Belt Drive for Tiger?
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Do you really want to remove the swingarm to replace a belt? Besides, I'd suspect the geometry of the Tiger's frame/swingarm wouldn't lend itself to a belt. The swingarm pivot is too far from the countershaft to maintaing tension through the suspension travel. Buell designs with the belt in mind and the geometry of their bikes reflect that.
Read an artical by Kevin Ash in MCN one about belt drives. I cant remember it in detail but you have no chance with a belt on a jap sports bike. Its not torque, but thrust, which has something to do with RPM. Hence why it work on a Harley. He worked it out a R1 would need a huge belt. So I would suspect that a Tiger would need something inbetween.
See this link to MCN about K Ash artical
See this link to MCN about K Ash artical
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705 Posts
I've had all three and I reckon that each has it's merits, depending on the bike.
My belter was a GPz305 back in the eighties on which I despatched. A wonderfully efficient drive system, it hardly ever needed adjusting and the only maintenance required was a dusting of talcom powder every now and then. I lost heart with it when it decided to take on a stone and lost.
With a chain, if it snaps, you can usually get a replacement fairly quickly and feed it through. I think I was waiting about ten days for a new belt from the big K. When I PX'd for the Gpz550 I immediately remembered why I hated chains!
I've had three Guzzis and I thought 'ah, this is more like it' , as you do. Despite rigourous attention to serving I managed to chew up the rear drive box of my Monza which in fairness was quite easy to repair. So ever after, I've not felt 100% comfortable with shafts either...and of course, you'll be lucky to find a replacement on the shelf at your local bike shop.
Times have moved on haven't they? O rings, Scottoilers and the like make it far more sensible than it was to lash on that ancient oily device that the Tiger boasts.
Jon
My belter was a GPz305 back in the eighties on which I despatched. A wonderfully efficient drive system, it hardly ever needed adjusting and the only maintenance required was a dusting of talcom powder every now and then. I lost heart with it when it decided to take on a stone and lost.
With a chain, if it snaps, you can usually get a replacement fairly quickly and feed it through. I think I was waiting about ten days for a new belt from the big K. When I PX'd for the Gpz550 I immediately remembered why I hated chains!
I've had three Guzzis and I thought 'ah, this is more like it' , as you do. Despite rigourous attention to serving I managed to chew up the rear drive box of my Monza which in fairness was quite easy to repair. So ever after, I've not felt 100% comfortable with shafts either...and of course, you'll be lucky to find a replacement on the shelf at your local bike shop.
Times have moved on haven't they? O rings, Scottoilers and the like make it far more sensible than it was to lash on that ancient oily device that the Tiger boasts.
Jon
Look at a thread around early 2005 ( QPD) stands for quiet Power Drive. Some guy over the pond in the states making belt drives. Sorry, must learn how to do a link, but QPD will find it in the search facility. Like you Jonny I had a kwaka Z250 and mighty fine it was. I think the 305's were more troublesome, like needing an oil change every 1000 miles to stop them blowing up ??? But, the belt drive was great. If some entrepreneur could design one at the right price ? I recall the thickness ( width) of the belt. far wider than a drive chain. Still, they manage on Harley's .
But as someone stated, times have changed and chain quality improved etc
But as someone stated, times have changed and chain quality improved etc
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705 Posts
Trotts, my 305 blew up at 12,000 miles and I PX'd it when it sounded ready to go again at 27,000.
Big end bearing = new crank courtesy of big K. Apparently the crank is based on the 250 and when applying the extra torque and power of the 305 they have a tendency to let go. This was despite my meticulous attention to maintenance which included dealer services plus oil changes by me twice as often as recommended....but at that time I had a reputation for finding weak the spot on a vehicle!.
A real shame because in every other respect it was an excellent design and probably the most efficient bike I have owned. They are very cheaop on the second hand market nowadays!
As far as the belt goes, this was a little wider but no where near as wide as a HD. It's only Kawasaki, Buell and HD who have made a go of it but in recent years none of the technically advanced Japanese manufacturers seem to have bothered at all.
Jon
Big end bearing = new crank courtesy of big K. Apparently the crank is based on the 250 and when applying the extra torque and power of the 305 they have a tendency to let go. This was despite my meticulous attention to maintenance which included dealer services plus oil changes by me twice as often as recommended....but at that time I had a reputation for finding weak the spot on a vehicle!.
A real shame because in every other respect it was an excellent design and probably the most efficient bike I have owned. They are very cheaop on the second hand market nowadays!
As far as the belt goes, this was a little wider but no where near as wide as a HD. It's only Kawasaki, Buell and HD who have made a go of it but in recent years none of the technically advanced Japanese manufacturers seem to have bothered at all.
Jon
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95 Posts
Isn't the 800 BMW belt drive too? If they can make it work on a vibey parallel twin and HD's V twin then why not with a smooth triple? Always seemed odd to me that more manufacturers don't go for the belt drive as it offers the advantages of a chain without the lubeing and adjustment, and the maintenance freeness of shaft without the weight and torque reaction. Must be some reason that a simpleton like me doesn't understand.. :-D
i have the qpd set up on my bonnivlle america and dearly love it. my ba has big bore kit ported heads 3 angle valve job flat slide makuni. FAST 80+ hp at the rear wheel. that was on a dyno not an estimate. the belt drive is the best add to my bike i have done, Quiet smoth and cool. i would put one on my tiger BUT i think the angles are all wrong. you would have to have a hudge rear sprocket or maybe an idler. if someone makes one that works i will get one
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