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[PaulZero]

Out of interest, how many Zero owners have a Spare belt in their inventory? 
And if you do, do you carry it with you on rides?

I've heard stories of them just breaking without warning, so I'm wondering if I just order one. 

Mine is 4 years old with 10k on clock.  I inspect regularly for cracks/damage.
 
Thanks,
Paul.

[Zelidar]

No spare belt here, but I kept my previous two belts at home. For my peace of mind when riding I chose a roadside assistance insurance instead.

[Richard230]

I have a spare belt that I bought for $120, before the price went up a few years ago. I keep it in my garage hanging up and stored in a plastic bag. I also bought a replacement belt for the 2014 S that I bought and later gave to my daughter, after I bought my 2018 S. At the time that belt only cost me $80, while BMW was selling their F800S/GT drive belts for around $500.

[DonTom]

No spare belt here, but I kept my previous two belts at home. For my peace of mind when riding I chose a roadside assistance insurance instead.

Do you have coverage in areas of no cell service?


-Don-  Auburn, CA

[Specter]

You can always use 911 if you are broke down.  Tell them this is NOT a critical emergency but im broke down, and need a tow truck and no cell service.  Even with no service, there typically 'is' some kind of service that 911 will make your phone find.  It does things to the phone / with the phone, that normal service won't, to find emergency comms.  Ive asked the police about using 911 in cases like this and they said, yes it is allowable.  I asked about their non emergency number and they said, typically even when you dial the non emer, it still goes to the same dispatchers to answer it, because it's ALL recorded and they use the same system for the recording.  If an emergency call comes in, they may put you on hold, but typically answer the non emergency  numbers too.

Aaron

[2020_SRS_Commuter]

I got 25k out of each of my previous two belts, now have about 52k on the odometer, and I'm running my third belt. I use full throttle often. This is on an SRS used for work commutes. 
Never broke one, but they do form lots of little cracks at the end that are visible when you take the belt off.
I keep the last one I changed, and a small tool kit to change it, in the bikes luggage just in case. I find it to be an easy swap if you have done it before and know what to expect.

[PaulZero]

Thanks all.
I do have breakdown cover, I think if it snapped i'd have to go for a tow anyway because I doubt a roadside change would be practical.  I was more curious if others agreed.

I saw another interesting article from Dennis NL, he uses Silicone spray and has some positive stats on logevity...
https://www.facebook.com/groups/zmcowners/posts/5152356038166896/

I think i'll take others advice and just stock a spare.  Seems a replacement is inevitabe.   

Paul.

[princec]

A roadside replacement is genuinely a cinch - you only need two small tools or something, and you can loop the new belt on, admittedly a bit of an arse if you don't have someone to push the bike for you as you probably don't have a centrestand. It'll get you home and then you can undo the wheel properly and set the tension correctly.

Cas

[Curt]

A roadside replacement is genuinely a cinch - you only need two small tools or something, and you can loop the new belt on, admittedly a bit of an arse if you don't have someone to push the bike for you as you probably don't have a centrestand.

Don't all Zeroes require disconnecting the swingarm to replace the belt? And compressing the suspension using a ratchet strap?

Some people had pre-threaded and tucked away a small limping belt they can unfurl onto the sprockets should the belt snap (threads somewhere on this forum).

My '16 FX has only 12,500 miles on it and the belt still looks good. I like to hop speed bumps, so years ago I bought a spare belt just in case, but don't carry it with me. After all, the bike is rarely more than 25 miles from home.

[DonTom]

Don't all Zeroes require disconnecting the swingarm to replace the belt? And compressing the suspension using a ratchet strap?

By looking, the 3rd gen Zeros have plenty of room for the belt without disconnecting the swing arm.


-Don-  Auburn, CA

[princec]

Gen3 Zeros don't require anything complex at all - you just need to unclip the brake light wire and undo the mudguard and undo the adjuster bolts (actually not sure undoing the adjuster bolts will do anything in this situation as you won't be undoing the axle nut). Tools required is a torx t-bar. The belt can then just be looped on without loosening or removing anything else... provided you can spin the wheel freely. It's a bit more of a faff if you're by the side of the road without a centrestand or paddock stand handy - you'll need an assistant to wheel the bike forward.

That gets you home, and then you can faff about undoing the axle and properly adjusting the tension and doing everything up with a torque wrench.

Cas

[victor6.7y]

I bought a spare belt, and luckaly I did; cuz my belt broke at 16000km 
But with the bike at home it was doable to change it myself; even on a gen2 bike

[Curt]

Gen3 Zeros don't require anything complex at all - you just need to unclip the brake light wire and undo the mudguard and undo the adjuster bolts (actually not sure undoing the adjuster bolts will do anything in this situation as you won't be undoing the axle nut). Tools required is a torx t-bar. The belt can then just be looped on without loosening or removing anything else... provided you can spin the wheel freely. It's a bit more of a faff if you're by the side of the road without a centrestand or paddock stand handy - you'll need an assistant to wheel the bike forward.

That gets you home, and then you can faff about undoing the axle and properly adjusting the tension and doing everything up with a torque wrench.

Wow, that's easy all right. It was hard to picture how it could be done, until seeing a video:

[Richard230]

Speaking of drive belts, even if you don't buy a spare, it might be a good idea to at least get the Gates (?) part number for the belt should Zero move on to a different belt in the future. When BMW stopped building their belt-driven F800GT/ST series of motorcycles, the ($500+) Conti belts that they were supplying shortly became collector items and soon became unavailable outside of Europe. Then the scammers moved in and took advantage of people begging for a source of a replacement belt. They would (and are) offering a belt for sale via various methods and once they receive the person's money, the belt never arrives. As always, be careful when ordering something from a private party.

[Zelidar]

No spare belt here, but I kept my previous two belts at home. For my peace of mind when riding I chose a roadside assistance insurance instead.

Do you have coverage in areas of no cell service?

Over here in Switzerland (and neighboring countries), whenever I don't get cell service, which is extremely rare, then I am very likely somewhere in the Alps on a slope, and should the belt fail, I would just gently roll back down to cell service coverage .