Belt Drive

A belt drive transfers power from the gearbox to the rear wheel with a toothed belt instead of a chain. The belt is made of rubber or polyurethane reinforced with strong fibres such as aramid or carbon. It is used by Harley-Davidson, Indian and on some BMW and other models.

Compared with a chain, a belt is quieter, smoother, cleaner and needs no lubrication. It usually lasts much longer between replacements. On the other hand it is wider, harder to change gearing with, and can be damaged by stones caught between belt and pulley, so it is rare off-road.

Check belt tension as the manufacturer specifies and inspect the teeth and edges for cracks, missing teeth or stone damage. Never twist or sharply bend a belt when fitting it, as that can break the internal fibres.