 Belt Drive Ratio: The Real Findings
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I figured I'd go out last night and actually see what the RPMS at speed was, since this is really what everyone wants to know, and there has been so much questioning the ratios.
With the belt drive 70 MPH = roughly 3850 RPM...from what I have seen the 18 is about 3750 at 70...and the 17 is about 4250 at 70
Pretty darn close to an 18 I'd say.
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Re: Belt Drive Ratio: The Real Findings
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Now that is what I was looking for. Hmmm Next winter project I guess. Thanks a bunch that is greatly needed info.
Jango
"They don't call it a SPEEDMASTER for nothin"
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Re: Belt Drive Ratio: The Real Findings
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Thanks! Nice job
My belt drive conversion is on order. Bob said it's coming soon!
Brian
2005 Speedmaster
2001 Trophy 1200
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Re: Belt Drive Ratio: The Real Findings
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if only they would drop its price
Frank
(Former)05 BA tbike pipes, ai removed, Freak, mikuni hsr 42's, 904, ported/polished head, 1mm oversized valves
NOW-2010 silver and black tbird
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Re: Belt Drive Ratio: The Real Findings
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Frank, Actually QPD is not a 'they' its a him. Ozzie Ozwalt. A man who has been a Triumph dealer in the glory days of Triumph. He hand makes every piece in his shop(very well equipped) with the emphasis on quality. He is a man who stands behind what he makes. He's made belt drives for a lot of different Triumph models with no problems. He even got kicked out of a Triumph Boardroam back in the early sixties for recommending they use belt drive for all their models.(They thought he was crazy, who wants beltdrive?) He also makes the springer front ends. I also recommend giving the small entrepenuer(SP?) business. If it was made by a larger company, yeah it might be a little cheaper. But quality would be sacrificed, its just a fact of business as well as customer service. You can't beat 'Ozzie'. You can pull up to his house, shoot the ******, talk about an idea you have and you can walk away with a one quality item.
Just my two cents.
Fryguy
Man, you must be fast because you were haulin' A$$ when I passed you back there. . .
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Re: Belt Drive Ratio: The Real Findings
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3/4 Throttle
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George in Easy Rider: "Oh, oh I've got a helmet! I got a beauty!"
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Re: Belt Drive Ratio: The Real Findings
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hey thanx fryguy, i didnt know things were that way. thank you for clearing that up for me
Frank
(Former)05 BA tbike pipes, ai removed, Freak, mikuni hsr 42's, 904, ported/polished head, 1mm oversized valves
NOW-2010 silver and black tbird
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Re: Belt Drive Ratio: The Real Findings
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Should be Riding
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Sounds like being slightly shorter gearing than the 18 tooth might also be a good compromise for people who are worried that the 18 might take too much performance away off the line...
Benny
Black & Silver '02
Too many mods to list
Not enough miles ridden
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Re: Belt Drive Ratio: The Real Findings
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I am very likely going to do the conversion myself at some point. Also, I respect and appreciate the quality. However, I find $850 to be extreme even for hand made parts. The belt wholesales for less than $100 and two pullys should not cost $750 to make.
Todd Richmond
Grapevine, TX USA
'78 R80 /7
'06 FJR1300A
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Re: Belt Drive Ratio: The Real Findings
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I am not trying to come off like a jerk, so I appologize if I do.
I'm sure the Pulleys don't cost that much to make out there are more factors that go into it that cost of material. You could have a machine shop whip up some pulleys for a couple of hundred bucks. Then if something goes wrong or breaks then where are you at.
Is the fact that these are tried and true belt drives and a lot of time is invested to make sure that they work properly and they function like they should. If something would go wrong Ozzie is responsible for that. Its more factors than just how much does it cost to make. Thats goes for just about anything for sale in the world market. A new car doesn't cost 20k to make. The belt drives are not made by just some machinist who is copying a design and has no responsibility to the customer except cost. This is a life-long Triumph owner, racer, dealer who knows the product inside and out.
Fryguy
Man, you must be fast because you were haulin' A$$ when I passed you back there. . .
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Re: Belt Drive Ratio: The Real Findings
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I bought my 03 ba for $5,000 on ebay with 3200 miles. the springer sounds nice, the belt would look cool, nice pipes would be great and before long I will have $2,500 into a $5K scooter. I ride around slow and enjoy it. I will beef up on the rebuild. For now I will save my money for wine and women. Good luck on your projects.
