Xciting 500 2016 Model Belt drive, tires and free-way driving questions

[ClayMation]

You will probably find no unanimity on tires. Its a personal preference thing, performance versus mileage etc. Michelin City Grips or Michelin Pure Powers seem to be some of the most popular if they are in your size.

Yea but aren't Michelin City Grips mainly for City Commute and aren't the speed ratings for those around 65?
I was looking for a tire set good for freeway speeds.

My knowledge about Michelin Tires is from having had a SSR scooter before and when the tire tread wore out I put Michelin's on the bike but they were J rated for 62 MPH. I assume the City Grips to be similar but not sure.

[ClayMation]

Stay stock. My first belt lasted over 30,000 miles. Use a drop or 2 of medium strength lock tight on CVT & clutch nuts. Let dry before riding. If not torqued down correctly the CVT fan pulley half plate can back off after many miles.  My original clutch was good for about 70,000 miles. I only replaced it because I wanted to put in a new spring. I didn't need a new spring, but I felt it had been compressed for several years, and maybe needed a change out. It did't! Change the oil your self, and adjust valves around every 20,000 miles or so. I have never adjusted mine in 70,000 miles, but my MPG has gone way down, and I am sure it is because of this. X500's are built like tanks. I use synthetic oils, (mobile one 15/50). Change oil once a year with a K&N filter, and forget it. My stator died around 50,000 miles or so. Only break down! Good luck. You can put a car tire on the rear? Someone here DARK SIDED HIS, it seemed to work out ok?

This is an extremely interesting response.
A Car tire? I am very pleased to hear that peoples xciting's are lasting 50,000, 70,000 or more miles!

I Currently have just shy of 4,000 on mine so i'm looking forward to getting a lot of pleasure out of it.

One thing i'm curious about is whether you drove yours on the freeway a lot.

One of the main appeals in buying this bike was it's freeway capable speeds.

About the CVT belt advice you gave. Perhaps MJR can help me with that because it sounds slightly complex.

How long did it take you to do that?

[MJR]

Yea but aren't Michelin City Grips mainly for City Commute and aren't the speed ratings for those around 65?

Depends on the tire. The City Grip sizes for my Aprilia Atlantic 500 (120/70-15 front and 140/60-14) are S rated to 112 mph.

[ClayMation]

Depends on the tire. The City Grip sizes for my Aprilia Atlantic 500 (120/70-15 front and 140/60-14) are S rated to 112 mph.

Hey MJR,

I didn't know their speed ratings depended on their size. That's great, perhaps I will consider the City Grips next.
Can you comment on what sissmary said about the belt drive augmentation and if it's possible to do when I can make it out to meet you?

At it's young age, belt drive preservation and tires are two of my top concerns.

Thanks.

[sissymary]

I have city grips also, a great long lasting tire. I only tour, I have taken 2 cross country trips on it, (Arizona to Michigan and back). My longest day was 1,004 miles, (drove all night). I wish the gas tank was larger? But the bike can be ridden like a gold wing. I call it the O HOG, as in orange hog. Can't hurt the engine. Over 70'000 miles now.

[ole two wheels]

ULP. Some people collect salt shakers, some ash trays. MJR collects Burgers. Must be nice>>>>LOL

[ClayMation]

I have city grips also, a great long lasting tire. I only tour, I have taken 2 cross country trips on it, (Arizona to Michigan and back). My longest day was 1,004 miles, (drove all night). I wish the gas tank was larger? But the bike can be ridden like a gold wing. I call it the O HOG, as in orange hog. Can't hurt the engine. Over 70'000 miles now.

I think the City Grips will be the tires of choice for me next based on all the positive reviews.

What's the top speed you will 'push' your xciting 500 for on the freeway for any super length of time? I understand our bikes will get a verified top speed of "close to" 100 mph but i've also been told not to "push it" too much, which is kinda difficult on California freeways in terms of keeping safe from impatient and ego centric drivers. I often tend to drive 80 for long periods and have even gone to 90 for a minute here and there with the throttle almost all the way up.

[ClayMation]

Btw MJR I sent you a private message.

[xsel777]

Enjoy your ride. I am on the freeway a lot, i go everywhere at  130kmh. I fitted a sports variator, kept the stock rollers and fitted an extra 1mm spacer next to the original, and initially i got max  155kmh at 7500rpm(not for regular cruising, just testing capability) , but now the belt has worn a bit, so the revs are climbing again and at 130kmh revs are at 6500 about.
With this configuration I loose some fast pull away. The belt is a pirate which is way way past the max service distance, but it just keeps on going. I checked it 2 weeks back and it still looks ok. I think with the slower pull away, it has less stress on it so lasts longer.

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[xsel777]

Michelin is the way to go. Get away from those Maxxis as fast as you can. One of mine split right across from side to side. And it was very slippery in wet conditions. Too scary for me.

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[AMAC1680]

I think the City Grips will be the tires of choice for me next based on all the positive reviews.

What's the top speed you will 'push' your xciting 500 for on the freeway for any super length of time? I understand our bikes will get a verified top speed of "close to" 100 mph but i've also been told not to "push it" too much, which is kinda difficult on California freeways in terms of keeping safe from impatient and ego centric drivers. I often tend to drive 80 for long periods and have even gone to 90 for a minute here and there with the throttle almost all the way up.

I would think the 500 is up to doing 80 for an extended period of time. I've done a few 1000 miles trips where I ran for a hundred miles or more at 75 -80 mph/gps without a burp.

That was on a DT300 so why not the 500?

AMAC

[ClayMation]

Enjoy your ride. I am on the freeway a lot, i go everywhere at  130kmh. I fitted a sports variator, kept the stock rollers and fitted an extra 1mm spacer next to the original, and initially i got max  155kmh at 7500rpm(not for regular cruising, just testing capability) , but now the belt has worn a bit, so the revs are climbing again and at 130kmh revs are at 6500 about.
With this configuration I loose some fast pull away. The belt is a pirate which is way way past the max service distance, but it just keeps on going. I checked it 2 weeks back and it still looks ok. I think with the slower pull away, it has less stress on it so lasts longer.

Sent from my Mi Max using Tapatalk

How many miles do you have on this original belt?

[ClayMation]

I would think the 500 is up to doing 80 for an extended period of time. I've done a few 1000 miles trips where I ran for a hundred miles or more at 75 -80 mph/gps without a burp.

That was on a DT300 so why not the 500?

AMAC

I think we should be able to theoretically push our bikes to 85 even without worrying.

My concern is my belt drive. It might be somewhat illogical because on my previous bike (A 150cc SSR Vespa clone) the Belt snapped at 6,000 miles spontaneously.

There was one time I drove with the brake lock engaged on my xciting500 for about a mile, correction it was only half engaged. I suppose I worried that could have caused premature wear on the belt. I currently have about 3,800 miles on the bike. Still feels great on the freeway except the parts that need serious repaving.

I would love for someone, or everyone, to tell me why my belt is likely okay. haha

[MJR]

I think we should be able to theoretically push our bikes to 85 even without worrying.

I would love for someone, or everyone, to tell me why my belt is likely okay. haha

I just this year bought a '03 Aprilia Atlantic 500 (only 5,000 miles on it) which I've had to 90 mph and ran at 80 mph without issue so you shouldn't have a problem and I'm sure the belt is ok.

[xsel777]

How many miles do you have on this original belt?

It is NOT an original belt.
It is:
Belt specs:
1025 x 28.9mm x 30
length x width x angle
Gates booster:
9802-41811
9802-40811
I have used both, but can't say what the difference is, is just what was available.

I think the belt  has 20 000km on it already. My odo reads 66000km now.

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