Changing the timing belt?

[chris in va]

Still looking for an ST1100. On the chance the belt needs changing, is this something an average mechanically-inclined person with hand tools can do or dealer only procedure? How much $$$ am I looking at? I don't really feel like removing the forks if that's what it takes...

 

[sennister]

As far as removing the forks. It isn't really hard at all. I just did my fork seals and there isn't much to it.

I don't mean to thread jack this post but I have a related question.

How often should the belt be changed? I have 47,000 on my 93 I think and as far as I know it has never been done. Am I over due based on age. I know in cars it is somewhere around 70-100,000 but I don't know about a bike and besides I would think it would be wise as it could fail if it gets old also.

 

[wjbertrand]

Honda recommends replacing the belt every 90,000 miles and an inspecting at 60,000. I didn't bother with the inspection and when I replaced it at 88K it looked perfectly fine still.

 

[STPaulK]

Dave, you can inspect the belt through the timing access. I changed mine out at 10 years old and it didn't show age one bit.

 

[sennister]

Dave, you can inspect the belt through the timing access. I changed mine out at 10 years old and it didn't show age one bit.

Ok thanks. I think I would like to at least look at it. Whlie I thought I was well short of miles but I was wondering about age now that my bike is also 10 years old.

 

[hawkeyeST]

Dave, you can inspect the belt through the timing access. I changed mine out at 10 years old and it didn't show age one bit.

I've seen broken cam belts (in cars) that looked brand new except right at that tiny point of failure.