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Chain or shaft drive? Chain or shaft drive?
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Which Bike? Comments and Questions on what is the best bike for YOU, for YOUR trip. Note that we believe that ANY bike will do, so please remember that it's all down to PERSONAL OPINION. Technical Questions for all brands go in their own forum.
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  #1  
Old 15 Jan 2008
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Chain or shaft drive?
Hi people,
new to the site and absolutely love it!
I'm planning to make a RTW trip or Amsterdam-Cape town within two years from now, depending a bit on budget, time etc.

The big question everyone faces is of course which bike to choose? Lots of info and pro's and con's on weight vs power vs reliability, but no one seems to talk about shaft drive vs chain driven bikes (at least, i can't find it, might just be me).

Here in Holland I drive a bashed up cx500 (due to budget and living in inner city), which is shaft driven and i love it. It has never let me down (nearing 90,000km) and the shaft is totally care free. This experience tilts me towards shaft driven bikes, but the only enduro bikes seem to be BMW's, which are not my type of bike (too expensive and too high tech) for a RTW.

What are the options on shaft driven enduro's? Or can someone convince me chain is just as good/better?

cheers
Paul
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  #2  
Old 15 Jan 2008
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Honda?
Dont Honda do a shaft drive Trailie? XRV 750?
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  #3  
Old 15 Jan 2008
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Africa Twin?
Thats the Africa Twin right? I believe its a chain driven bike. Beautiful bike. Don't get me wrong, i don't swear by shaft, just have good experiences with it, but am willing to listen to chain enthusiasts!
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  #4  
Old 15 Jan 2008
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honda definateley did a shafty v twin.
Maybe, but they definateley DID do a shaft drive V twin........
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  #5  
Old 15 Jan 2008
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The old Honda XLV750 had shaftdrive:



As you say there is a lot of Beemers, (airheads are my favorite), but you don’t like them so I guess you have Ural and Guzzi left.

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Old 15 Jan 2008
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I know what you mean about shafties, reminds me of my Suzuki GS850G days (1985-1998) (a good reliable and utterly bulletproof Jap tourer). In the case of road based long distance tourers, a well designed and constructed shaftdrive runs circles round a chain driven tourer. As far as Trail/RTW/Adventure bikes are concerned I think a chain drive is much simpler, quicker and cheaper to fix in the event of failure. The other aspect to remember is the increase in weight too, a shaftdrive is much much heavier than a chain and sprocket.
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Mint Red Yamaha XT600E (1999) 5,000 miles
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Old 15 Jan 2008
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Thats the one I meant!
Quote:
Originally Posted by AliBaba View Post
The old Honda XLV750 had shaftdrive:


That is just GORGEOUS! I want one...... I Do...really, really, really.... Sod my XT......... ive fallen in love with an inanimate object......

Martyn
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Old 15 Jan 2008
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Martynbiker View Post
That is just GORGEOUS! I want one...... I Do...really, really, really.... Sod my XT......... ive fallen in love with an inanimate object......

Martyn
A RED engine!!!!! I suppose I can see a bit of an attraction though Martyn...
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My Website: http://www.kentfallen.com

Mint Red Yamaha XT600E (1999) 5,000 miles
Blue Yamaha XT600E (2001) 11,000 miles
Mint Black Honda XBR500(1986) 8,000 miles
Volvo C30 R-Design 1.8 Sport (2008)

"Brace Yourself Darling! This Might Hurt a Bit..."
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  #9  
Old 15 Jan 2008
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kentfallen View Post
As far as Trail/RTW/Adventure bikes are concerned I think a chain drive is much simpler, quicker and cheaper to fix in the event of failure. The other aspect to remember is the increase in weight too, a shaftdrive is much much heavier than a chain and sprocket.
I drove 150.000 km before I changed my shaft. It costed 300€ and no maintenance beside the yearly oil change.
That’s 300€ and 1.56 litre oil in 6 years and 150kkm. If a chain can beat that I guess I have been unlucky with my previous chain-bikes.
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Old 15 Jan 2008
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Thumbs up
Quote:
Originally Posted by Martynbiker View Post
That is just GORGEOUS! I want one...... I Do...really, really, really.... Sod my XT......... ive fallen in love with an inanimate object......

Martyn

..... and it's fun to drive (but not so fun to work on)
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  #11  
Old 15 Jan 2008
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spray it?
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Originally Posted by kentfallen View Post
A RED engine!!!!! I suppose I can see a bit of an attraction though Martyn...
I would'nt care if it was yellow with pink spots mate! its PERFECT! I can always respray it SILVER!

And as for working on it...... I have owned all manner of evil and nefarious bikes in my time....... including a ( dare I admit this publicly?) Mobylette folding scooter! it was cheap on ebay! 11 quid , Yamaha TR1 that i bought in a box ( Engine TOTALLY dismantled by a twonk who couldnt put it back together!) for 50 quid that came with a gasket set, clymer manual ( or was it Haynes??) and a spare set of carbs and a choice of tanks and panels..... Silver or Black...( also Ebay) so a Vtwin Honda scares me not!

