Shaft, Chain, or Belt

[Efes123]

I was having a discussion with a mate the other day about bikes in general, when I mentioned that when I change my bike, I'd prefer to go for a shaftie. He was dead set against them, listing all sort of problems, stating a chain is better, or a belt is the best. My current 500 is a shaftie, and I don't recall experiencing any problems such as rising, kicking out etc. whilst riding. I do like the pretty much non-existent maintenance, and the ease I can remove my back wheel with.

So, what's people's opinions, what do they prefer, and why?
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[doggone]

You answered your own question, shaft drives don't cause problems in normal riding but you won't see them on the track.
The main problem is the limited choice of bikes with shaft drive.

Larger capacity bikes have reliable heavy duty chains which will last well over 10,000 miles with basic care so not worth excluding a bike you fancy because of the chain maintenance once a week or less.

Belt drives are few and far between.
They offer less maintenance and easier to replace, probably rider resistance to the idea of relying on a rubber band is the main reason they never really took off.

[Shaft]

Have a guess what I prefer......

I got fed up with chains back when I was a courier, the mileage I was doing meant almost daily maintenance and they only lasted a few weeks, which was hassle and expense.

Obviously having a shaft mostly limits you to bikes that lean towards the touring/cruising end of the spectrum, but that's not a problem for me, I've never been into out-and-out sports bikes.

The main reasons you don't see them on the track are the extra weight and the difficulties of altering gearing, but that doesn't mean they have to handle badly; the XS1100 won the Australian prod bike championship (more than once IIRC) one of the mags proddy raced an XJ900 and Guzzi and BMW have made some pretty sharp handling bikes, just to name a few examples.

I would say if you're happy with shaft drive and the style of bikes that go with it, stick to it.
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[James83]

Why not stick an automatic oiler on a chain bike and get the best of both worlds? Zero maintenance beyond topping the oil up every couple thousand miles, but all the benefits of a chain

[Knightsy]

Chains need to be adjusted once in a while too.
If I can get my hands on a nice, long lasting shaft, I'd be sitting on it all day
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09' Versys 650 | 07' FJR1300A

[Rogerborg]

The belt on my GPz305 is great, you don't realise how much chains jerk, rattle and whirr until you don't have one.

Sadly, because belt have never caught on outside of BMWs and Harleys, they're hella expensive to replace - if you can even find one.
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[The Shaggy D.A.]

Personal preference is for a shaftie, then belt, then chain. Chains are too messy for my liking.
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[Islander]

[Vincent]

If they were a bit cheaper to replace, I'd prefer a belt drive. I also prefer shaft over chain as they're just so much easier to live with. Chains are noisy, dirty and require too much maintenance for my liking. I've had a few shaft drive bikes and never any shaft-related problems. I know of a few early examples that don't like the oil change being ignored though and the resulting damage can be very expensive to put right.
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[Rogerborg]

[Cheeseybeaner]

[Enduro Numpty]

Decent sealed chains are fairly easy to maintain and long lasting, cheap non sealed chains are useless and a complete waste of money.
I've been riding off road for a few years and using a quality sealed chain could expect to do a season of enduros on one chain. Non sealed one would need to be adjusted a couple of times on an enduro and would be ruined after 1 event. You get what you pay for!

Never had any experience of a belt so can't comment but they seem to work well.

Current road bike is an FJR1300 and the shaft is superb, no torque reaction, no clunky shifts, just virtually maintenance free functionality and no mess to clean off everything else.

[harscot]

I vote shaft every time, own a Deauville 650 and no problems and no mess or constant checking.
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[Vincent]

I'd love to know why shaft drive push bikes havn't done well in the UK
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[map]

All three.
Make missus' night.
Chain to bed, light spanking with belt and then shaft away.
50 Shades of biker

Ooops wrong topic

On topic I'd prefer a shaft drive. Shame they don't fit one to the VStrom.
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[Commuter_Tim]

I now just learned that there is more than one drive method for a motorbike, and the difference between them, cheers OP
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The above post is most likely nonsensical.

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[Polarbear]

A shaft, just can't be arsed with chain maintenance. Sadly even though I have a shaft bike, I still have to maintain the wife's chain driven bike.
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[mpf1959]

i prefer a shaft for idleness, had a belt on a harley ruined by a stone and about £180 to replace, theyre good tho.

hate chain maintainance but always end up with chains tho as the bikes i like are fitted with them!

[mentalboy]

[Ariel Badger]

I want ever bit of power that my engine generates to be delivered to the rear wheel so chain wins every day.
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[Efes123]

So, it looks like most prefer the shaft, and if there were more choice would choose a shaftie over a chain.

The only real disadvantage seems to be, as Ariel alludes to, is that it takes power away. I wonder if this is the reason there's no too many about, apart from litre plus bikes where they get a lot more common.

The reports on older shafties e.g. 80s bikes, do seem to have a few more quirks, such as rising rather than dipping on throttle, or back end stepping out a little. Although, mine is an 84, and I don't notice any of those issues.

Must admit, i know the belt is perfectly safe, but I'd rather metal over rubber when it comes to the drive.
____________________
Honda Goldwing GL 1000 Current love
Honda VT500 ED - SOLD
Projects Suzuki GS125 Done, then stolen - Kawasaki GPX750R SOLD - Honda VF750S SOLD

[sickpup]

[keggyhander]

[Vincent]

[scorps]

Mines a shaft, didnt even notice straight away as I just thought the bike looked lovely and I was more focused on thinking how the exhausts had to be replaced with black ones. As I hate cleaning chains and the oil off the back wheel, it suits me just fine.
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