SuzukiSavage.com - Narrowing the stock belt?

Armen

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Narrowing the stock belt?
11/13/16 at 15:46:59

I love the belt drive, but the width is almost comical. Unless Suzuki has found the world's weakest belts, it seems that 1-1/2" wide is a bit much. If I were to guess, I'd say Suzuki picked that with because it looks cool.

Besides being goofy looking, it kicks the left shock out so far the bike looks bowlegged.
I found an outfit that can narrow down the belt, and in fact has modified belts for other bike applications. Of course that means modifying the sprockets as well, but I'm game for that.
Just wondering if anyone else thought about or tried this?
Not asking for permission, just information.
thanks,
-Armen

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Gary_in_NJ Serious Thumper Offline LS650 Cafe Racer Posts: 2633 Amongst the Twisty Roads	Re: Narrowing the stock belt? Reply #1 - 11/13/16 at 16:19:11 Why not go to a chain? Changing gear ratios is easy, it's appropriate for a cafe racer and it's a lot less work then modifying the existing pulley system. I'm upgrading to an x-ring chain, want my roller?
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Armen Serious Thumper Offline Half-Witted Wrench-Jockey from Jersey Posts: 1452	Re: Narrowing the stock belt? Reply #2 - 11/13/16 at 16:20:58 I prefer a belt to a chain. Clean and quiet. No adjustments.
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norm92de Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 1180 El Paso TX Gender:	Re: Narrowing the stock belt? Reply #3 - 11/13/16 at 21:07:17 I like the idea too but it will be a lot of work for a small gain in appearance. It would have been nice if Suzuki had made the belt 1" wide in the first place. Even a Hardly has a narrower belt?
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Violent_Rage Senior Member Offline Burp! Posts: 282 Trento - Italy Gender:	Re: Narrowing the stock belt? Reply #4 - 11/13/16 at 23:48:18 I'm wondering if in some way you can use the Harley Parts.
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Dave

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Re: Narrowing the stock belt?
Reply #5 - 11/14/16 at 03:12:37

The Kawasaki EN454 and the KZ750 used a Bando belt that was the same width as the Savage - but in a different length. I use the EN454 front pulley and KZ750 rear pulley to do the double pulley conversion to get better gearing for cruising.

The Kawasaki KZ440 used a narrower belt. The rear pulley from this bike can come in the 65 tooth pulley.....but they are a bit heavy as they are cast iron, and it adds a couple of pounds to the rear wheel - and they also come in a 60 tooth version that most likely would make for too high of gearing and I have no idea what length belt you would need. You will need to adapt the 4 bolt mount to a 6 bolt mount for the Savage to use a KZ440 pulley in the rear.

65 tooth:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1982-Kawasaki-KZ440D-KZ440-D4-Rear-Belt-Drive-Pulley-...

The 60 tooth version appears to have an aluminum center and a cast iron outer section:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/S33-NOS-OEM-GENUINE-KAWASAKI-80-83-KZ440D-60T-NEW-REA...

When I did my Cafe' conversion....I put the license plate over on the left side to hide the offset shock and bulky belt drive.

Here is the home page for the folks that build the Savage and Kawasaki belts...it would be nice if you could get some strength values from them.
http://www.bandousa.com/

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« Last Edit: 11/14/16 at 05:31:24 by Dave »

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ohiomoto Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 2772	Re: Narrowing the stock belt? Reply #6 - 11/14/16 at 05:18:37 Dave, you forgot the link to the "home page" you mentioned. Armen likes to put lots of holes in everything. I'm seeing an opportunity for more holes!
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Dave YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 18101 Camp Springs, Kentucky Gender:	Re: Narrowing the stock belt? Reply #7 - 11/14/16 at 05:32:00 ohiomoto wrote on 11/14/16 at 05:18:37: Dave, you forgot the link to the "home page" you mentioned Sorry....fixed it! http://www.bandousa.com/
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Ruttly Serious Thumper Online Thumpers Rule Posts: 5111 Manteca , CA Gender:	Re: Narrowing the stock belt? Reply #8 - 11/14/16 at 06:48:20 Gary , Let me know how that xring chain works out , I didn't have side clearance with the oring chain I have and went with a standard chain !
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Kris01 Serious Thumper Offline Eat, sleep, RIDE! Posts: 3767 Tennessee Gender:	Re: Narrowing the stock belt? Reply #9 - 11/14/16 at 18:42:17 ohiomoto wrote on 11/14/16 at 05:18:37: Armen likes to put lots of holes in everything. I'm seeing an opportunity for more holes! You noticed too?
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justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: Narrowing the stock belt? Reply #10 - 11/14/16 at 19:58:43 Armen really wanted to be a dentist.
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Armen

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Re: Narrowing the stock belt?
Reply #11 - 11/23/16 at 17:58:32

Holes?
Since you mention it...
Here is the rear pulley with a few holes and windows. I arbitrarily picked a width of 1 1/8", down from the stock 1 1/2". I prob could go to 1", but decided to err on the side of caution.
Found a guy who can narrow down the belt. Will figure out how I want to deal with the front Kawi pulley next. The stock rear Suzi-Q rear pulley weighs 5 lbs, which is WAY more than an aluminum sprocket. At least the belt is lighter than a chain.
Got the weight of the pulley down to 4 lbs. Have to make a new retaining/shoulder plate for the machined-off outer. Drilled and tapped 4mm holes in the perimeter to screw the new plate on.
Goal is to be able to move the shock directly over the existing lower mount by using a clevis on the bottom of the shock.

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Rear_pulley_Savage.JPG

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Armen Serious Thumper Offline Half-Witted Wrench-Jockey from Jersey Posts: 1452	Re: Narrowing the stock belt? Reply #12 - 11/24/16 at 06:10:49 A little clearer. Holes and windows. Width narrowed by 3/8". Holes drilled for 4mm bolts to hold the new (not-yet-made) outer ring. I'll dummy it up and see how much shock clearance this gives me.
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norm92de Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 1180 El Paso TX Gender:	Re: Narrowing the stock belt? Reply #13 - 11/24/16 at 12:55:43 Nice job Armen. You really are a determined fellow aren't you. Make sure you keep us up to date with plenty of pictures.
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Armen Serious Thumper Offline Half-Witted Wrench-Jockey from Jersey Posts: 1452	Re: Narrowing the stock belt? Reply #14 - 11/24/16 at 14:17:37 Thanks Norm. Will do!
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