Unofficial Royal Enfield Community Forum

General Discussion => Campfire Talk => Topic started by: boggy on November 11, 2013, 04:12:46 pm

Title: Yamaha Bolt Cafe
Post by: boggy on November 11, 2013, 04:12:46 pm
This one is for you D the D, although I think I just read you aren't into Cafe's.  Yamaha is a few years late to the party, but I feel like they've been really trying lately with lots of new models.  Before I link, I'll say I sat on a Bolt this weekend and in person they look impressive.  I'd definitely take one over a Sportster, if I were to go that route.  Cool bike.

Bolt Cafe "Concept."
http://www.visordown.com/image.aspx?url=/uploads/images/Huge/63169.jpg&area=ARTICLES&category=Motorcycle+news%3a+New+bikes&title=&SiteChannelId=2

Title: Re: Yamaha Bolt Cafe
Post by: D the D on November 12, 2013, 05:52:06 am
Thanks for the pic.  8)  That's not bad looking for a V-twin cafĂ©-ish bike. 
Title: Re: Yamaha Bolt Cafe
Post by: DanKearney on November 12, 2013, 03:40:49 pm
That's a good lookin' bike.

Cheers,

Dan K.
Title: Re: Yamaha Bolt Cafe
Post by: cyrusb on November 12, 2013, 10:52:22 pm
I can't get past the belt drive. It's so prominent, and for what?. Call me an old fart but, belt drives are the answer to the question no one asked.  This too, hopefully will pass, like the rubber cam belt.
Title: Re: Yamaha Bolt Cafe
Post by: D the D on November 13, 2013, 03:07:29 am
I can't get past the belt drive. It's so prominent, and for what?. Call me an old fart but, belt drives are the answer to the question no one asked.  This too, hopefully will pass, like the rubber cam belt.

It's just another way of doing it.  I'm sure someone around 1890 asked "Why a chain?  Darn newfangled gadgets.  The leather belt is perfectly good!"
Title: Re: Yamaha Bolt Cafe
Post by: ROVERMAN on November 13, 2013, 01:17:31 pm
As far as belt drives go i had one on my 440 Kaw, quiet, reliable, and maintenance free. Downsides? I dunno.
Robert.
Title: Re: Yamaha Bolt Cafe
Post by: cyrusb on November 13, 2013, 04:59:49 pm
As far as belt drives go i had one on my 440 Kaw, quiet, reliable, and maintenance free. Downsides? I dunno.
Robert.
It's inherently huge, because of the bend radius problem. Very limited in ratio changes. On a 440 kaw that probably wasn't an issue. But hey to each his own, I wear a belt. 
Title: Re: Yamaha Bolt Cafe
Post by: barenekd on November 13, 2013, 09:34:59 pm
The downside is that they are ugly and stick out too far. the Buell Blast was the ultimate in ugly. On a big Hog they aren't too noticeable, but smaller bikes aren't done any justice by them. They also got to eat a lot more power than a good chain. And you have to disassemble the rear end of the bike to change them!
Bare
Title: Re: Yamaha Bolt Cafe
Post by: ROVERMAN on November 14, 2013, 02:01:38 pm
Good point Bare, the Blast was ugly. On my Kaw it looked just right, it's just a pity the rest of the bike was crap!
Title: Re: Yamaha Bolt Cafe
Post by: D the D on November 14, 2013, 04:12:03 pm
I kind of like the look on some bikes, it's not too prominent on the Bolt for my tastes.  Actually I like the look of the belt better than a chain on this one.  Really, how often are we changing sprockets and ratios on the street bike unless someone is a fiddly diddler who's never happy with what he's got?  I don't like blonds, but I won't call your wife ugly.  She's just not my cup of tea.
Title: Re: Yamaha Bolt Cafe
Post by: single on November 15, 2013, 10:39:56 pm
One of my best friends told me that my wife is not ugly.So,now there's two of us who feel that way.
I like the Bolt and the Sporty.I like the Thruxton better than either and it will not be bought either.Dammit.
Title: Re: Yamaha Bolt Cafe
Post by: DanKearney on November 16, 2013, 01:07:42 am
As far as belt drives go i had one on my 440 Kaw, quiet, reliable, and maintenance free. Downsides? I dunno.
Robert.


