I've got a bike with a chain drive and one with a belt drive. I've heard the belt drives last for a really long time. Just keep an eye on it and replace it when it looks raggity or you hit 100,000 miles on your bike, whichever comes first.

For you chain drive boys out there, I don't oil mine, I grease it using lithium grease. This crap will NOT come off, especially on your hands, so be neat when you apply it. Good stuff. I shut off the automatic chain oiler and also stopped using the spray lubes when the back of the wife's blouse was covered in it after a ride once.

 

They have dry spray lubes now for chains, No more mess. It dries completely in about 15 minutes..................
and we all know, Belts are for pants!

 

Roger that...What a pain!!

 

Asking how long a belt will last reminds me of when I asked an old geezer in the Southwest desert how long it had been since the last rain. "Don't know--I've only lived here 19 years" he replied.

 

If you leave a bike outside i think the elements will deteriorate the belt a lot faster than if it is inside.

 

100,000 miles or untill it breaks
(whichever come first)

 

Sooner or later. Hopefully later.

 

Today at 38,380 miles the belt on my 2003 FLHTP broke while stopped at a light in Palm Springs.
If I could find a "ricer" that fit me I'd be switching. It is the "little" $300.00 to $1500.00 small, continuing annoyances that Harley should have engineered out by now that has soured me on a perfectly comfortable motorcycle.
Dealer maintained since new my resident mechanic informed me that the machine was not built to be ridden as fast, nor cornered as fast as I go. I guess the answer is to slow down, get loud pipes and pretend it goes fast.
Bit of advice: I got "Harleyed" in Richland, Utah and the tow bill was going to be $640.00 to the St George Harley dealer. Using my 100 miles of AAA the tow was reduced to $240.00 for a $220.00 fix. I now have the 200 mile AAA towing and now have used 1/4 of the service the second month into the new subscription year.
My wife's Goldwing continues without hassles or breakdowns but 'wings are so small in the cockpit I can't even customize the seat and fit comfortably like I do with my Harley.
If you are still looking for a bike be sure to get it to fit you for the type of riding you are going to be enjoying and if it is new get all of the accessories from the "git go." In the long run you'll find it much less expensive than adding accessories as you go.

Better luck to you

 

Yeah, the age of the belt is a consideration in addition to mileage and riding style. 85,000
seems to be a good average.

 

If you are gonna keep the H-D ya might want to consider doing what I did with my 05 and put on a chain conversion. It cost's about the same to convert to a chain as it does to replace a belt and although it requires paying a little more attention and maintenance if it does break it only take a few minutes to fix on the side of the road.

So far mine is just a smooth and quiet as my belt was.

Just a thought.