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Active Member
Do not ride on gravel roads?
In the Do and don't section it says " do not ride on gravel roads" Well, I live on a gravel road and I have to drive on about 1/4 mile of gravel to get to my house! Most of the belt is covered but there is a short section that is not. Is there a cover made for that section? I'll bet a piece of gravel could do severe damage to the belt and drive wheel. Now I'll worry every time I drive on that short section of gravel road. My bike is an RTs.
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Very Active Member
There is....
check with spyderpops, a sponsor on the home page, who has those missing guards...
Gene and Ilana De Laney
Mt. Helix, California
2012 RS sm5
2012 RS sm5 , 998cc V-Twin 106hp DIY brake and park brake Classic Black
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Very Active Member
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Very Active Member
No, no! You're never allowed to ride on gravel...you have to give the bike back!
Or not.
Phil
I may be old, but I got to see all the cool bands.
2011 Spyder RT-AC
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If it makes you feel better. I have 3 1/2 miles of gravel to the nearest tar road. no problems yet. dealer said it is the chipped granite that will cause damage to the belt. the round rocks on a gravel road have not bothered yet.
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Very Active Member
As Chupaca says the Spyderpops stone guard does the trick on normal gravel, stone chip etc.
Once you've got the belt guard fitted all you have to be careful of is very fresh tar and chip, by fresh I mean the tar has just been laid and is still hot and sticky. What happens then is the tar helps the chips stick to the tires and they shower everywhere . In that situation the worst is actually front left tire as that comes back towards the belt and of course the tar helps the chips stick to that as well. I'm the third rider I'm aware of in NZ who's damaged a belt after hitting that stuff.
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Very Active Member
I ride on them, harder than most people should and have been fine and I don't have a top belt guard, I did get a rock thru the first belt I had but it held up until I had my front pulley bolt break.
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Active Member
Gravel Roads
Although I don't do it everyday, when it is necessary, I find traveling slower workst to keep the gravel where it belongs, on the ground and not in the bike belt track... Just sayin... Unfortunately, hot tar is just a mess...
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I have to ride 3 1/2 miles of dirt road each time I leave the house just to get to the paved roads. I had the same question, but since there is no choice in the matter, I just take it a bit slower and watch where I go.
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Active Member
I've been driving on a 1/2 mile gravel drive for 2 years and have had no problem.
I keep the speed under about 10 mph.
2015 RTS Ltd Spyderpops bumpskid, Dual Isci Hand Brake ,Baker Wind Wings
2016 Polaris Slingshot SL
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Very Active Member
Harley's have had the same exact belt for decades. Why are they not concerned?
2017 F3 Limited
2017 F3 Limited , Lamonster Black Dymond brake pedal with brake rod at #5 Pure Magnesium Metallic
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Very Active Member
Originally Posted by AY4B
Harley's have had the same exact belt for decades. Why are they not concerned?
I believe the Harley rear sprocket run between 125 to 140 teeth whereas the Spyder has half that number. That makes it easier for a piece of gravel to lodge itself into the teeth as the spaces are wider.
Penny and Rick have owned many motorcycles starting in 1974 with Honda’s, then to Suzukis, Gold Wings and ultimately Spyders.
‘74 Honda 360T (pair); ‘78 Suzuki GS 1000 (pair); ‘’82 Honda Aspencade; ‘84 Honda 400; ‘87 Yamaha 1100; ‘99 Honda Valkyrie; ‘01 Suzuki Burgman(triked); ‘02 Honda GL 1800(triked); ‘10 Spyder RTSE; ‘11 Spyder RTSM; ‘12 Spyder RTSL (pair); ‘20 Spyder RTL (current)
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Registered Users
2012 Spyder RS SM5 - Steel Black Metallic "The Murder"
Southern Cruisers Riding Club - Chapter 072 - Northern Illinois
Two Brothers M2 Pipe; TB Juice Box; Hartco Custom Saddle; Rivco Driver Floorboards; Rivco Heel Toe Shifter; ESI Highway Pegs & Brackets; ESI 4.5" Easy Riser Handlebar Risers; BajaRon Sway Bar; Cycle Sounds Series 3 200 Watt Sound System; 14" Touring Windshield; Custom Dynamics Mirror Extensions; Kuryakyn ISO Grips; Kuryakyn Throttle Boss; Kuryakyn End Weights; Frunk Liner.
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Originally Posted by Double Trouble
I believe the Harley rear sprocket run between 125 to 140 teeth whereas the Spyder has half that number. That makes it easier for a piece of gravel to lodge itself into the teeth as the spaces are wider.
Harley rear sprocket is around 65 -70 tooth on rear sprockets..
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Anyone riding a "Belt-Bike", who isn't aware of this potential issue... WILL BE!!
