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Cruiser
Posts: 153
Newnan, GA | Hey guys.
I was looking at a photo of the vision and noticed that the belt seems to be exposed to road debris. Is there a belt gaurd to protect th belt that I'm not seeing?
See the link:
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj284/mongo1958/Vision.jpg
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Tourer
Posts: 374
Tucson, AZ | Ive been riding belt driven bikes for years and have never had a problem. Sure something could hit it and Im sure someone has had a problem, but your more likely to get a flat tire than have a belt problem. Oh and by the way i live at the end of a mile long dirt road and ride daily...no problems for me at least.
mike |
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Cruiser
Posts: 271
Belding Michigan | The belt is exposed so it has the possibility of getting damaged but it is not likely as Harley has used the same kind of exposed belt since the 80's. If I were going on a long trip I would check the belt for wear and other than adjustments not worry about it. If I were going to Alaska via the Al Can Highway I might consider carrying an extra belt as dealers are few and far between up there. Otherwise make sure it is straight and adjusted properly and don't fret. Archie |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | After 45,000 I finally changed my belt. Upon examination it appeared to be in perfect shape, not having any sign of picking anything up ever. The only reason I changed it out at 45,000 is that I was pulling the exhaust anyways. I'll keep that one as a spare for a few more miles and would only trade it out for concern of dryrot. I'll have over 100,000 miles on the bike before I'll change the new belt, that'll put at 60,000 miles of life. As Archie says.... don't fret... |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 5
| I personally wouldn't worry, my personal experience,.... owned a harley belt drive for 17 yrs. before moving to Victory, belt had 2 small 3-4 mm holes in the center of the belt from rocks?? put apx 30,000 miles on the bike before i tore her down to replace the front drive sproket, I decided to replace the belt at that time, [ you have to remove the inner , outer, primary, clutch, rear wheel and swing arm to perform the belt replacement, I can change the belt on my Vegas in 45 minutes. so in my humble opinion dont fret the belt guard.
steve |
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Visionary
Posts: 1436
| There is greater chance of damage to the belt with a guard than without. Debris gets between the belt and guard and you have problems. I have well over 300k on bikes with belts without a failure, I wouldn't worry.
On a side note I would like to see Victory come out with an emergency belt one could carry along for long trips. Nothing worse than being sranded by something simple. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 153
Newnan, GA | Teach - 2009-10-25 10:59 AM
There is greater chance of damage to the belt with a guard than without. Debris gets between the belt and guard and you have problems. I have well over 300k on bikes with belts without a failure, I wouldn't worry.
On a side note I would like to see Victory come out with an emergency belt one could carry along for long trips. Nothing worse than being sranded by something simple. They don't sell new belts? |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | New belts run about 3 bills and requires pulling the exhaust, not a good roadside task. HD and other have kits for the teeth count and length to allow a quick fix to limp out of the middle of nowhere back to civilization. Victory has no such fix as of yet, nor is there an aftermarket one specific for the Vision either. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1484
LaPorte,Tx. | Anyone of you Vision riders break a belt? And if you did, do you know why it broke? Articles I've read indicate the belt is carbon fiber reinforced. Not saying it will never break, but you have a better chance of getting a flat tire than breaking a belt. So how many of the Vision riders carry a tire sealant kit and air pump? |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | i need to get another air pump, my son borrowed the one I had...need I say more.
On the belt, after 45,000 miles it "looked" brand new when I replaced. No nicks or gouges, perfect all the way around. I would have gone at least 60,000, twice the recommended rating, but since I had the exhaust off I went for it. I believe actually it is a good two year belt regardless of the miles on the machine. It will dryrot before it will stress IMHO, but what do I know I'm just a redneck shadetree metanic. |
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Visionary
Posts: 3773
Pittsburgh, PA | can you only purchase the belts from our dealers? |
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Tourer
Posts: 599
New Mexico | varyder - 2009-10-26 6:28 PM
On the belt, after 45,000 miles it "looked" brand new when I replaced. No nicks or gouges, perfect all the way around. I would have gone at least 60,000, twice the recommended rating, but since I had the exhaust off I went for it. I believe actually it is a good two year belt regardless of the miles on the machine. It will dryrot before it will stress IMHO...
