OUR OFFICIAL WEBSITE IS==> http://www.lawabidingbiker.com PODCAST-In this episode we read an email from a listener who is contemplating a big change from a Honda metric motorcycle to a Harley Davidson. She is used to a shaft final drive on her Honda motorcycle and is not familiar with the belt final drive that Harley Davidson uses on their motorcycles. Further, she is not certain about chain final drives that some use. She wanted to specifically know about the pros and cons of a motorcycle belt final drive vs. a chain final drive. Of course, we support all makes of motorcycles here at Law Abiding Biker Podcast and Media. We break straight through to the truths and myths when it comes to motorcycle chains and belts. We kept it real and focused in on what the average every day law abiding biker and motorcycling majority (the 99%ers) would need to know about this subject. Our dicussion is not geared towards motorcycle drag racers or track racers, as that is not what we do here at LAB Media. We ride real bikes in real world conditions and for long distances. Here is the email that was sent: From: Kelly Ušanović & Lijep Pozdrav: I have a Honda right but am contemplating the big change to a HD and have heard so many stories about maintenance and what a nightmare it is etc etc. so i hit up youtube and found your videos... first I wanted to take a min and say damn good videos. I have not gone through them all yet but I was wondering maybe a little something something about chain vs belt for those of us thinking of making a change. Right now I have an enclosed system and it's so easy. I really don't know anything about chain or belts pros cons maint..... Oh and thanks for the amazing videos both my bff and i (both female) were able to follow them no prob. love the videos. <3 Most every Harley Davidson built after 1984 is equipped with a belt final drive. Final drives on an American motorcycle are either a "belt" or a "chain", not a shaft. We don't get into shaft final drives in this episode, but will hopefully do so in the future. In a motorcycle belt final drive system the round object with cogs on it on the rear wheel is called a "pulley". In a chain final drive system the round objects are called "sprockets". So, either you have a pulley with cogs that mate to the teeth on a rubber belt spinning off the transmission or you have a sprocket with teeth that mate to metal links on a chain. The belt on a motorcycle final drive is made of high tech compounds, rubber, and kevlar. Kevlar is what bullet proof vests are made of, so you can be certain is is extremely strong. A belt drive does not need any oil at all, they weigh less than a chain, they can last up to 100,000 miles before replacement, and they need no maintenance, because they generally do not stretch like a chain does. A few very old school type bikers that refuse to accept change may try to convince you that you just must have a chain in case you want to change gear ratios on your motorcycle. You can just swap out some sprockets and be ready to go. Okay, that's not what I need to do before a cross country trip on my motorcycle. Sounds great if you professionally drag race your motorcycle. They ask you what you are going to do if your belt suddenly snaps for no reason. If a chain breaks all you need to carry around is a little master link to repair it and your back on the road. Seems like maybe some sound arguements until you have all the actual facts. You see, in all my years of riding motorcycles with final belt drives and riding around a ton of other motorcyclists with the same set up, I have yet to see a motorcycle belt snap for any reason if replaced when the manufacturer recommends. I did speak with some motorcycle mechanics about this subject, as they see thousands of bikes come into the shop. Even they only had a few stories of motorcycle belts snapping suddenly. Theoretically, if you rode without your belt guard in place and then got a sharp rock stuck between