Yeah it's fast. It's blue and it has flames.
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Re: Belt Drive Ratio: The Real Findings
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Quote:
I am not trying to come off like a jerk, so I appologize if I do.
I'm sure the Pulleys don't cost that much to make out there are more factors that go into it that cost of material. You could have a machine shop whip up some pulleys for a couple of hundred bucks. Then if something goes wrong or breaks then where are you at.
Is the fact that these are tried and true belt drives and a lot of time is invested to make sure that they work properly and they function like they should. If something would go wrong Ozzie is responsible for that. Its more factors than just how much does it cost to make. Thats goes for just about anything for sale in the world market. A new car doesn't cost 20k to make. The belt drives are not made by just some machinist who is copying a design and has no responsibility to the customer except cost. This is a life-long Triumph owner, racer, dealer who knows the product inside and out.
Fryguy
No worries or offense taken. I understand your points and agree with them to a point. It just seems to me that he's taken a bit of a liberty with the profit margin based on what you get.
Todd Richmond
Grapevine, TX USA
'78 R80 /7
'06 FJR1300A
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Re: Belt Drive Ratio: The Real Findings
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I understand what you are saying. I just wanted to be clear that QPD is a good guy and not some corporation who doesn't have you in their best interest. I don't want to turn people either way, just want to make sure of the facts.
Ride safe
Fryguy
Man, you must be fast because you were haulin' A$$ when I passed you back there. . .
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Re: Belt Drive Ratio: The Real Findings
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Not taking sides or interfearing, but having been in the process of developing custom parts for our bikes, the time , money, research, and development of parts is expensive. Something like a belt drive involves blueprints, engineering drawings, building prototypes, product liability issues, and a lot of time. The units available for sale have been paid for unless the seller owns the manufacturing facilities. These costs can't all be absorbed entirely by the manufacturer/supplier. They are passed on to the consumer/user who gets the benefit of the product. Single or small production runs are more costly per unit than large runs. Who knows how much has been invested up-front to have this system available. I'm sure it's several thousands of dollars. As sales increase the cost might go down as with any other mass produced product. Escalating materials, labor and overhead costs drive the final consumer pricing. For sales volume I'm sure the cost is as low as possible, including a profit margin, for the current conditions. I too want one, but the cost is just out of my investment range.
I'm certainly not defending the guy, just passing along my insights and experiences in the manuacturing/production area in the course of discussion.
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Re: Belt Drive Ratio: The Real Findings
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Complete Newb
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Check out at http://www.quietpowerdrive.comI had questions about how they would hold up, then I saw the same belt/gears on a 125hp Speed triple...good enough for me! Go price a replacement Harley front and rear gear, they run $300-$400 just for the rear sprocket! I am a CNC machinist and own my own shop, I still wouldn't try to make this for $850. I'll have pic's on my install soon. Look for my photo album in 2 weeks. 
2005 Speedmaster
Staintune Exhaust
Ikon 1" lowered rear shocks
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Re: Belt Drive Ratio: The Real Findings
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This is a real tempting purchase. $850 is a sizable amount for any upgrade in my opinion for a $7k bike. However, I anxiously look for opinions of those who have gone to a beltdrive. Is it worth it? I think it would be.
Maybe when my wife isn't looking I'll buy one.
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- 2007 Triumph Tiger
- 1982 Yamaha xj650 Magnum
- Previous 2004 Triumph America
- Previous 1973 Triumph Bonneville T140V 750cc
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Re: Belt Drive Ratio: The Real Findings
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I'd love to have a belt drive, but I'm using a 19 tooth front sprocket and I don't know if I can stomach the lower drive ratio of the belt system.
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Re: Belt Drive Ratio: The Real Findings
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Quote:
I'd love to have a belt drive, but I'm using a 19 tooth front sprocket and I don't know if I can stomach the lower drive ratio of the belt system.
