PRICE IS USD
A high quality belt drive conversion kit for the Royal Enfield Super Meteor, and Shotgun 650's, consisting of a genuine Gates Carbon belt, and both front and rear pullies.
Zero maintenance belt drives have been readily available on production motorcycles since 1981. Quiet, smooth, no more adjustment issues, no more oily mess, no carrying chain lube on a trip, lighter, and lower long term cost due to extended belt and pulley life when compared to a chain drive.
Two gear ratios available - the stock 2.6:1 final drive ratio and the popular "38T rear sprocket mod" resulting in a higher 2.5:1 final drive ratio.
To a large extent, the choice of ratios is a personal preference, driven by ones riding style and local conditions. I, and seemingly most Super Meteor riders, prefer the higher ratio "38T mod" in order to keep the engine RPM a little lower at highway speeds, and to be able to keep up with my mates without flogging the engine to death. Others prefer the shorter stock gearing - horses for courses
The belt is the latest generation 4, Gates Poly Chain Carbon GT, and included in the kit. This is the same belt used by the major motorcycle manufactures in their OEM belt drives. A common Gates part, used in thousands of industrial applications and readily available from Gates Dealers worldwide
Rather than a cheap casting, the rear pulley is CNC machined from a solid billet of 6061-T6 aluminium, and is then Type III hard anodized in satin black. This results in a durable wear coating with a hardness in the mid 50s Rockwell C, and in the same range as high tensile steel.
The front pulley is CNC machined from a billet of high tensile steel, then heat treated both for tooth wear resistance, and durability on the spline drive. Finished by black zinc plating for corrosion resistance.
Weight is 450 g less than the stock chain drive
Super Meteor & Shotgun 650 belt drive kits
Gearing is a bit confusing with a larger number being "lower" geared – IE the SM 650 stock sprocket ratio at 2.6:1 is lower than the "38T rear sprocket mod" at 2.5:1
A lower gear ratio (2.6) will accelerate quicker, but top speed will be lower. At highway speeds the engine will be spinning at a higher speed, and depending how fast you are riding, you may not want to work the engine that hard for very long.
A higher gear ratio (2.5) will accelerate slower, but (theoritical) top speed will be higher IF you have the HP to pull the gearing. Top speed on a SM is usually not a consideration, however and some riders, myself included, would prefer lower engine speed on the highway. When higher geared, cruising speed rpm will be lower, and in the meat of the TQ band.
Carrol Shelby famously said “horsepower sells cars, and torque wins races”. RE Street riding is mainly in the engine torque band, I try to match gearing to my riding style. Having a cruising rpm in 6th in the meat of the torque band, and not flogging the engine, works best for me.
The Enfield 650 engine has modest torque and horsepower, so gearing becomes a compromise between acceptable performance, the ability to pull a higher gear, with ones tolerance for wringing its neck to keep up with motorway speeds in some countries.
So how does this math translate into seat of the pants riding:Speed in KPH (MPH) vs engine RPM in each gear ratio
Speed Stock Ratio Higher Ratio
100 (62) 4330 4100
110 (68) 4760 4500
119 (74) 5150 TQ peak
120 (74.5) 5180 4930
126 (78) 5150 TQ peak
130 (81) 5610 5330
140 (87) 6050 5740
RPM is calculated and does not account for the bike weight, rider weight, rolling resistance, or drag from panniers and a windscreen - measured rpm will be higher than this calculated engine speed.
As you can see, while the increase in gearing is modest, as is the result, it is of benefit in lowering engine speed, and related wear. Any higher gearing, like the Interceptor 2.375 16T” mod is likely too high for the heavier SM.
You have a choice of gearing when buying a belt drive, so give it some thought………………….Most riders prefer the higher ratio, as little sacrifice in acceleration, with the benefit of lower engine speed.