hi what are the pros/cons between chain drive and belt drive on todays motorbikes please?

Answer 1

well ive had both actually ive had shaft drive as well which was good as no maintenance at all just top up with oil on its service, chains ok but you do have to check that sucker often and belt well ive done 15000 miles on my harley and not looked at it once

Answer 2

The big difference is the chains need of lubricant. Without proper attention (oiling) the chain and sprockets will have premature wear. Another facet that is often overlooked is the mass the engine is spinning around. The chain being heaver has a added losses compared to the belt drive or for that matter a shaft drive.
This is small but shows up in power loss to the back tire and in achieved miles per gallon (MPG) This might be the reason some bikes like Buell's 500cc single cylinder motorcycle has owners bragging about 70 mpg while folks like myself who own a 500 Honda with shaft drive get 50 mpg. I have heard of rocks flying into belt pulleys and snapping them, never seen it personally, but then again I have found myself searching for that master link that flew off the chain somewhere on the trail. In my opinion, for reliability you can beat the shaft drive followed by the belt for the road. For fuel economy the belt drive is best.

Answer 3

besides being smother and quieter , just for instance your car instead of fan belts it had chains on it , it would be noisier, but it would work, but you would need to oil it, the cons on rubber its not forever, either and , well say someone has it out for you, they could just cut your drive belt with a knife , and if that won't do it ,rubber will not last as long as a well maintained chain, oil adjustment what not, they both have equal cons, rubber last well say a rubber timing chain or timing belt is to be replaced at 60,000 miles well your drive belt will be no different, and made out of the same material , (but a drive belt on a bike has much more torque on it that a timing belt) as a timing belt ,so if the vehicle is parked, tires and belt's have a life expediency of three years , and after that they can and will fail, and chain with oil will not, and I say both have the same difference, my opinion, one is not better than the other just different technology. great question p/s I would go with the belt drive tho

Answer 4

All the answers about the advantages of belt drvie over a chain drive are right on the money. However the worry that a belt will break and leave you stranded are overblown. Harley-Davidson's have been belt driven for years and I bet you've never seen one broke down because of a broken drive belt. Maybe broke down from something else but not the belt! My dealer says belts are damn near bullet proof. I'd rather have a shaft drive myself.

Answer 5

Belt drives are less maintenance, as the belts don't stretch and don't require periodic oiling like a chain would.

The main advantage to a chain drive is that if it breaks in the middle of nowhere, chances are any tractor supply or farm store can get you a length of chain to get you home, and you can change it relatively easy on the side of the road or in a parking lot. A belt, however, is a lot more hassle to change, as you have to remove the primary to access the pulley. And unless you're in a relatively populated area, your chances of finding one are slim to none.

Answer 6

Chains are becoming "quaint". Those who still prefer them feel a certain nostalgia about them. Belts have proven to be reliable, maintenance free, smoother and quieter.

I've never owned a bike with a belt, but I wouldn't hesitate to buy one.

The day the helmet law is recinded, I'll pull my motorcycles out of storage and when they're used up, maybe I'll buy a belt-drive bike.

How long does a tyranny usually last anyway, I'm getting impatient.

Answer 7

I believe it depends on what you are doing with the bike and how or where are you riding it.
If Street Bike then yes go with the belt it is alot smother.
If on off the road then I would have to say go with the chain.
Remember belt drive will not hold up under dirt and heavy dust . But also chain will not hold up unless you take care of it .
So I guess it really depends on the rider of the bike after all lol. Your choice just take care of it the way it needs to be taken care of and you will ride a lot of happy miles.

Answer 8

Owned belt, chain & shaft drive. One is not better than the other...just different. Shafts use power..chains are easy to get & replace, belts are quiet & require less Maint than chains..
So go with whats on the bike when you buy it....changing a chain drive to belt drive can cost a fair bit....

Answer 9

One drawback to belts that people over look - You can't buy them from after market companies, only OEM (original equipment manufactures). So many bikes use their "own" drive belt. They're not inter changeable between models and manufactures, like chains, which are universal. When the belt eventually gets discontinued (it could take 5 or more years), then you're SOL (sht out-of luck).

Answer 10

i wouldnt bother with a belt drive more chances of things going wrong look at cam belts on cars they snap and cause damage so on a bike i recomend chain if rubber gets oil on it that can make the rubber perish and from what i can remember about bikes is they can get a bit oily so for me its got to be chains and if your bike gets oily then no need to oil the chain lol kill two birds with 1 stone as they say

Answer 11

You forgot to mention shaft drives. Shaft drives are pretty much maintenance free. Chains need tightening and lubricating. Belts on belt drive systems need replacing. I would go for the shaft drive myself.