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[Richard230]

I was visiting my BMW/Triumph dealer today and a fellow I know was having the belt drive replaced on his BMW F800ST.  It had sheared off its teeth after 43,000 miles of riding (BMW recommends that the belt be replaced every 25,000 miles).  The cost of the replacement belt was $450. I didn't ask how much in labor they were charging to replace it.  What I found interesting was the way the belt failed.  It did not break, but the teeth started sheering off a few at a time.  That meant that he was able to still ride it slowly and get to the shop without being stranded.

Attached is a photo of a similar belt on a new F800GT.

[Richard230]

And just for fun is a picture of my Zero being serviced by my BMW dealer.   

[WindRider]

Only German technology could make a belt replacement cost $450.   

[manlytom]

Only German technology could make a belt replacement cost $450.   

But it latest longer than the Germans conservatively recommended. So figure.

[dahlheim]

Only German technology could make a belt replacement cost $450.   

Germany has a track record of excellent engineering overall.  they make mistakes like everyone, but just pay the place a visit and look around.  with the Euro as it has been, and the fact that you're getting what you get 5000 miles from the country of origin, i don't think it's fair to expect Japanese prices.

[WindRider]

The Germans do make some great bikes, and cars, but they have issues with cost of ownership.

I have owned 4 bikes now with belt final drive and this is 2-3X of what a belt replacement cost me for those motorcycles.

I looked at the F800 when it was new and BMW also had replaced the simple belt tension tool with some complex tool that only the BMW dealer had to check and adjust the belt tension.   The dealer told me that it not only measured tension but considered the "harmonic frequencies" of the belt....  The upshot of that was that instead of a $15 tool that anyone could use in their garage you needed to take your F800  to the dealer every X miles where they could adjust the belt tension with their special tool and empty the owners wallet accordingly.

I don't know if they still do it that way but it seemed crazy to me as belt final drive has always been very simple, easy, and low cost to maintain in my experiences with other brands.

[Richard230]

BMW = Bring More Wallet.   

I have a friend who owns a F800ST and to my knowledge he doesn't bother to check the tension on his belt.  My guess is that many other owners don't pay all that much attention to belt tension either.  Of course, that probably might result in a shorter life and a greater chance of the sprockets eating the belt teeth.  Once you own a motorcycle you have to make your own decisions on the value of this type of maintenance. 

I wouldn't be surprised to hear that the belt on the F800 is made by Gates and that BMW has a substantial markup on its price.  It is probably manufactured to their unique specifications. $450 seems like a lot and that doesn't include the couple of hours of $100 an hour labor it takes to replace it.  Still, I prefer a belt to shaft drive on a street bike.  I might add that I broke a U-joint in the Paralever shaft drive on my 1991 K100RS at 43,000 miles and that set me back $1200 in parts and labor to repair.  Every motorcycle drive system has its plus and minuses.   

[trikester]

Hard to beat the cost and ease of replacement of a chain (especially in the boonies) + survivability.

Trikester

[Marshm]

Trikster, will you replace the belt on the FX when you get it?  I thought FX comes with belt, and MX comes with chain.  I assume it is a larger change than just swapping out sprockets?  Do you know what it entails?   

[trikester]

My 2012 DS I converted to chain myself (2010 came with chain drive). Yes, it was mounting the sprockets and cutting the chain to length with my chain break tool, plus a quick link. This time Harlan @ H.E. is doing the conversion before I pick up the FX this Friday (Yahoo!). So it will already be chain drive when I take delivery.

Then I will have the rear wheel re-laced (by my next-door motorcycle repair shop) with the 2.5" rim and change both tires to the Kenda K270's. 3.25" in front and 5.1" rear (hence the need for the wider rear rim, front rim stays the same). Zero gave me the make and model # of the 2.5" rear rim that will work with the hub and the factory spokes.

Trikester

[manlytom]

I still love my belt. no noise. went from chain 2010 to belt 2011. perfect experience. then again I am not much in the dirt. reminds me that Zero promised me that belt tension tool...

[kbfcanada]

Were we supposed to get a belt tension tool (I have a 2012 DX)?

I also prefer the belt over chains - I like to ride as quietly as possible!

[trikester]

I also prefer the belt over chains - I like to ride as quietly as possible!

That's great right up until a rock takes out the belt in the back-country. I really have no choice or I would also go with the quiet,low maint, belt. I ride way too many rocky trails to even think about using a belt drive. When I'm riding, I frequently hear rocks hitting various parts of the bike, after being picked up and thrown by my knobby tires. Sometimes they even hit me.

Trikester

[dahlheim]

i've never had a chain break riding in the rockies.  never ridden dirt with a bike with a belt.  my 12ds is certainly a smallish bike.  do belts really break that much more easily in these conditions?

i've got enough dirt bikes to not really need to worry about it, but i was thinking i'd take the zero camping a few times this year (in place of the usual xr400) and somtimes the conditions are a bit brutal.

[BSDThw]

do belts really break that much more easily in these conditions?

I think we have 2 problems:

The belt is much tighter as a chain and if something a small stone or a twig goes between, something has to give away .

The next problem is the big sprocket has very little clearance to the ground. If you pass by a bigger stone you can hit it with the sprocket and this wouldn't be too good for it!