This may be a question only Exige can answer.... but for those who have fitted Exactfit belts.... and seeing as they are clearly superior to anything else on the market, would you have no problem running them on your bike for 3 years instead of 2? They are four times the price(!) of the Gates 5192XS I've been running for the past couple of years, so it's not trivial economics for me.
I went to change mine (exact fit) on my 998S a few months ago. They had been on for 4 or 5 years /3,000 miles ish. We had a look at them, still like brand new so just re tensioned and left them alone.
It’s a very emotive subject. Say out of 1000 bikes only one fails after 3 or 4 years, is it worth risking? And indeed, will any fail at all. Considering the consequences it can only be a personal choice I guess and ‘personally’ I will be running my Bayliss 1098R for 3 years, but I don’t do anywhere near the service mileage - if I did I would change after 2 years. This is not a recommendation, it’s my decision for me alone
If only 1 out of 1000 fails at 3 years? Considering that I currently hammer the infamous Renault belts... yes, that is most definitely a risk I would take.
Renault? Are you telling me the original Ducati belts are made by Renault? Whatever the answer is I’ll be using the Exact Fit ones when I change next year.
A factory Gates source once said the Renault Belts they make have a different tooth profile than Ducati Belts. The construction 'may' have been the same in the early days but Ducati improved theirs over the years (they used to break more often than they do now that is for sure!) Many use car belts but be aware they are not the same. In fact a Ducati 696 Belt is not the same as a 900 belt, but they are the same width and number of teeth to the eye they look the same too but they most certainly are not so long as people are aware of this then happy they make their own decisions - the wrong tooth profile puts additional stress on the belt or worse... but whose to say it will fail, it probably wont Here's a scenario: someone realises the 696 Scrambler belt is the 'same' as their 900SS - same width, same number of teeth and not even a car belt! 5 year life too instead of two on the Scramblies - win win! Bang ... THE END WARNING: DO NOT FIT SCRAMBLER BELTS TO A 900 ENGINE AS THE PULLEY WHEELS WILL 'EAT' THE BELTS
When I changed mine after 4 years and aboit 4k miles I checked the tension on the horizontal belt just for info and it was about 60 Hz on the gates app - I think a retension aftrr 2 years is in order
I've been using Exactfit belts for years, never has a problem and I use the 5mm allen key tension method.
I use ExactFit belts, I run them for three years and they're like new after three years, I'm tempted to try them for a fourth this time, I do check them visualy every service. Wouldn't use any other now. Steve
I use the oem version for four seasons and than change them. I perform it like this since my first Ducati, max 10k a year. They don’t look new, but there’s hardly any wear. I do tension them after two seasons. On the SF they are due this winter, I’ll try the exactfit than. Cheers.
It's about someone came up with a gear train conversion to do away with the belts, i think they'd sell like hot cakes around the world..
They did. It's called a Panigale OK, thanks for all the responses. Based on the apparent extended durability of the Exactfit, I'll fork out the $200 required this winter. Replacing based on mileage, rather than time makes sense for these belts. I think I average around 2K miles a year, so 3 or even 4 seasons looks doable with regular checks/retension.
