Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Yeah maybe so

RockBottom wrote:

motokid wrote:I have a belt driven MC and I'm not impressed at all. can hardly imagine MTB with the belt.

K

Why so? What's unimpressive about the belt drive?

they collect road debris - in particular small rocks. Then they get stuck and start eating into belt teeth and sprockets. That's especially the case after driving on freshly paved streets - asphalt aggregate pieces would glue themselves into the belt.

In order for them to work, they must be fully enclosed.

So, in a hindsight, I'd rather do periodic maintenance in my garage than inspecting the belt with my fingers after every suspicious part of the road.


As for the bicycle chains, they do stretch and eat into the cogs, so periodic replacement is necessary. Usually it's best to do them together, otherwise, they might start skipping. I ride on the snow trails sometimes and it becomes more obvious when the chain is no good because the lube washes out faster. BTW, I have never ridden in the regular loose pants - why and how would one do that on the MTB.


K

But the article said bicycle chains only last a year?

What kind of rider, WEARS a chain out in a year. Offroad may damage a chain, but wear one out?

Like I said, maybe Lance Armstrong, but who here has worn out a properly lubricated chain on a bicycle? In a year? A chain that lasts a year must be pretty flimsy. Are there low strength, lightweight racing chains? Maybe that's what they are talking about.

My problem must be is that I buy cheap bikes. My Sears $99 mountain Bike is 10 years old. Still has the same chain. Maybe the sprockets are worn? I don't know. I pedal, it goes. I shift, it shifts.

Tires? O.K. they wear pretty quickly, especially when abused. But who has the leg muscles to abuse a bicycle chain?

I don't get it. Probably never will.

Oh, and my sprockets rust a little. But I haven't entered a Concours D'Elegance with my $99 bicycle, and probably never will.

FWIW< my wifes bike is 32 years old. Same chain and sprockets, single speed. she doesn't ride a lot, but I doubt a belt would be usable in 30 years, used or not.

motokid wrote:

RockBottom wrote:

motokid wrote:I have a belt driven MC and I'm not impressed at all. can hardly imagine MTB with the belt.

K

Why so? What's unimpressive about the belt drive?

they collect road debris - in particular small rocks. Then they get stuck and start eating into belt teeth and sprockets. That's especially the case after driving on freshly paved streets - asphalt aggregate pieces would glue themselves into the belt.

In order for them to work, they must be fully enclosed.


K

Hmmm. I have a little over 7K on my belt driven bike and haven't experienced any of that.