as to what it takes to replace a belt... disassemble rear of bike, remove swing arm.... not something you are going to do on the side of the road.

If you don't beat on the bike you should get 40K out of one, so when you are looking at a rear tire replacement in the 35-40K mile range, think about replacing it and getting a discount on the labor overlaps

 

Can you describe what it was like when it broke? Did the belt slap around? Did it come all the way out or did it stay on the bike?

I have never experienced it but I could imagine it where the bike just revs loosing forward motion or the belt getting caught up, slapping around and possibly even getting jammed up causing the rear wheel to lock up.

 

Wow your very lucky, my close friend and his wife were killed on interstate I 95 by a tractor trailer about 10 seconds after his bike threw a belt pulling out from an on ramp with me one evening a few years ago. I'm in the process of a chain drive for my RGC just because of what i saw first hand.

 

The last and only time I broke a belt I was 35 miles from home on a Sunday. I ended up paying $175 for a tow home. Replacing the belt isn't bad but it is a time consuming job. Inner primary and swing arm need to come off. I did mine in around 5 hours taking my time.

 

I keep trying to answer questions and my responses keep getting deleted when the internet conection ***** the bed.

 

I am very sorry about your fiends. When I posted earlier I was wondering how dangerous a broken belt could be. I sometimes think about it when riding.

Did their accident happen because they lost forward motion or did the rear wheel lock up contributing to it?

 

Sudden lost speed. We were pulling out into the traveling lane in front of traffic. I was wot and he was to my left in front of me. I still have the belt i saw bounce out from the rear of his bike seconds before a semi went over everything. Accident was blamed on motorcycle operator but i witnessed what i believe was the reason and look at the belt often.

 

so sorry for the loss of your friends. how many miles were on the bike when the belt broke? i was thinking a belt ought to last 75 to 100k...depending on your riding style.

 

Great pics, but probably won't see the first two in an upcoming issue of HOG.

 

Hydrolock 43,so sorry about your friends...