Slug, I couldn't resist when I saw you post. I made the excact statment many times, I have refrained from commenting any further about the QPD's ratio because I got caught up in the disputes and actually had to eat a large portion of un-seasoned crow and it did not tast like chicken! Brent at NSM.com advertises the correct ratio. But with ratio set to the side for a moment I too ran the 19/42 drive as you are, I loved it because all my riding was interstate. I hated my chain drive with a passion. But I was torn between lower ratio, $$$$$ vs. chain and it sloppy mess. So I went ahead and purchased a QPD from Brent installed it and went out for a drive. My impessions after running a 19 for over 7,000 miles was the engine sounded better seems the bike ran better with the near 18 just felt right. I am happy with the product and its installation, straight forward no suprises. With the exception if your running a freak set up with the tool box the little L shaped bracket that holds the tool box has to be cut off. I zipped it off with a saws-all, the rest stright forward. I have run the belt for around 400 miles now and after one retighten of the belt after 40 miles the belt remained the same tension. It's smoothness is immediatly noticed. I have jumped all over the RPM's and run the bike a 100 mph several times no problems. I give the whole thing a major thumbs up. My two cents. Tmax
"Will Ride or Fly for food"
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Re: Belt Drive Ratio: The Real Findings
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Thanks tmax. I appreciate your input. It's nice to hear from someone who has gone from the 19/42 combo to the belt drive. I installed an 18 tooth sprocket (removed the 19) on my speedy today to see how it would be. It's nice. A bit easier to ride around town and pretty good on the highway.
The 18 tooth sprocket runs about 4000 rpm at 70 mph. This is a true 70mph, not 70mph on the speedometer.
tmax, maybe you could do me a favour.... find out what your tach reads at a true 70 mph. If your speedo is out the way mine was, 77mph on the speedo would give you a true 70 mph.
Thanks.
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Quote:
tmax, maybe you could do me a favour.... find out what your tach reads at a true 70 mph. If your speedo is out the way mine was, 77mph on the speedo would give you a true 70 mph.
Thanks.
Slug,  Yesterday after noon @ 70mph I was showing 4:25 pm.  I wish I had a tach so I could help. At the top of this post there is tach readings but if they are based on true 70mph I don't know. Maybe you can get some dude to run a test for ya? take care and ride safe. Tmax
"Will Ride or Fly for food"
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Quote:
Slug, Yesterday after noon @ 70mph I was showing 4:25 pm. I wish I had a tach so I could help
LMAO! I asked Santa to bring me a QPD setup for Christmas. Now I have to try and be good all year....
Thunderpipes, 135 mains, TBS needles, snorkel & AI removed
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Re: Belt Drive Ratio: The Real Findings
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Installed QPD belt drive 3 weeks ago. Works fine, could not notice any change in ratio (though I have no tacho..).
However, front pulley had a label stating "this side towards engine". I guess the label was on the wrong side, as pulley scraped against drive shafts rubber sealing after mounting. The other way around it worked just fine. So much for labelling...
PianoMan
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It also occured to me that there is one more factor to the equation. The diameter of the rear tire. Granted I don't know what sizes are available, but you could also lower rpms by increasing the diameter of your rear tire.
Several guys on the NTBF run a slightly taller rear, and get the same effect as an 18 tooth front sprocket.
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Re: Belt Drive Ratio: The Real Findings
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Bob(QPD) is sending me a 24 & 25 tooth front spocket next week (think 18 & 17 chain sprockets). I'll test and review the findings here, including correct RPM-MPH ratios (thank's Lisa!) I can't say enough of what a quality person Bob Oswald is, a truely good guy. QPD web site
2005 Speedmaster
Staintune Exhaust
Ikon 1" lowered rear shocks
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Re: Belt Drive Ratio: The Real Findings
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Boogieman, 100% on the money. If it were something like taking a set of prints to a machine shop and having the pulleys turned out, then likely the whole deal would cost less than $4-500. However, as you mention, there is a lot of upfront work that goes into it, and those costs have to be accounted for somewhere. Plus, let's be perfectly frank, this is this mans livelihood, so just like any other normal person, he is expected to tack on a fair profit margin. But a profit margin isn't intended to cover development costs, prototyping costs, hundreds of hours of development costs, utilities, etc... Seems like his profit margin given all the additional costs besides material/labor for making the parts is pretty reasonable. I've seen MUCH worse, for instance a normal 12V relay that my company makes and sells to the Big 3 for $1-$1.10, being sold at the dealership for $27!(no sh$#!!!!) No additional packaging after it leaves our doors, only distribution costs, and dealer markup. 2700% profit, now that is LUDICROUS! Unfortunately, it is out of my price range too, or I might consider it. My ScottOiler works fine, but a truly clean, "maintenance free" drive system would be great...
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