My 2009 (bought in 2010) is about to roll 32k. I'm taking a 4000 mile trip in August. Inspection of belt looks good, but seeing as it sat in the showroom for a year (dry-rot?), and I've put a few miles on it in this hot New Mexico sun, thought I would check and see if anyone has had any belt failures on the Vision.
Edited by Boots 2012-06-11 10:17 AM
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | I'm back to my original belt and I'm still have my original pulley. On my new belt I put on around 40,000 miles when I changed my tire and didn't tighten down the the axle all the way. The stress and stretch of the wheel off angle broke some lugs and made the belt useless. I put back on the original belt until I could get a new one and replace my pulley. I've got about another 20,000 miles on the belt bringing the total mileage to 65,000 miles. This belt is at least 5 years old and has has some grooves in the lugs from the wear on the pulley, but at the same time I'm not concerned in changing it at the moment. I plan to keep a watchful eye on it and look for stress in the lugs or the belt itself before I change it. It looks like it'll take me many more miles, maybe 20,000 or 30,000 before I will change it out...maybe. |
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Tourer
Posts: 599
New Mexico | varyder - 2012-06-11 9:48 AM
I'm back to my original belt and I'm still have my original pulley. On my new belt I put on around 40,000 miles when I changed my tire and didn't tighten down the the axle all the way. The stress and stretch of the wheel off angle broke some lugs and made the belt useless. I put back on the original belt until I could get a new one and replace my pulley. I've got about another 20,000 miles on the belt bringing the total mileage to 65,000 miles. This belt is at least 5 years old and has has some grooves in the lugs from the wear on the pulley, but at the same time I'm not concerned in changing it at the moment. I plan to keep a watchful eye on it and look for stress in the lugs or the belt itself before I change it. It looks like it'll take me many more miles, maybe 20,000 or 30,000 before I will change it out...maybe.
Fantastic, thanks for the info. Will just keep an eye on it but not worry about it.
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Visionary
Posts: 4278
| A rider here by the name of Rolln made one. Hes going to Alaska and doesn't want to take a chane. If your a dirt road rider or ride on tar sealed roads a lot then do a search for Rolln's photos. |
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Visionary
Posts: 4278
| Here is his photo of belt guard. What ever you do don't look at the tire you'll go blind
(BG015.jpg)
Attachments
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 BG015.jpg (94KB - 2 downloads)
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | Wow, just noticed the OP is nearly 3 years old... whose had a broke belt on a Vision??? By the way, Gold Wingers would laugh at us, they got the shaft, though... |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1066
Peru, IN | I currently ride a shaft drive Kawasaki Nomad. It's relatively smooth. I am however looking forward to "upgrading" to belt final drive when I get my Vision. I'm paranoid about just about everything and I'm not worried about a belt in the slightest. The newer ('09+ ) Vulcans (Nomad/Vaquero/Voyager) have belts and I've never heard of any real issues. As was said, Harleys have had belts for around 483 years and you never hear of any problems. If it looks dry rotted or worn, replace it. If not, I'd leave it alone. I can't see spending $300 on a belt (and another couple hundred on labor) for something you don't need.
Whoever owns the bike in the pic, that belt guard looks nice. When I get a Vision, you'll have to make one for me. 
Edited by Monkeyman 2012-06-13 2:08 AM
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Cruiser
Posts: 188
| varyder - 2012-06-12 3:01 AM
Wow, just noticed the OP is nearly 3 years old... whose had a broke belt on a Vision??? By the way, Gold Wingers would laugh at us, they got the shaft, though...
That shaft costs them about 15 HP. But really GW riders can laugh all they want. while they are sardined behind the heads of their opposed 6, we can stretch out 75 different ways on the Vision. |
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Tourer
Posts: 430
| I've seen some sideshots of Wing riders on the road - and boy - do some of them look like a big 'Z' with their feet glued to those pegs. Love my boards! |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | a futile attempt at sarcasm. I've ridden chain, and shaft. I find with a belt there is not comparison. Less maintenance and less points of failure. The contrast is that the Winger will say their set up is more reliable, and even have heard a few cross-overs here say they wish they had a shaft-drive. Given the technology of belts now-a-days, it is the best way to go for our application. 
