Have you checked the tension on your belt and verified that your rear wheel is centered and straight? It sounds like outside factors are definitely at work here. I sold my 88 FXRS to my brother-in-law in late 05 and the OEM belt broke in July of 06. I think total miles on the belt at the time were 80k+.

Also, what are your maintenance habits in the areas around your belt? While it is Kevlar reinforced it is still a rubber based product and as such any petroleum based product left on it will weaken the belt.

Just some ideas to ponder.

 

Replaced the belt and sproket,total cost $600.There must be some way to protect the belt from stone damage.

 

BMW is currently having a problem withfinal drive failure.There's some scathing posts on the company's message board. Here's an example of one that grenaded.

 

That doesn't look good, I think I'll stick with my chain!

 

You should not worry so much about the belts.They are pretty tough.Driveshaft? Hopefully never,at least on the FL models.

 

I've put 35,000 miles on my E-Glide since I got it. I live on a decomposed granite road that's 2.5 miles from the nearest pavement. I dont have gravel, it's more like course to fine granules of sand that I deal with. I was concerned with belt drives considering I ride EVERY day - so 5 miles per day worth of this dirt road... I do about 20 mph on this road when on it.

I've had ZERO problems - no adjustments, etc - and the belt now has a totalof70,000 miles on it.The last35k of that with me living on that dirt road@ 5 miles per day.

At this point I don't even worry about the belt. It's not been an issue at all. Now of course gravel chunks may be worse, but in my case with varying sized sand/grit it's a non-issue.