[Renegade1978]

My '03 650 is getting close to 25,000 miles, and I keep reading these horror stories about belt or CVT failure. Does anyone know how much the dealerships charge to replace the belt or to fix a failed CVT? I'm beginning to wonder if I should just sell/trade it for either a newer 650 or an older Goldwing.

 

[LeDude]

Alas the 03-04 models are more prone to suffering a major failure due to some design
issues and poor choice in parts used.

If you can get a favorable deal on a newer model, of may be a safe gamble to upgrade.

As for shop rates, it will cost anything in the 2-3k in labor depending on the shop.

You may not suffer a failure for another 20-30k miles, or even longer.

Parts can run in the $500-2000 depending on the repairs.

Good luck.

 

[Desert Rat]

I don't think at 25,000 miles that the belt was ready to go. If it did a 03 wouldn't be worth having a dealer do the repair as it would cost about what the bike was worth.
Just my two cents.

 

[JohnK]

Belts even on the older models have been known to last 50k+. If the bike is not rode into the ground and is well maintained it should last awhile. The primary thing is to replace the stopper bolt with the upgraded one and keep an eye on the splines ( for the 03-04 models), maybe even replacing it with the polish adapter which seems to help according to reports on here. Not sure about your area but around here shop labor is running around $80/hr. My F.I.L. has a 03 with proximately 40k on it and all we did was replace the stopper bolt.

 

[TheReaper]

Right now I would say you are better off gambling and just keep it . My logic is this , your bike is probably worth $2,500 right now . If you keep it until she blows , as a parts bike it's worth an easy $1,500 . If you have nice plastics you can get a good buck for them by themselves , especially if you have a popular color . Correct me if I'm wrong but most of the problems seam to occur 45,000 to 55,000 miles ? So maybe you are gambling a bit , but at this point you don't have a lot of money on the table ......if any .

TheReaper!

 

[Renegade1978]

Thanks for all the advice!

 

[v8eyedoc]

My '03 650 is getting close to 25,000 miles, and I keep reading these horror stories about belt or CVT failure. Does anyone know how much the dealerships charge to replace the belt or to fix a failed CVT? I'm beginning to wonder if I should just sell/trade it for either a newer 650 or an older Goldwing.

So.........Do you have a transmission problem right now or are you just asking.??? Just keep riding the **** thing until it fails.........!! AND then call the dealer to ask what the costs may be.................!!!

 

[Dave_J]

EyeDoc, he/she is falling for the big scare tactics of all the 650 CVT bashing, that is all.

 

[v8eyedoc]

EyeDoc, he/she is falling for the big scare tactics of all the 650 CVT bashing, that is all.

Dave_J...............Me thinks that you are 110% correct!!!!

 

[MJR]

Labor between $900-$1,600 (good guy to bad guy) and parts between $400-$2,600 (Belt to complete CVT). I would suggest the Polish Adapter and inspecting the CVT input bearing while its being installed.

 

[Renegade1978]

So.........Do you have a transmission problem right now or are you just asking.??? Just keep riding the **** thing until it fails.........!! AND then call the dealer to ask what the costs may be.................!!!

As I understand it, that is the main issue: you never know you are having problems until the blasted thing just falls apart and leaves you stranded. Yes, I'm intimidated by the scary stories of the CVT. But if you own an '03 or '04, I think you'd be crazy to ignore them. :sad11: