I don't need belts just yet
but thinking about ordering some and putting away for later as they are on sale  
at CA Cycelworks . DS1000 quoted price is US$42 each seems like a good buy.
What say ye on non genuine parts?
I did read on a previous thread with mixed feelings .
Also gives me a chance to throw one of these on for peace of mind and at $20 bucks well worth it .After reading some horror stories of damage from a broken chain   



Maybe a group buy ?

For what it's worth, Chris Kelly (CA Cycleworks) is a real stand up guy. I always shop from them when in need of OEM replacements.

I think I remember quite a few people on the DMF who have posted about the exact-fit belts and have nothing but good to say about them. Try doing a search.

Top idea 

I think we tried some time back to do something similar, but with the Aussie Dollar at or close to parity I think its time to have another look





                                       Mmick

Okay I did some searching and reading as duc750 suggested .
I am going to order sets of belts for both my bikes oops sorry mine and the Missus
early next week as both bikes have similar Ks and will both be due before too long.
I am also going to grab case savers.
If anyone is interested PM me we can exchange banking details and I can maybe save us some shipping charges the more the merrier .

I have just put a set on - I am taking the bike back to the guy who serviced it at about 5000km.  This is just a precautionary measure as he has never used them and just wants to check the tension (I like that kind of customer service ).

The only other thing to consider is warranty.  If there is a failure of the belt it is obviously easier to get Ducati OEM warranty here than CA - but I would hope never to experience that!!

Oh yeah isn't there a shelf life for belts anyhow?  I mean they normally have a life of 2yrs or 10000km.  They have a manufacturing date on them so I would assume it would be bad to have them hanging around for too long?

Quote from: Mr.S2R on November 12, 2010, 07:05:51 PM
Oh yeah isn't there a shelf life for belts anyhow?  I mean they normally have a life of 2yrs or 10000km.  They have a manufacturing date on them so I would assume it would be bad to have them hanging around for too long?

I am quite obviously far from an expert on these things ... and I don't for a minute think that these things don't have a 'shelf life' ... but I thought the biggest issue (in terms of life expectancy) was having them held in tension as opposed to sitting on a shelf. Even worse if they sit tensioned without moving for long periods of time.

Dez, do you plan on doing the belts yourself ... or fronting up and hoping your friendly mechanic is not offended?

Quote from: Mr.S2R on November 12, 2010, 07:05:51 PM

Oh yeah isn't there a shelf life for belts anyhow?  I mean they normally have a life of 2yrs or 10000km.  They have a manufacturing date on them so I would assume it would be bad to have them hanging around for too long?

i would guess they do have a shelf life, but as betty has said, they suffer most when on the bike under tension, particularly on 2 valve bikes with just one pulley to sit over, meaning a tighter radius, and if left in the one place they can/sometimes do, crack causing failure from time to time.
   Some are still fitting genuine belts with white lettering (red lettering signifies kevlar in the woven belt) and they haven't been sold by ducati in yonks!

paul.

Quote from: loony888 on November 12, 2010, 08:30:05 PM

i would guess they do have a shelf life, but as betty has said, they suffer most when on the bike under tension,

ok so you have them sitting on a shelf in the shed, but wouldnt environmental conditions also come in to effect?  I mean you would put them in a cupboard in the dark and cooler conditions.  Exposure to light and heat would effect the life?  Wouldnt the rubber age? Or would that be such a minor variance that you could buy them now and still be confident using them 2 or more years down the track?

Quote from: loony888 on November 12, 2010, 08:30:05 PM
   Some are still fitting genuine belts with white lettering (red lettering signifies kevlar in the woven belt) and they haven't been sold by ducati in yonks!

paul.

How long ago was that and does that mean they are still good to use after so many years?

I am only asking as per the original post I too was thinking as the Aussie dollar is good value, however, I have just replaced mine and dont want to buy belts now that in either a year or two will be crap?  Sorry if this seems to be annoying questions...

Quote from: Mr.S2R on November 12, 2010, 07:05:51 PM
Oh yeah isn't there a shelf life for belts anyhow?  I mean they normally have a life of 2yrs or 10000km.  They have a manufacturing date on them so I would assume it would be bad to have them hanging around for too long?

I do believe there is a shelf life but as mentioned before it's much worse to have them tensioned on a bike than to have them on a shelf. If you're changing your belts every 10k/km you should be fine. Afterall, they don't make the belts to order, they have them sitting on a shelf until someone orders them.   

I'm in for a set of belts, if there's a group buy on.

If going ahead with group buy
I'll go for belts & case saver thanks

If i can't ride it I might as well work on it

I've just changed my belts using the CA exact fit belts not a big job at all, so much easier than car timing belts.

main thing is read/watch how to do it mark the points, and check the tension Chris's vid give you a great method to do this:

Ducatitech.com "HowTo" Ducati Timing Belt Change

Also if you in doubt about the strength check this out:

Ducatitech.com: ExactFit Timing Belts
and
Ducatitech.com: ExactFit Timing Belt Tensile Test

FYI the check out process on the CA sites shop is a little clumsy but the delivery cost are fair.

oh and look out for your Chocolate

Okay we have a couple of  DMF's interested
I don't mind organizing a group buy so easiest way would be go to the
C.A. Cycleworks site here  https://www.ca-cycleworks.com/exactfit/
pick your belts ,have the part number ,your postal address on paper, cash to cover the
cost plus $20 to cover post to Australia & currency conversion and say $ 7-9 for me to send them to your house.
If you can let me know well before the next group ride 5th December for ordering then payment.

I have sent them an email for an estimated shipping cost before I go any further with this
to make sure I do not charge you to much or too little..
Dez

you can also get the same belts from brad black

http://www.bikeboy.org/products.html

depending on what the exchange rate is at the time as stuff i have bought in the last couple of weeks has been between 95 and 98  and what the shipping is , there prob wont be much in it

Brad may give a group discount ?

also remember your total spend including shipping must be under $1K or you could cop import and gst

My bike has belts from CA they were put on at the last service by D-Moto and came from Brad Black who as far as I know is bringing them in at a fair price.
I have no problem having them on that they are not OEM can't really go back to Ducati and say my bike is screwed cause I didn't use OEM belts it's a little bit out of warranty!