I haven't owned a bike with an exposed rear chain since the 1970s, they are just so last century! As mentioned chains and sprockets don't last as long as a belt and the replacement argument will be easily lost by a high mileage chain bike. What I find frustrating is that modern manufacturing techniques make an enclosed rear chain very easy to do, which would significantly extend chain life, reduce noise and mess.

 

What the hell does this have to do with touring bikes? Harley touring bikes haven't had chains in close to 35 yrs!

 

when you look back and see that belt laying on the ground , you'll wish you had a chain.

 

Yet 20 people are talking about it. Problem? Nope...

 

So you've never heard of or seen broken chains?! They can both break, the difference between the two being that a chain is much more effective at causing expensive collateral damage........

 

Agreed, but the probability of a quality chain breaking is very slim. All it takes for the belt to fail is a tiny pebble to get trapped between the belt and pulley. My buddy had this happen on a trip a few years back, belt only had 25K. A friend who runs an Indy shop tells me he does a few failed belts a year. His personal bikes have all been converted to chain.
Belts are going to be smoother with a longer life span, but modern O or X ring chains don't stretch as unevenly or as much as standard chain. They also don't require any external lube except something for rust prevention. Modern chain-waxes are a great option to the messy lubes we used to use. I've been using O/X-ring chains on my dirt bikes and Shovelheads for over 20 years with zero issues, but I have no plans to replace the belt on my Road King.

 

I've been riding belt drive Harleys for 25 years without incident - jus' sayin'!

 

Agreed, belts are smoother, less maintenence, last longer, but why the hell does Harley Davidson designers have their heads up their asses and make it such at major / expensive job to replace the drive belts. If you look at the Victory's and I think the Yamaha's the drive belts are outside the clutch nubs, it looks like it would be about a fifteen minute job to change a belt on a Victory or a Yamaha.

 

And you "resurrected" a thread that is almost that old!

 

agree with you , besides dirt bikes, in all my years of riding i seen one guy break a chain doing wheelies on a chopper. i have seen at least ten belts broken over the years. and you are right about damage with a chain as this happen to a friend of mine. it cost him a trans case. i wouldn't bat an eye at running a chain now days as they are much better than years ago.