New to me "03" silverwing another question

As some of you know I bought this bike about 10 days ago and found it had A repaired title and did not have actual mileage. I was not happy. I have been going through the bike and after some research through the State of Maine I find the bike has 20k miles and was paid off by Insurance company for a lot of plastic damage. I only have $1400 into it. I can not find any record of the belt being changed. This is the only thing left to check. After reading many posts I find there seems to be no reliable way to tell how old a belt might be. I really hate to replace it if it's not due. I know that the V lite works as it comes on at start up. I'm on my 4th tank of gas and have not found a single problem with the bike. Last owner is unreachable since I bought the bike from him. I'm sure he is feeling a little guilty about cheating me. I bought the bike with 3k on the odometer and find it has 20k through the state but that's all the Info they are allowed to give out. I thought I got really screwed ,but the bike seems perfect. Thanks Ernie

Hello all. I pulled the belt cover off today and was surprised that it was not as dirty as I expected. The belt that is on there has some yellow printing still somewhat visible and series of Ss crossway on the belt. I was hoping to figure out if this was an original belt. The belt appeared to be in good shape so I measured it's width and found it to be exactly 1 inch wide. This threw up a red flag because I read that useful life was down to 1.06. Sound right? Thanks Ernie

Ernie,

It would be good probably to change the belt if you are unsure and it is measuring under the specs. I would hate to have belt break when on the road. It is hard to mess up a SWing since they seem to be bulletproof.

If your belt was good and you replaced it you have a belt you can trust, at the cost of a new belt. If you don't replace your belt you may have a good belt you can't trust, at the cost of having to worry if it's going to leave on the side of the road. Many people safely run their belts 20,000-24,000 miles and don't have a problem. I replace my belt at the 16,000 miles like Honda recommends, I may be wasting money but I don't worry that it's going to break. I pay $125 for 16,000 miles of worry free riding. I don't think I'm wasting money. Just my thoughts.

I'm sure your right ,I guess I just needed to hear it . Thanks, Ernie

Ernie,

I have an 08 SWing with just over 19,000 miles on it. It had been sitting for 2 years under a tarp in FL. The paperwork shows that the belt had been changed at 17,700 miles. I trailered it home and after some TLC got it running. It's been running great but I plan on changing the belt this winter. What else have I got to do with our 10 1/2 months of winter, right?

I've had the covers off and the belt looks great so I will save it as a spare. No sense taking chances. I'm also going to put 26 gr. Dr. Sliders in it while it's apart. I've got to pull that pulley face off to change the belt anyway.

At least this way during MN's 2 1/2 months of summer I can feel confident that my SWing won't give me any troubles.

Just my 2 cents.

Gee Dale looks like your in the same boat as I am with short summers. I keep asking why I live up here in Maine. People say, It's so beautiful up there. I say come up in the 10 month Winter. Not that I don't ski anymore, the is long and cold. And the wind doesn't blow, it sucks !! Hope that's ok to say. If not, Sorry. Ernie

Hi Ernie,

I was a truck driver for about 36 years and am now retired. I don't miss driving in the winter and can now look out the window and think to myself how pretty a snow fall is. That is now that I don't have to go out in them anymore. The bad part is that it sure cuts down on SWing riding.

Enjoy the wing and it sounds like the cosmetic damage only is a big break. It could have been much worse. I would change the belt.