Gen 1 With Belt Conversion

[ionescu_george_bz]

Hello people of the Forum!
I have bought myself this Sunday a Gen 1 with belt conversion. The previous owner was unable to tell me where the kit was bought from but from my research i think it might of been from these guys, or these guys. I really like the bike, it rides butter smooth.
I am interested to know if there are others around here with a kit like this, and what are their impressions so far.

[robbo]

Well, that's certainly different. But begs the question why? Unless the previous owner was allergic to chain lube .

[ionescu_george_bz]

Well, that's certainly different. But begs the question why? Unless the previous owner was allergic to chain lube .

Because it's low maintenance 

[b1k3rdude]

Well the bigger questions that spring to mind are -

• how safe is it, will it pass an MOT?
• how close does the belt pass to the frame, swingarm and the front pulley to the front sprocket cover.
• Is the mod reversible?
• How good is the rear pulley mod? as it looks like its half sprocket and half pully.
• What are the guidelines for aligning and tensioning the belt?
• I can see the bottom belt guide cleverly re-uses the mounting hole for the original chain guide, but where does it bolt to near the rear sprocket/pulley end..?
• How does this mod effect the accuracy of the speedo..?

I guessing that there is next to no drive train noise now..?

[robbo]

Just seems a backward step to me. The FZS1000 has far more power than a 1200 Harley Sportster. The first mod to be considered if tuning one of those, is to convert it to chain drive.

[ionescu_george_bz]

Well the bigger questions that spring to mind are -

• 1-how safe is it, will it pass an MOT?
• how close does the belt pass to the frame, swingarm and the front pulley to the front sprocket cover.
• Is the mod reversible?
• How good is the rear pulley mod? as it looks like its half sprocket and half pully.
• What are the guidelines for aligning and tensioning the belt?
• I can see the bottom belt guide cleverly re-uses the mounting hole for the original chain guide, but where does it bolt to near the rear sprocket/pulley end..?
• How does this mod effect the accuracy of the speedo..?

I guessing that there is next to no drive train noise now..?

• i'm not sure about the MOT, i live in Germany and the kit is TÜV approved so no issues here
• i will make some more pictures but the closest i've seen it so far is at the crankcase (see pictures)
• yes it is reversible because everything just mounts on what you have, nothing is cut or modified (except the tap for the bottom guard bolt?)
• half sprocket half pulley? no it's a pulley mounted on the OEM pinion carrier an it is made from hardened aluminium
• for alignment use the same method like a chain (markings on the swing arm) and for tensioning the same procedure like on a Harley (the belt is almost the same as the belt on some '97-'03 Harleys)
• it has a screw tapped (i think) in the swing arm underneath (see picture)
• i'm not sure, i have to see the teeth count

[b1k3rdude]

Gotta say, its very cool seeing new tech on older bikes. and the lack of chain lube everywhere must be awesome :-)

When the pandemic allows, I would be interested to know what the dyno curve of the bike with this mod on it would be like.

[Gnasher]

Belts are fine to a point, power is not their forte i.e. an FZ1000 (140ish) is pushing it I'd say.

Check adjustment about 5k, Harley's are said to last up to 100k although I've never seen that.   Average 30 - 40k like a chain it depends on power and how you ride it, they're so much quieter too.  There's no snatch in the belt, so much smoother ride, gear change and low maintenance, that's often their down fall, owners for get them and they snap.   

They just don't like too much water/mud/grit/sand or too many wheelies, they're also impossible to fix if they snap, replacement only, no adding a link to get you home etc. 

[ionescu_george_bz]

Belts are fine to a point, power is not their forte i.e. an FZ1000 (140ish) is pushing it I'd say.

Check adjustment about 5k, Harley's are said to last up to 100k although I've never seen that.   Average 30 - 40k like a chain it depends on power and how you ride it, they're so much quieter too.  There's no snatch in the belt, so much smoother ride, gear change and low maintenance, that's often their down fall, owners for get them and they snap.   

They just don't like too much water/mud/grit/sand or too many wheelies, they're also impossible to fix if they snap, replacement only, no adding a link to get you home etc.

The ride is as quiet and as smooth as possible. Being a mechanic in a Harley dealership and custom bikes builder gave me the chance to work with a lot of them and i daily work with huge bikes  throwing tons of torque  through belts half the width of this one. I'm not a fan of wheelies so that's not an issue for me. Yes if it snaps you get stranded. I will look into how easy would it be to change the belt on the side of the road and if it's not i'm going to change to chain for very long rides like the one i'm now planning for this summer to my home country Romania.

[BBROWN1664]

they're also impossible to fix if they snap, replacement only, no adding a link to get you home etc. 

And being endless, its a swing arm off job to change too.