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.

[Martini]

I started looking at alternatives because a) a genuine Gates/Ducati belt snapped and the dealer couldn't give a t*ss b) it was a long drive to my nearest dealer c) a local Conti dealer had identical spec belts AND they were a quarter of the Gates/Ducati price.

[twpd]

A quarter? How much do you pay for your belts?

I pay £26/pair. At that price why bother with anything else?

2 cylinders are all you need but, 3 is a fine compromise
www.twpd.co.uk
www.twpdracing.com

[Martini]

They were about £3 - 4 each. Plus VAT.

I take your point. Like I said in my earlier post, if you can get the Gates/Ducati belts then stick with them. The point I was trying to make was that just because they are Ducati branded doesn't make them any better than another manufacturer.

I've often used alternatives.

How come we buy bulbs, filters, switchgear, tyres, chains, sprokets, wiring, relays and all sorts of other bits from non-ducati sources but get so paranoid when it comes to the cam-belts?

[Derek]

Originally Posted by Martini

How come we buy bulbs, filters, switchgear, tyres, chains, sprokets, wiring, relays and all sorts of other bits from non-ducati sources but get so paranoid when it comes to the cam-belts?

When a bulb blows it doesn't wreck your engine!