They're long lasting, don't stretch as much as a chain, quiet, and don't spew oil all over the place.  Pretty good trade-offs for the one weakness that I know of:  You can't use them for off road riding.  Get a piece of gravel between the toothed pulley and the belt and it'll snap the belt.


Cheers,


Dan K.
Title: Re: Yamaha Bolt Cafe
Post by: Norm on November 16, 2013, 03:34:18 am

They're long lasting, don't stretch as much as a chain, quiet, and don't spew oil all over the place.  Pretty good trade-offs for the one weakness that I know of:  You can't use them for off road riding.  Get a piece of gravel between the toothed pulley and the belt and it'll snap the belt.  Cheers,
Dan K.
I had a pebble embedded in the middle of the drive belt of my Harley for the longest time.  The mechanics said to leave it as it didn't affect the belt's durability.  They were right.
Title: Re: Yamaha Bolt Cafe
Post by: cyrusb on November 16, 2013, 01:37:39 pm
Was that pebble to close to a vital organ to remove? Bike evolution being the way it is, dictates that if the belt was truly better all bikes would have it. How many are sporting the belt? Mostly cruisers? If you are the type of rider that may dissolve in oil it's a must have. ;D
Title: Re: Yamaha Bolt Cafe
Post by: High On Octane on November 16, 2013, 03:28:09 pm
Was that pebble to close to a vital organ to remove? Bike evolution being the way it is, dictates that if the belt was truly better all bikes would have it. How many are sporting the belt? Mostly cruisers? If you are the type of rider that may dissolve in oil it's a must have. ;D

If belt drives WEREN'T as good as everyone says they are, then why are belt drives popping up on all the latest bicycles?   ???  There are hundreds of them out there!

Scottie
Title: Re: Yamaha Bolt Cafe
Post by: Norm on November 16, 2013, 03:35:18 pm
Was that pebble to close to a vital organ to remove? Bike evolution being the way it is, dictates that if the belt was truly better all bikes would have it. How many are sporting the belt? Mostly cruisers? If you are the type of rider that may dissolve in oil it's a must have. ;D
The pebble was bulging out but not hitting anything.  Since it was in the middle of the wide belt, it was not a structural issue.  If it were near to the edge the belt likely would likely to have needing replacing.

Why don't all motorcycles have belts?  For sportbikes, maybe their power output causes undue strain on belts.  I would think the Enfields would be prime candidates for belts, except that they wouldn't fit the tradition, and would look out of place.  Witness the Buell Blast belt and rear "sprocket". 

But didn't the first motorcycles have leather belts?  That's a tradition I wouldn't want to explore!   ;)
Title: Re: Yamaha Bolt Cafe
Post by: GreenMachine on November 16, 2013, 04:06:34 pm
Sure I lose a little HP at the rear but so digging my shaft drive 1100 (Unless it breaks) ... :P
Title: Re: Yamaha Bolt Cafe
Post by: barenekd on November 16, 2013, 06:37:33 pm
Quote
Sure I lose a little HP at the rear but so digging my shaft drive 1100 (Unless it breaks) ... :P

The shaft drive, at least, looks good!
Bare
Title: Re: Yamaha Bolt Cafe
Post by: D the D on November 17, 2013, 02:42:13 pm
But didn't the first motorcycles have leather belts?  That's a tradition I wouldn't want to explore!   ;)

Early motorbikes did have leather belts.  But as torque increased, they were too stretchy and week.  Look at how large the leather belts on steam engines were!  The modern Kevlar reinforced belts with cog teeth don't have this problem.  They are strong enough to last as long or longer than steel chains.
Title: Re: Yamaha Bolt Cafe
Post by: GreenMachine on November 17, 2013, 05:28:04 pm
My belt barely hold my pants..Maybe I should try a chain and see how that works out.. ;D
Title: Re: Yamaha Bolt Cafe
Post by: D the D on November 17, 2013, 10:12:11 pm
My belt barely hold my pants..Maybe I should try a chain and see how that works out.. ;D

My older brother has a Triumph primary chain belt he wore in the '60s.  It won't go around him now.  ;D