Shaft vs. belt driveline

[sporty952]

Originally Posted by winpitt

There is one other disadvantage to shaft compared to belt. Some shaft drive bikes are succeptible to torque as a result of the spinning shaft. In other words, you rev the motor, the bike naturally wants to tilt slightly. I could feel it on my R90 - which BTW has a longer swignarm than the /5 series and before. It's not unique. It also didn't really bother me.

review Newtons Laws... R90 is motor torque, shaft
mass is inconsequential...

[sporty952]

Originally Posted by LarryM

winpitt is right. You have to watch out for the Coriolis Effect on a shaft drive.

Causes lots of wrecks in New Zealand and Australia...

[sporty952]

Originally Posted by berserker

Only way I would ever ride a chain again, was if ...

Techincally you are supposed to lube the chain every 500 miles.

Total loss oil system: Route the breather tube down to the
chain, viola! continuous oiling...

Then your chain doesn't get rusty like those
on the ninja-like bike all the kids ride in the
college towns...

:-)

[Homesick]

Originally Posted by sporty952

review Newtons Laws... R90 is motor torque, shaft
mass is inconsequential...

He's talking about torque, not mass.

joe

[sporty952]

Originally Posted by Homesick

He's talking about torque, not mass.

joe

Do the math F=MA
if M is tiny the F is tiny...

[Homesick]

Originally Posted by sporty952

Do the math F=MA
if M is tiny the F is tiny...

I'm not a mathmetician.

It seems to me though that a spinning driveshaft, assuming it's strong enough for the job, will deliver the torque whether it weighs 1 lb or 2, whatever its mass.

It will also mass the same whether spinning or not.

Two different animals.

joe

[gb1500]

as long as 1st gear is tall enough thell last...but on heavier bikes they wear out and you could blow one in an hour if you badly abused it...i have normally worn em out on my wings over the years and also blew a belt on the hd...but that taught me to learn how to set a belt and how to treat it to last.

[Jammin'John]

Shaft works fine but is heavy and expensive to repair.
You can't change gearing cheaply or usually at all.
Belt works fine but can pick up little stones & break.
Belt is a PITA to change since you have to pull the swingarm.

JJ

[Rickstar321]

I have one of each... there is a different feel from one to the other but both ride very well... I think I'm liking the belt more and more though... I just like the feel a little better... :-)

[pcarrell]

All my past bikes were chain drive, but my current ride is shaft driven and I really do like it. I've not had any handling issues, but I've gotta say, I don't miss the maintenance. From that point of view, a belt is similar to the old chain drives......more maintenance then a shaft.

[Jammin'John]

Originally Posted by pcarrell

All my past bikes were chain drive, but my current ride is shaft driven and I really do like it. I've not had any handling issues, but I've gotta say, I don't miss the maintenance. From that point of view, a belt is similar to the old chain drives......more maintenance then a shaft.

Not much to do with a belt.
Just make sure it's adjusted properly.

JJ

[Road King Cole]

Originally Posted by AZDragger

Always wanted a motorcycle, but the wife has never agreed and with a second on teh way, it's sure a lot harder to try and sway her views, lol.

Anyways, i've always wanted a Harley and probably starting with a Sportster, but lately i've also been lookeing (while dreaming really, lol) or possibly getting a VTX, Boulevard, or Vulcan model instead.


I've noticed some use a shaft setup instead of a belt, is there any benefit, downside to doing so????


Thanks.



Figure i'v egot lots of time to reasearch....20+ years before the kids are moved out and the wife will let me get one, lol. So i'll have lots of knowledge by then.

This was the OP's post which was 6 years ago...

Wonder if this thread will last another 14, if he has decided, of if he needs more opinions\ research...

rkc

[pcarrell]

Originally Posted by Jammin'John

Not much to do with a belt.
Just make sure it's adjusted properly.

JJ

My point exactly.......don't have to do that on a shaft drive.

[Jammin'John]

Originally Posted by pcarrell

My point exactly.......don't have to do that on a shaft drive.

No,you don't but you have a universal,a driveshaft, & a ring & pinion gear.
When it breaks it costs a LOT of $$$$ to fix.

A belt is cheaper.

JJ

[pcarrell]

Originally Posted by Jammin'John

No,you don't but you have a universal,a driveshaft, & a ring & pinion gear.
When it breaks it costs a LOT of $$$$ to fix.

A belt is cheaper.

JJ

That's true..........