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Very Active Member
2014 RT-S
Akrapovic Exhaust & Cat Bypass
Bajaron Sway Bar w/links / Sena SM-10/Garmin 660
Comfort Seat w Adjustable Backrest
Decals by Purple Harley / Magic Strobe
Kuryakyn Black Widow Pegs Rivco Highway Brackets
Rivco Trunk Mounted Double Flag Holder
FOBO / Spyder Cuff / XM Radio w MC Antenna
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SpyderLovers Sponsor
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Very Active Member
Originally Posted by PistonBlown
As Chupaca says the Spyderpops stone guard does the trick on normal gravel, stone chip etc.
Once you've got the belt guard fitted all you have to be careful of is very fresh tar and chip, by fresh I mean the tar has just been laid and is still hot and sticky. What happens then is the tar helps the chips stick to the tires and they shower everywhere . In that situation the worst is actually front left tire as that comes back towards the belt and of course the tar helps the chips stick to that as well. I'm the third rider I'm aware of in NZ who's damaged a belt after hitting that stuff.
I hate it when they chip seal (hot tar and rock chips) a road here. It is a very common practice in Utah and in rural Utah there is often no other way you can go except over the fresh chip seal. Will Spyderpops missing belt guard work with the Rivco belt tension device?
Happy TRAils/NSD
Paul
2012 RT L
AMA 25 years Life Member
TRA
PGR
Rhino Riders Plate #83
Venturers #78
TOI
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Active Member
Out of nearly 100,000 Spyder miles since 2007 I would guess that 1,000 of them have been on gravel roads in Minnesota. I generally slow down some, but not to a crawl. Often times it is 50 mph for miles on end. To be fair, I did have to replace one belt, but that was damaged due to hot tar patches and chunks of tar getting stuck on the big sprocket. Yes it is a concern, but just slow down and be smart about it to minimize any paint chipping and rocks getting stuck in the sprocket/belt. The dust is more of a concern, kills the air filter far quicker.
2021 RT Limited - Deep Marsala Red – 4,200 miles
2013 ST-S SE-5 - Circuit Yellow – 56,000 miles
2015 F3-S SM-6 - Can-Am Red Solid Gloss – 2,000 miles - SOLD
2008 GS SM-5 Premier Edition #659 - Full Moon – 34,000 miles - SOLD
2008 GS SM-5 Premier Edition #006 - Full Moon – 34,800 miles - SOLD
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Very Active Member
Originally Posted by pegasus1300
I hate it when they chip seal (hot tar and rock chips) a road here. It is a very common practice in Utah and in rural Utah there is often no other way you can go except over the fresh chip seal.
It's getting to be a common practice all around the country. It's been proven to be very cost effective way to extend the life of asphalt pavement.
2014 Copper RTS
Tri-Axis bars, CB, BajaRon sway bar & shock adjusters, SpyderPop's Bumpskid, NBV peg brackets, LED headlights and modulator, Wolo trumpet air horns, trailer hitch, custom trailer harness, high mount turn signals, Custom Dynamics brake light, LED turn signal lights on mirrors, LED strip light for a dash light, garage door opener, LED lights in frunk, trunk, and saddlebags, RAM mounts and cradles for tablet (for GPS) and phone (for music), and Smooth Spyder belt tensioner.
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If I can't fix it, I will fix it so no one can fix it. Sypder Loco!
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Active Member
Originally Posted by WasWinger
It's getting to be a common practice all around the country. It's been proven to be very cost effective way to extend the life of asphalt pavement.
Agreed. They call it "seal coating" up here. They first spray a hot oil/tar layer then cover it in pea-rock, let it get packed in and then come back later and sweep up the un-stuck pea rock. Typically it is most effective if done one year after the pavement is laid down. Something about helping to keep the oil content in the pavement.
But that is less of an issue than the 100% hot tar pot hole repairs we have to deal with due to the freeze-thaw cycles. They come along with a truck load of hot mix asphalt and fill the craters in the pavement with hot tar and pack it down. If you should come across the repair sites that day, your tires pick up some chunks and it is hell on the belt, sprockets, wheels, the guy behind you. I will flat out turn around when I find roads that are getting repaired that day. WD-40 is a cheap tar remover, spray it on and let it sit for a few minutes, loosens up the tar bond and it wipes right off, cheap.
2021 RT Limited - Deep Marsala Red – 4,200 miles
2013 ST-S SE-5 - Circuit Yellow – 56,000 miles
2015 F3-S SM-6 - Can-Am Red Solid Gloss – 2,000 miles - SOLD
2008 GS SM-5 Premier Edition #659 - Full Moon – 34,000 miles - SOLD
2008 GS SM-5 Premier Edition #006 - Full Moon – 34,800 miles - SOLD
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