Martyn
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  #12  
Old 15 Jan 2008
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chain
i would say going thu africa i would go for a chain driven if the shaft packs up you wouldn't carry spares for that were as you would carry a spare chain and that would keep you going without much hassel, bike choice i am partial to the yamaha xtz 750 super tenere spares are cheap and readily available on ebay and the bikes go quite cheap as well.
when are you planning to leave, i am planning on going down the east coast of africa in march 2010. london to cape town
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  #13  
Old 15 Jan 2008
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kentfallen View Post
I know what you mean about shafties, reminds me of my Suzuki GS850G days (1985-1998) (a good reliable and utterly bulletproof Jap tourer). In the case of road based long distance tourers, a well designed and constructed shaftdrive runs circles round a chain driven tourer. As far as Trail/RTW/Adventure bikes are concerned I think a chain drive is much simpler, quicker and cheaper to fix in the event of failure. The other aspect to remember is the increase in weight too, a shaftdrive is much much heavier than a chain and sprocket.
Good point on the weight issue. I have no riding experience outside tarmac europe, where weight is not really an issue. Suppose if you get bogged down in sand/mud you wish your bike is just that couple of kilo's lighter!

Nothing against bmw, just that the stories on the complicated electronics, fuel injection etc scare me off for a RTW trip. Get the impression that the r80/100gs are bullit proof, easy to maintain bikes, wouldn't mind having one of those, expensive though!

When riding through Africa -sand, mud etc- how long does a chain/sprocket set last? Any experience? and can a mechanic in ie Ghana replace it?
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  #14  
Old 15 Jan 2008
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Originally Posted by pauldelft View Post
Hi people,
new to the site and absolutely love it!
I'm planning to make a RTW trip or Amsterdam-Cape town within two years from now, depending a bit on budget, time etc.

The big question everyone faces is of course which bike to choose? Lots of info and pro's and con's on weight vs power vs reliability, but no one seems to talk about shaft drive vs chain driven bikes (at least, i can't find it, might just be me).

Here in Holland I drive a bashed up cx500 (due to budget and living in inner city), which is shaft driven and i love it. It has never let me down (nearing 90,000km) and the shaft is totally care free. This experience tilts me towards shaft driven bikes, but the only enduro bikes seem to be BMW's, which are not my type of bike (too expensive and too high tech) for a RTW.

What are the options on shaft driven enduro's? Or can someone convince me chain is just as good/better?

cheers
Paul
Personally I would just find a bike with which you can live for a few months on the road. The chain or shaft is in some respects a re-hash of jap versus old Brit bikes argument. The chain will require more simple maintenance than a shaft, replacement is cheaper and easier also. However which costs less in the long run is a moot point. I like the shaft drive on my BMW ( 1980 R80RT) one day it wil break and cost a lot to fix, but then will run another five years+ with just an annual oil change. It is good not to have to bother with it on my longer trips. BUT. when it does break, it is likely to be a problem, unless it breaks close to home.
in a nutshell, shaft no maintenance until it breaks then is expensive and difficult. Chain, needs regular maintenance with occasional cheap and simple replacements. ( much like brake shoes/pads).
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Old 15 Jan 2008
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Wink Choices, choices
Quote:
Originally Posted by pauldelft View Post
Hi people,
new to the site and absolutely love it!
I'm planning to make a RTW trip or Amsterdam-Cape town within two years from now, depending a bit on budget, time etc.

The big question everyone faces is of course which bike to choose? Lots of info and pro's and con's on weight vs power vs reliability, but no one seems to talk about shaft drive vs chain driven bikes (at least, i can't find it, might just be me).

Here in Holland I drive a bashed up cx500 (due to budget and living in inner city), which is shaft driven and i love it. It has never let me down (nearing 90,000km) and the shaft is totally care free. This experience tilts me towards shaft driven bikes, but the only enduro bikes seem to be BMW's, which are not my type of bike (too expensive and too high tech) for a RTW.

What are the options on shaft driven enduro's? Or can someone convince me chain is just as good/better?

cheers
Paul

Just take the CX500 Paul!! (or a nice XJ900 Divy ). After all, plenty of roads RTW are sealed surfaces, i.e. bitumen surfaced, nowadays.

Actually, those who are shaft drive enthusiasts won't be swayed by anything in a thread and lots of people will swear by a chain drive.
In the meantime, you have not said what kind of riding you want to do, how much weight you expect to carry or even what countries you may ride through - too many variables in other words!

Are you sure there are no threads in here already on this topic? Maybe I have read "so much" elsewhere!

How about a belt drive BTW?

Chain drive: Ted Simon's first trip RTW.
Shaft drive: his second trip RTW.
In both cases, he was given the bikes.
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