Silverwing GT3 Trike Kit

With a couple of members having trouble with their SWing trike kits I sent this email to Motor Trike Corp.

Hi Motor Trike,

I have an 08 Silverwing that I had converted over to a trike with your GT3 kit. Besser's Bike Barn in Sauk Rapids, MN did the work and I am very happy with it.
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I'm wondering how hard it would be, and if it would be practical, to have a drive belt instead of a chain on the kit. I was talking to one person who also has the GT3 kit with about 8,000 miles on it and the chain and sprockets are shot. There's no real way to keep tension on the chain with an idler pulley like there is with a belt drive. Heck, Harley Davidson motorcycles are way more powerful than my 600 cc Silverwing and those belts last a lot longer than 8,000 miles. The drive belt on my Silverwing has a recommended change life of 16,000 miles. Something like that for the GT3 kit would be a blessing if it's possible. Heck, I'd even be willing to have my 08 be a "test scooter" if you wanted a test scooter. I could ride the heck out of it in the summer and bring it in to Besser's Bike Barn for an evaluation once a month during the riding season. Just a thought.

Now to wait and see how hard they laugh at me. Or not.

SWAG tells me the $$$$$$$ involved belt over chain is the reason they would deny going belt but in any case it will be interesting to hear their answer.

I did get an email back from them. He told me that putting a belt drive on the GT3 would be cost prohibitive as it would add about $1500 to the price and that the belt probably wouldn't last as long as a properly maintained chain. Also, finding and fitting a decent belt for the kit would be a problem also.

It didn't hurt to ask