I would like those of you "Who have actually converted to chains" to provide some feed back to the rest of us on the changes that your conversion made to your ride.
Mileage, performance in different gears, noise and vibration, maintenance...

Your honest input would be greatly appreciated. I am considering going that way, and while the charts and math are a great help, actual ride time tells all.  Thanks for your input.
JB

Why on Gods green earth would anybody in their right mind ever ch.....

Never mind,  it wouldn't answer your question.

Well I converted back to a bike with a chain, and had almost forgotten that chain maintenance sucks.  On two of the chain drive bikes, I went up a tooth on the countershaft sprocket (7~8% taller) and it was just what the bike needed.  On the bike I have now, the gearing is tall enough and vibration is low enough (for a thumper   ) so I am not going to mess with it, even though maintenance chores would be the same.

The Savage seemed to have a close ratio transmission.  1st gear slightly tall, 5th gear slightly short, but the final drive ratio was pretty well chosen.  I don't think you'd get better gas mileage unless you did a LOT of highway miles.. and that would come at the expense of slipping your clutch more in town w/less acceleration out of the hole.  

Arnold wrote on 04/29/11 at 07:34:06:

I agree.  I owned several bikes back in the 60's & 70's with chains but when I bought an 88 Softail I was sold on belts.  But I don't have any desire to change ratios either, since this little Savage does all I want it to do.

Arnold wrote on 04/29/11 at 07:34:06:


If you're chain is greasy, you're using the wrong stuff.

I did it to mine before I sold it. 17/43 I think. Made interstate much, much better. Did not lose much of the low end grunt. I was quite happy with it. Cheap, and also reversible. What more can you ask?

And hence, my signature!