NEW BELT


Final fix for the sqeak is to bevel the edge of the teeth tops with a small angle grinder (take off the top edge of the tooth form shoulder, leave the flat part as is).   A 15' to 20' angle would be about right.  Don't remove very much material.

This works forever.

presquile wrote on 05/02/10 at 12:39:08:

I'll hope for the best and think they meant the dressing may last...

I've been able to fix several squeaking belts by simply aligning the rear wheel.

Jack the rear up, bike in neutral, spin wheel and watch the belt.
If it tracks to the side, loosen the axle bolt and loosen the axle adjuster on side it tracks to.
repeat spinning the wheel the opposite way.
If you can get the belt off the edges going both ways, it shouldn't squeak.

dressing is for turkeys and ...

I still say... 'check it yourself'

the dealer isn't interested in making you happy if it don't cost you a dime.

When I bought my bike in july, the belt was quiet. Later when the mornings got cold it screeched perdy good, but only for a mile or so. As the mornings are warming again, not a sound. No sign of misalignment whatsoever. But once you guys told me what the noise was, I didn't care at all. And for 400 bucks, that sucker could screech all day long everyday, and I wouldn't care !

A lot of mis-information exists about "belts" in general because Harleys use a rubber belt that has a finite life span.

Our belt is made of hard plastic (and I do mean HARD TOUGH plastic) and large diameter tire cord material in the flat portion.  

It is made to be a Bando industrial power transmission belt and it is grossly over spec'd as a motorcycle drive belt.  It is wider, stronger and tougher than a Harley belt.

Little cracks on the flat part are OK and simply happen with time -- the belt is waffled to allow the plastic to bend as much as possible but little cracks occur as the miles rack up.  Remember, it is the strong tire cord hidden inside the flat part that holds the belt together and the little cracks mean nothing to the endless wrap of tire cord inside the flat part.

Remember -- it isn't made of rubber.  It cannot "dry out" or dry rot.  Little cracks on the flat part are meaningless -- the cords keep on being cords and the teeth keep on being hard plastic teeth.


Wait until you try to grind those teeth tips with your little grinder -- that is some more tough plastic !!!



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You can take care of your own bike -- this is a very simple durable machine and is very easy to work on.    

We all do it ourselves.    

Quit giving your hard earned money to the stealership for bad advice and poor (uneducated) service.   Spend less money and get better upkeep, that's our motto.