Re: [ST] Getting the shaft (why not belt?)

[Steve Hays <shays_adp@xxxxxxxxx>]

Can anyone tell me why doesn't any (other than Harley
and the smallest BMW) use belt drive?  With a
tensioning wheel (see Buell's XB's, the Firebolt and
the Lightning), it has nearly the same zero
maintenaince that a shaft enjoys and doesn't suffer
from the drivetrain lash that my ST suffers miserably
from.  Belts are good for 25-50K miles (depending on
application), and cost about the same to replace as a
chain.  The only downside I can see is the lack of
ability to chain sprockets -- which would be crucial
for racing, but NOT crucial for a sport touring bike
(or hooligan bike, or touring-sport bike, or cruiser,
etc, etc).

If anyone is thinking to themselves "what drive
lash?", ride your ST down to a HD/Buell dealership and
take thier offer to test ride a Firebolt, Lightning,
(assuming you don't have an a$$hole HD dealership
nearby -- they're are plenty of those for certain). 
After spending some time on a Lightning, I am
convinced that for a street application, the self
tensioning belt is the way of the future.

Steve Hays
'99 Sprint ST

- --- "David W. Funk" <dwf@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> On Fri, 28 Mar 2003 18:39:26 -0800, Donald Olson
> wrote:
> 
> >when, o when is Triumph going to make a shaft
> driven
> >>sport-tourer? <<<
> >
> >Shaft drive and sport bikes? Nah! Too heavy too
> much parasitic drag and 
> way
> >too much power robbing friction. Too hard to set up
> the suspension 
> also.When
> >the race bikes use it then I'll consider it. Until
> then I'm not ready for a
> >rolling couch yet.
> 
> Shaft drive for a Sport-Tourer, not pure sport bike.
> With todays motors, like 
> the R1 and GSXR1000, losing a little HP to a shaft
> would be unnoticable.
> BMW and Moto Guze (sp?) have both race shaft bike
> with success.
> 
> David W. Funk
> '94 BMW K75S + '00 Triumph Sprint ST
> Pleasanton, CA
> 
> 
> 
> 
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