Lighter Bike Search

[Hound]

I saw an NC750X that had been converted to belt drive. If a kit was also available for the NT1100, I might consider it as a next bike. Nothing against chains for efficiency, I just don't like the idea of my bike living outside all the time and the chain suffering the elements. I've been spoiled by only having shaft drive bikes since 1980!

I just checked the manufacturer, however, and no NC1100 kit. There's one for the Africa Twin and the Varadero though. Maybe in a while....

 

[SMSW]

I saw an NC750X that had been converted to belt drive.

One of my BMW buddies mentioned his belt went south on a trip. The point of his story was the new belt cost him right around $500. Is that just a BMW thing? Are Harley and other high horsepower capable belts expensive? I think the bike in question was a 700cc GS or similar size.

 

[Cincykz]

An OEM belt for my Buell Firebolt was about $170 and could be changed in 20 minutes due to a two piece swingarm. I changed the original at 20k as insurance, and then kept it as a spare (never needed). I do believe that Harley touring bikes require the swingarm to be removed, more of a job.

The Buell belt was the best throttle to tire I ever felt. No lash, no lag, electric smooth.

 

[Uncle Phil]

One of my BMW buddies mentioned his belt went south on a trip. The point of his story was the new belt cost him right around $500. Is that just a BMW thing? Are Harley and other high horsepower capable belts expensive? I think the bike in question was a 700cc GS or similar size.

BMW - Break My Wallet ...

 

[Mellow]

BMW - Break My Wallet ...

Nah.. my wallet isn't broken, heck it works better than ever...it's so light...

 

[Firstpeke]

I saw an NC750X that had been converted to belt drive. If a kit was also available for the NT1100, I might consider it as a next bike. Nothing against chains for efficiency, I just don't like the idea of my bike living outside all the time and the chain suffering the elements. I've been spoiled by only having shaft drive bikes since 1980!

I just checked the manufacturer, however, and no NC1100 kit. There's one for the Africa Twin and the Varadero though. Maybe in a while....

IF there's a kit for the AT it doesn't seem unlikely that it would fit the NT, but I guess we would need to look at dimensions for the AT vs. NT swing arm etc...
It would certainly be something to interest providing it wasn't going to be BMW expensive..... that said, Honda has a similar version of expensive in relation to "OEM" parts......

 

[Uncle Phil]

Nah.. my wallet isn't broken, heck it works better than ever...it's so light...

Maybe it should be ' Butterfly My Wallet' as in "Float like a butterfly,.."

 

[Hound]

They're Gates belts on the website of the conversion company. They seem to be in the $300 range for belts on bikes like a BMW F700GS rather than $500, but inflated prices for anything BMW don't surprise me.

 

[motornut]

Don't overlook the Kawasaki line of bikes, the Versys and several of the standards are great rides and light too. Should not need to "Bring More Wallet"

 

[Cincykz]

Lighter bike (tall though):

Caponord?
I've found them kind of intriguing since they first came out.

 

[ST Gui]

I saw an NC750X that had been converted to belt drive.

Awesome! I could really dig a CB1100 with belt drive.

 

[CDNolddude]

Time for an update:
I picked up my new 2023 Triumph Bonneville T120 (Saturday May 27,2023)
It's no ST300 but it is lighter, weighs 520 lbs. Traded in the ST for weak money with 77,000+ miles.
I only had routine maintenance on my ST for the 77k miles. It would have been my last bike if not for the weight.
The Bonneville handles very good and rides good and good two up. So far so good (with only 248 miles on it)
Photo time



x

Very nice bike. You are going to like the 22” parabellum windshield.
I put one on my 03 t100 and it was great also had small hard bags

Hepco Becker has nicer hard bags
And Nelson Riggs has/had nice soft bags
Enjoy!