Belt changes on a 2000 900 ss
 

I have a 2000 900ss with 4000 miles on it. Should the belts be changes on a time basis as well as a milage basis?
Regards
Tom

Tom, if they haven't been changed since new, then get them done. Even if you're doing low milege, they should be changed every 2 years.

Tom ,for the £100 that it costs to have them replaced its peace of mind. My 900SS 98 were changed every 9/10 000 miles because i was doing the mileage, looking at the belts they still looked good, just a little shiny in places.They do detiriate with age especially if the bikes not being used.Its a few grand to spend if they let go you though? 4D

Tom
my Blooo duke gets new belts at every service whether 6000, 12000 or just cos the oil needs changing
Maybe a little OTT but definitely peace of mind as Fordie says
rgds
mort

Ditto Mort

Andy

The logic of changing the timing belts every two years escapes me.

The only explanation that I can come up with is that without SOME time limit, the timing belts would drop off the owners maintenance radar scope. The usual reasons for maintenance on a time schedule, don’t seem to apply here.

For example, for oil changes when the manufacturer specifies a time criteria, they're telling you that if you ride every day, but for only short trips to work, your riding habits subject the oil to a more severe service so you should use time, not mileage, as a guide. If you ride 100 miles a week, but do it in ten trips, you should use time, not mileage as your criteria.

Motorcycle riding is often different. If you ride only for pleasure once a week for 100 miles, then you should use mileage, not time as your change criteria.

Timing belts are made of kevlar-reinforced rubber, much like some tires that have no such time limit on their replacement. It’s easy to understand a mileage limit on timing belts since (except under unusual usage) it correlates directly to cyclic fatigue and wear.

So what’s so special about timing belts that they need replacement on a time schedule?

If you buy a new bike and then put it your private collection and don’t ride it for two years do you have to replace the belts? Of course not. Conversely, if you have a track bike that lives at the red-line don’t wait to change your belts until 12,000 miles is up.

You need to use your common sense here.

I was told somewhere long ago that if you leave the bike standing over winter, be careful because the belts can shape round the sprockets, etc and may take a while to shape up. It was suggested to run/start the bike until warm every 2-weeks to combat this!

On another note, Nelly found that one of the tensioner bearings had seized, equating to BLUE belt! This was probably down to a wet run out, beware!!!

So my only solution is to check the belts as often as possible, even if you remove them and put them back again/re-tension.

(Just to make you feel better, a Ferrari belt change costs around £1500???)

Andy