Can I and how hard is out to convert my 1990 sporty to a belt drive? Any benefits from that??? I like how that looks more than the chain.

 

I put one on my 87, it was a kit I found back in 2002, it wasn't much money either. The other way would be to piece it together on ebay or something like that. It can be done, and it works great!

 

The benefits of belt drive are that it is quieter, smoother, less maintenance, cleaner. They are the new chains! However converting a chain bike may be a bit of fun, unless you can find a kit like guitarman023 used.

 

I thought there was actually a Genuine HD kit to do this on the older Sportsters...?

 

Nice....didn't know if out was possable or not

 

the "kit is a front and rear pulley, belt, belt guard(guard is optional).

dunno why you would convert? belt is less noisey ,thats about it .

the 'O'-ring chains of today are darned near maintenance free..
and last as long as a belt
and you can change gearing at very low cost.
guys with big HP rigs ,convert to chain because a belt wont hold the HP.

my 91 will stay a chain...

 

I disagree.

My buddies all ride chain drive bikes. They need oiled every 200-300 miles and cleaned/tensioned every 1000 miles or so because they stretch and accumulate dirt. They also tend to wear sprockets and chains at about 15-25k miles depending on the bike and riding style.

The chains and sprockets do NOT last 100k+ miles like a belt/pulley will. It is very bad practice to neglect the oiling/cleaning and tension. I hardly consider that "maintenance free".

 

Kudos to keeping a chain a chain. they do need inspection and maintenance.

 

And over in Touring there are dressers with 120R motors riding belts with 130+ HP/TQ, so all Sporties should be fine with a belt, except perhaps on the strip!

 

Belt has less rotating weight