Edited by varyder 2012-06-14 5:32 PM
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Visionary
Posts: 1365
Central Maryland | varyder - 2012-06-14 6:32 PM
a futile attempt at sarcasm. I've ridden chain, and shaft. I find with a belt there is not comparison. Less maintenance and less points of failure. The contrast is that the Winger will say their set up is more reliable, and even have heard a few cross-overs here say they wish they had a shaft-drive. Given the technology of belts now-a-days, it is the best way to go for our application.
Ya.. but a belt just feels "weird" to me anyway. I've operated shaft and chain drive motorcycles all my life. This is the first belt driven one that I've owned. I'm still getting used to it. |
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Visionary
Posts: 4278
| Look at a Harley they have a top belt guard so if it breaks it doesn't hit some one in the face. I have road lost of miles and maybe every five years see a belt in the road's they hold up good.
Just stay off dirt roads and seal coated roads |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | willtill - 2012-06-14 6:50 PM varyder - 2012-06-14 6:32 PM a futile attempt at sarcasm. I've ridden chain, and shaft. I find with a belt there is not comparison. Less maintenance and less points of failure. The contrast is that the Winger will say their set up is more reliable, and even have heard a few cross-overs here say they wish they had a shaft-drive. Given the technology of belts now-a-days, it is the best way to go for our application. Ya.. but a belt just feels "weird" to me anyway. I've operated shaft and chain drive motorcycles all my life. This is the first belt driven one that I've owned. I'm still getting used to it. I hope so. On the chain it was a constant adjustment every so many miles and then I replaced with a non-sealed chain and I had to grease that sucker constantly and adjust it. I thought belts were bad and I didn't like harley no ways. Later in life I get the Gold Wing, '84 and I could feel the twist when I was on the throttle, especially out of the turns. So fast for to the best bike on the plant, and a belt, I've basically do not touch the belt, no adjustments for tens of thousands of miles. My belt is well worn and it has not concerning issues at this point. |
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Visionary
Posts: 3773
Pittsburgh, PA | Wow the bottom belt guard on a HD ultra classic is nice! You dont see any belt ... |
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Tourer
Posts: 324
New Orleans, La, | I recently had my belt gaurd fall off due to the welds breaking during a ride with a bunch of Wings. The broken gaurd got hung up in the belt locking up the rear wheel, damaging the pulley mounted belt gaurd, before causing the belt to come off. I would like to see and here more about the gaurd pictured above, it seems to be a better design IMHO. Are there anymore pics? Does he still post to this site? What's his member handle? |
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Tourer
Posts: 430
| I believe the picture your referring to is on Rollin's Vision. He made it, or had it made, because he does a lot of IBA riding. His handle is Rollin. Great guy. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 825
, WI | 20 10 Vision - 2012-07-18 4:48 PM I believe the picture your referring to is on Rollin's Vision. He made it, or had it made, because he does a lot of IBA riding. His handle is Rollin. Great guy. Thanks! I made the belt guard. Took a lot time, a lot of test fitting. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 161
Oregon. | Rollin,
What did you attach the piece behind the exhaust to, or is it attached to anything besides the rear sprocket?
Edited by Brian G 2012-07-18 8:32 PM
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Visionary
Posts: 3773
Pittsburgh, PA | We need better belt gaurds.. not just for rocks. Im in sturgis sd now.. two times now ive had to wash my belt! Due to noise..... tons of dust and little bits of sand all over the belt and little indents in the pulley... it may not be breaking, but its requiring increase maintence due to a lack of coverage of the belt area.. there is even a section in the service manual about cleaning the belt... my hd buddy was shocked how much belt area is exposed.... |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 825
, WI | Brian G - 2012-07-18 8:27 PM Rollin, What did you attach the piece behind the exhaust to, or is it attached to anything besides the rear sprocket? It's also bolted to the swing arm. There was a hole in the swing arm, I tapped threads into it and added a bracket to my belt guard. |
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