Drive chain versus drive belt?

[YellowDog]

And here I am wondering if you're taking the mickey?

Yamaha, FJR1300, XJ750 and the 650 from memory.
BMW, the 850's, 1150's, 1200's and 1300's are all shaft.
Honda, CX500, VT500, Revere 600, NT700, XLV750, ST1100 (and the new 1200ccV4 - when's that coming BD?)
Moto Guzzi's, Can't think of one without shaft.
Kawasaki ZG1400
Suzuki 650G, 850G and 1100G.

and the wee Yamaha PW50 to name a few.

Show off !

Going back a few decades, the story was that the shaft drive bikes (I am thinking BMW here) were great for being maintenane free (provided you maintain them) and reliable, however could not (in those days) perform as well as a chain driven bike. And hence they were more prevelent on the bigger engine bikes and cruisers.

I must admit that when I first started looking at the new high tech shaft driven bikes, back in the late 1970s, I didn't expect chains to be around for much longer.

W R O N G

[Mystic13]

Proberly wrong here but shafties are generaly used on larger capacity bikes as they're not really suitable on smaller bikes?

They've been on bikes around the 500cc up with the exclusion of The Yamaha 50.

There were a fair few mid sized bikes late 80's with them. I'm also sure they've been on bikes down to 350cc but can't think which bike?

You lose a bit of power, you gain, clean, quiet, low maintenance.

I'm really looking forward to seeing the new Honda 1200 V4 in the flesh.

As for wheelie's the interweb is stacked with wheelie's of heaps of shafties.

But back on topic "chain" or "belt". I have a BMW belt and the replacement cost is $990.00 approx. It's done 47k and there is another in Auckland that has done 80k.

BMW belts are overpriced.

The belt is quiet, clean and quiet. The belts are fairly big now and generally take a stone punching a hole without any problems.

The belt on the BMW 650's looked a tad on the small side. Again they seem to last a bit though.

Personally I'm amazed at how long belts last. I can't get my head around a pliable belt that doesn't strip teeth. Then again how long have we had them as cambelts and whats the life on a cambelt?

(And does anyone know what the smaller shaft bikes were between the Yamaha 50 and Honda CX500.)

I'm guessing a Guzzi 350?

[Conquiztador]

(And does anyone know what the smaller shaft bikes were between the Yamaha 50 and Honda CX500.)

I'm guessing a Guzzi 350?

Honda NV400 has a shaft.

[2much]

Shafts are heavy and rob power. Belts are great but aren't strong enuf to handle much more power than a harley pos donk puts out... hence chains are still the common choice.

[popelli]

Personally I'm amazed at how long belts last. I can't get my head around a pliable belt that doesn't strip teeth.

you obviously didn't see the "new" belt fitted to my harley, it only lasted a few months and it shreded itself

I changed over to a chain drive and a scotoiler - a far better more reliable system

[davereid]

No way, it's against the laws of physics - photos or it didn't happen.

Haha.. dunno about that... I have seen shaft drive CARS wheelie, so I don't have any problem thinkin bikes could do it.

My HD had a belt drive, it was great. Belts can easily handle 200Hp+. The trouble with the HD was, the belt was not enclosed. Everytime I went through road works, and I could hear all the little stones flickn up, I watited for my belt to pick one up, and peel off.

[Big Dave]

Proberly wrong here but shafties are generaly used on larger capacity bikes as they're not really suitable on smaller bikes?

Because the extra weight makes less difference as the bike gets bigger.

[Big Dave]

you obviously didn't see the "new" belt fitted to my harley, it only lasted a few months and it shreded itself

I changed over to a chain drive and a scotoiler - a far better more reliable system

I prefer properly designed belts.
I'd never have a chain again given a choice.

[scumdog]

you obviously didn't see the "new" belt fitted to my harley, it only lasted a few months and it shreded itself

I changed over to a chain drive and a scotoiler - a far better more reliable system

Never heard of anybody else having that problem - HOWEVER, has naybody noticed how narrow the belt is on some HDs compared with others?

CB's Sporty and my T-Sport both have belts of a reasonble width but I've noticed later soft-tails etc have a narrow one.

Any ideas?

[The Stranger:Me]

Never heard of anybody else having that problem - HOWEVER, has naybody noticed how narrow the belt is on some HDs compared with others?

CB's Sporty and my T-Sport both have belts of a reasonble width but I've noticed later soft-tails etc have a narrow one.

Any ideas?

Weight saving?

[Big Dave]

Never heard of anybody else having that problem - HOWEVER, has naybody noticed how narrow the belt is on some HDs compared with others?

CB's Sporty and my T-Sport both have belts of a reasonble width but I've noticed later soft-tails etc have a narrow one.

Any ideas?

It's so they can align the wheels.

Before the belt tech got good enough to go narrow they actually off set the front wheel in the forks to line up the front end with the phat rear ends and gearbox.

[Taz]

I have three shaft drive bikes in the garage R1100GS, Guzzi V1000CR, Yamaha PW50 and only one chain drive.Two of those shafties wheelie real well but I've never tried to wheelie the Guzzi as that's just sacrilege.

[Edbear]

I have three shaft drive bikes in the garage R1100GS, Guzzi V1000CR, Yamaha PW50 and only one chain drive.Two of those shafties wheelie real well but I've never tried to wheelie the Guzzi as that's just sacrilege.

You've wheelied the PW50?

[Hitcher]

The first and only offer I've ever had from somebody wanting to grease my shaft was when I owned an FJR1300. The Shiver provokes a completely different range of propositions.

Shaft greasing is quite time consuming and expensive.

[StoneY]

I didn't even realise they made two wheel bikes with an actual drive shaft, or is someone taking the micky?

Maaate-
GS 850- 1980- shaft drive
Thats the oldest bike I personally know if with a shaft but maaate- OLD technology- think BMW had em in the 40's even-

And they do wheelie- my GS850 could and im not even brave!