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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Pros & Cons of running with no belt guard
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Message started by barb36jack31 on 08/09/06 at 13:48:08

Title: Pros & Cons of running with no belt guard
Post by barb36jack31 on 08/09/06 at 13:48:08

Let's hear the comments!

Title: Re: Pros & Cons of running with no belt guard
Post by vroom1776 on 08/09/06 at 15:07:32

I've been running w/o one for about 9 months now, including quite a bit in the winter w/ snow, mud, sand blah blah blah. I've had zero problems so far.

Downside:
1) I suppose you could get rocks and crud into there.
2) you need to buy a washer as a spcaer to replace where the belt guard goes between the shock bushing and the mount to the frame.
3) everyone thinks it came with a chain and wants to know how you got such a fat belt on there and talks your ear off

Upside:
1) looks cool
2) saves at least 10 lbs
3) one less thing to clean (if you clean yours)
4) when your belt starts squeeking, you can see just how misaligned it is and then not fix it until it gets too bad

I should also point out that I have NOT removed the front pulley cover.

Title: Re: Pros & Cons of running with no belt guard
Post by clueless on 08/09/06 at 16:38:16

same here.

Title: Re: Pros & Cons of running with no belt guard
Post by steelwolf on 08/09/06 at 19:55:16

clueless wrote:

same here.

Man of many words. ;D

Title: Re: Pros & Cons of running with no belt guard
Post by serowbot on 08/09/06 at 23:25:14

Interesting Question. I ran without a guard for a couple months, then put it back on for the rainy season. Never found out if it throws up rain? Anybody?
I'm thinking about taking it off again. Unless someone can talk me out of it. (Scary anecdotes welcome!)

Pro's
I like the look. (always saw the bike as a bit over-chromed stock)
Save 3lbs
Easy clean,inspect and adjust
mucho macho
Con's
added belt noise
dangerous! (although I can't figure how I could contort myself to get caught in it)(or is it going to break and somehow decapitate me? I think I'd worry more about a chain)(reminds me of the urban myth...ladder tied shoelace saves falling climber)
Maybe it's just a personal preference.

Title: Re: Pros & Cons of running with no belt guard
Post by Violent_Rage on 08/09/06 at 23:58:22

i have no choice 'cause i've bought my bike without belt guard! ;D

anyway looks great! ;)

Title: Re: Pros & Cons of running with no belt guard
Post by Ed_L. on 08/10/06 at 06:12:46

It's one less thing to remove from the bike if you get a rear flat tire. Less chrome for the anti-chromer people out there.

Title: Re: Pros & Cons of running with no belt guard
Post by Savage_Rob on 08/10/06 at 07:06:18

I've had no problems running without one so far. I also kept the front pulley cover in place.

Title: Re: Pros & Cons of running with no belt guard
Post by vroom1776 on 08/10/06 at 09:57:51

rain: no idea, I have no fender either.

shoelaces: keep them tied, double knotted, and tucked in.

Title: Re: Pros & Cons of running with no belt guard
Post by Savage Librarian on 08/10/06 at 11:42:50

I've been running without one for a while (or at least I did before the bike decided to suffer some fairly hard core heart failure), and haven't had any difficulty. I would imagine it would be a bigger deal if I carried passengers, as their foot/leg/jeans would be more likely to hit the belt than mine would be.

Like everyone else has said, taking it off saves weight, less cleaning work, and easier access.

My dad has removed the chain guard from nearly every bike he's owned since the 70s, and never had a problem with any of them because of it. And that involves a lot of off road riding with a lot of falls. Granted, that's a chain and not a belt, but I'd imagine that a lot of the same ideas apply.

Title: Re: Pros & Cons of running with no belt guard
Post by DianeS. on 08/10/06 at 13:03:09

Whenever I watch "OCC's American Chopper" on tv, they have wide belts and no covers - so I imagine it's ok. Never thought about taking mine off.

Being my first bike, I guess I'm a bit chicken to tackle too many changes, until I'm used to riding it more.

Title: Re: Pros & Cons of running with no belt guardg
Post by Violent_Rage on 08/11/06 at 01:07:35

DianeS. wrote:

yes, they used to install a stand alone gear box so the primary trasmission must be external.

very cool but i think it's not so comfortable to have a wide belt between the feets.