Ducati Sporting Club UK > Model Specific - Discussion, Technical Problems and Help > Supersports: SS / SuperSport / Supersport 950 > Timing Belts...same general quality or not ???

[Iconic944ss]

I was waiting to get my belts and valves done together but it looks as thought I might as well just change the belts and do the valves later.

So - question, are all belts the same quality???

I vaguely remember reading the factory ones had Kevlar in them but for such a (to me) critical item is there a better / longer lasting or more recommended item or is this one of these items when it really is better to stick with the factory stuff?

BTW bike in question - 1993 900SS

Mucho ta...

[Herb]

When Nelly did my belts he used Ducati parts.

These belts were made by Gates who I know make some of the best timing drive belts on the market (I worked for 8 years designing automotive belt drives with Gates as both partner and competitor). Hence I would say that the standard Ducati parts are as good as any you will find, and most probably better.

[AK]

the only belts that will do the job are gates who exclusively sell to ducati.
I work for the largest ngk & gates stockist in the south whose name i better not mention on this site and i cannot buy them tho can get all other types of gates belts.
there is a car one which would fit but i wouldnt go down that road and only use ducati ones myself on all our 5 ducatis

[Iconic944ss]

Thank You...

Concise, accurate and helpful replies are what rings my bell these days !!!

[Martini]

As anyone that reads my posts will know, I like to find alternatives to the vastly inflated OEM prices. As someone that sets spare parts prices for my own company I know the mark-ups to be made when your customers cannot source parts elsewhere!

I once used Continental belts on my old 600SS and I'd happily do it again.

However, if I had an expensive 4 valve bike I think I'd stick to the ducati parts just in case...........

[twpd]

As the std belts are so cheap I wonder why anyone would consider using anything else...it seems pretty pointless to me.