How worn are my timing belts?

[mors vito]

I'm no expert in timing belt wear, and the previous owner said he had them replaced a not too long ago when I bought it from him (about 700 miles ago) so not trusting him I took a look today to see and took a picture because I have no experience in belts, so how worn are my belts? 

change them now?

you have a good xxxx miles to go?

[ducatiz]

It's very hard to tell merely from looking at them.

Generally the rule is 2 years

But I have belts that are more than 2 years old (heresy)..  and I've even used non Ducati-labeled belts (Heresy)..

There is nothing magic about the belts, they just wear out one day and you're done.

All of the older Ducati belts are fibreglass reinforced (not kevlar as some seem to think), as long as the surface isn't cracked, and the fibreglass threads aren't fraying on the sides, I would probably keep them in. 

Then again, I check my bikes pretty regularly, so you can decide how well you will do with that.

[Pedro-bot]

^^ This ^^

What your asking for is peace of mind.

If in doubt, get your moto serviced and replace the belts. Easiest way to get peace of mind. 

[Langanobob]

If the previous owner didn't provide receipts for the parts or the work, and it sounds like he didn't, I'd go ahead and change the belts like Pedro-bot says, for peace of mind.  Also, chances are the tensioner bearings are the original 1997  ones and they need changing too.  Whenever I get a new to me bike I go through and do a basic maintenance, it's kind of a ritual that sort of makes the bike mine.

[mors vito]

Thanks for the advice guys

[MongoReturns]

IMHO those don't look new, they look ancient.  Does anybody else think the flat teeth are strange?  Maybe '97 M750 belts are different than 2000's?  Which I doubt.  I replaced mine a month or two ago, and the old ones look brand new (6yrs, like 8k miles).

Mors vito, if you can read a part number off them I can tell you the vintage - I have the package from my new ones, the old ones, and the ones before that (from 2000).  I keep everything.  If you can't read any writing on them, definitely replace.  Do it yourself, it's not too hard.

[Desmo Demon]

Whenever I get a new to me bike I go through and do a basic maintenance, it's kind of a ritual that sort of makes the bike mine.

I don't even trust the bike if the owner has "records". I generally will check the valves, change the belts, and change the oil and filter as a bare minimum. I'm getting ready to o this very thing with a bike I just bought.

IMHO those don't look new, they look ancient.  Does anybody else think the flat teeth are strange?  Maybe '97 M750 belts are different than 2000's?  Which I doubt.

There are "round" tooth and "square" tooth belts. I just don't recall which years had which belt. Those teeth look fine to me.

This is a picture of brand new "square tooth" belts on my '87 Ducati Paso 750, which uses the same belts as some of the early M750 and SS750 bikes...

[bdfinally]

I've got an unopen package of belts for my '00 M750 and they're round. Labeling says 97+ for M750

[ducpainter]

A 97 would have the old cases and square tooth belts.

[ducatiz]

whoever needs square toothed belts, PM me for a huge deal