Hi Folks,

Just a few questions here for a friend.

She rides a Hyosung Aquila GV650 which is belt driven. she took it to the garage who told her the belt must be changed as its to worn causing it to slip and squeak. the bike has done 8000 miles.

So heres the questions

1. what sort of miles would a belt last and is ?300 for fitting silly money(never dealt with belt so I'm clueless)

2. Would the salt put down in winter affect this? Im saying yes as salt perishes most rubbers.

Cheers folks

How much of the ?300 is parts and how much labour?

I don't have a clue how the price of the belt compares to a conventional chain, but iIt seems expensive to me. This suggests changing the belt is a 45 minute job, so either they have hourly rates that would make a Ferrari dealer blush or the belt is very expensive.

8000 miles would be extremely poor from a chain - I thought one of the advantages of the belts was long life?

Tell her to sell it and buy an SV650

EDIT:
Clucking bell, this shows a belt price of ?155! Cheap Korean bike is not so cheap to run. That still means ?150's worth of labour which is excessive if it's a 45 minute job.

I found a service manual so she can learn to do her own spannering

Cheers.

Asked her what labour costs are.

Does look like a dear bit of belt there. apparently the garage are willing to convert it to chain but will cost more

Chain conversion looks very simple - do it for her and she'll be forever in your debt

That sounds about right for replacing a belt.

My VN2000 is belt drive and the replacement belt is around ?200.

Surely they last more than 8000 miles?

A lot more that 8000 miles, some people have 50k miles on them (Americans). The only problem seems to be if they are damaged by a stone, then your screwed basically.

Does your friends bike squeak badly? They could just adjust the tension on the belt. I would take it to another garage tbh, they could be trying to take advantage. 8000 miles is nowhere near enough unless the belt has been damaged somehow.

Yeah it is making a squeak, She thought it was the brakes at first but then the guys told her its this.

Its apparently so worn it cant be tightened.

She is going to take it to Perth Motorcycles on Monday for them to have a look at it.

As for doing it myself of converting it. She will forever be in my debt and I will forever be her mechanic. its the same with computers!