Shaft or Chain... that's the question...

[WilliamGLX81]

Ok, first off wow. I never had any idea about needing to adjust the rear wheel alignment. It's a pain on my bicycle, I wouldn't much like it on my motorbike! Anyway...

On my chain drive bikes, you remove one nut, and the rear wheel is off. Not so with a shafty.

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Ah hah, just as I suspected, shafties have more nuts than chains.

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I'll bite that it may be easy, but it cna't be easier than on one of the chain GSes. It literally takes three minutes to remove the rear wheel, and about five to reinstall it.

Reading the "official" procedure in the Suzuki GS1000G owner's manual, there's no way the rear wheel can be removed in three minutes, unless maybe you are a former NASCAR pit crew boss.

=
Mine took me about 20 minutes the first time. I bet I could do it in under 10 this time, so long as I remember to do things in the right order.

Nope. But i dont know exactly how far my reserve will get me either. Most ive ever put in it was 5gal, but i dont hit reserve untill about 4.5 is gone. BTW you'll never get that last 1/4-1/2 gallon out of the tank before the bike is sucking air, so throw that out the window...

Haha, I wish I could say I DIDN'T know exactly how far my reserve gets me. I got exactly to the offramp for the gas station I was aiming for That was a nasty ride with 20-45mph winds for 200 miles. Blegh.

The only thing that ever caught me off guard with a GS shaftie was the inherent tendancy (as every shaftie has) to "climb the gears" when rolling on throttle in a corner. Its very subtle on the GS, but ....

What do you mean? What's the climbing the gears? The tendency for the bike to lift on hard acceleration?

Geez, all this talk has made me realize that I need to clean and lube the GS's chain before the West Virginia rally. Where the heck is my WD-40?

Hehe...

......
Noise is another thing... you NEVER know if something's wrong until it's too late, because the noise is so grating, loud...

And when it leaks oil, you are perhaps screwed.....

Are steel-braided brake lines really that much better than rubber?

First:
Stainless steel brake lines are more rigid and don't stretch/bloat (even over time) as rubber ones do.
Second:
Noise? I don't notice ANY noise from my shaft. I rode a chain-y dirtbike and the only thing louder on my GS is the engine (Much nicer than that 99cc I had )
And third: I have a post up about oil leaking onto my rear tire.

I've always had thoughts of taking a goldwing and stripping it to the bone just to see how that big engine would perform if it wasn't carrying around 800 pounds of luggage racks, running lights, and cup holders.

Mmmmmm Tasty! :evil: Now, If only it weren't a Honda They make good Generators...

This thread has been interesting, and I've learned a bit.

The thing I notice the most is the way that the shaft itself spins and the bike counter-moves side to side. A little bit like torque roll from a RWD car (we all know FWD vehicles aren't really cars but I thought I'd be extra clear)
The frankenbike I rode offroad didn't have any of that going on, but it wasn't very healthy. It takes some adjustment, and I can see it being distracting.

Happy riding

 

[JimmyR]

I have one bike with a shaft, one with a belt. I have owned another shafty and a chain driven bike too. I don't really care what race bikes use because I don't race. As long as I like the bike I don't really care what it uses except that I don't like the mess and hassle of chains. Wouldn't stop me from buying one if I liked it enough though.

I have a Harley with a belt and I really like it. The belt lasts for ages and needs very little maintenance. I'm doing up a GS1100G and like that it has a shaft because as I am taking a lot of stuff off the bikes the shaft helps keep the lines visually simple. I used to ride a Kawasaki Meanstreak 1500 which was a shafty and never noticed any problems with the shaft. No jacking or jerking or whatever that I ever noticed. It was a bloody quick bike too!

 

[1_v8_merc]

Weren't the yamaha XJ's or XS's known for blowing threw shafts like hot cakes?
I think that's were some of these "shaft-phobias" began.

I absolutely love my 650G, just hop on and GO!
The 750E...I gotta check the chain and inspect everything...

 

[Road_Clam]

What's the best oil to run in my GS ? (i'm bored, and it's been a while since I read a good opinionated internet war..

 

[koolaid_kid]

What's the best oil to run in my GS ? (i'm bored, and it's been a while since I read a good opinionated internet war..

Oh, c'mon, get a life. Everyone knows to use straight 30 weight non-detergent. If you like, make it half and half with ATF, just like your forks.

 

[jetta90]

uh oh..........

I'm gonna go make me some popcorn.......this should be entertaining.

 

[Suzuki mad]

I always preferred chains to shaft drive bikes. Maybe that because of riding a Moto Guzzi Le mans Mk11 that always wanted to through you in the tarmac on right handers and pick you up from the tarmac on left handers.

Partly pistons being a V twin across the frame and party the shaft spin.

Hated riding a GS850, I could feel the difference between that and my GS550 when out for a ride. Probably why I went for the GS1000E, lived the power hated the through.

 

[Guest]

Road Clam, I have 4 quarts of vintage 0-40wt Royal Purple with ummm 3,000 miles on it, I'll even strain it for ya lol

 

[platinum2]

i have had both bikes chain ,and shaft, i would honestly say chain is better, as long as you keep it maintained, you can always change sprocket sizes for speed or cruising with lots of bottom end, the bikes are lighter,and look better, so i choose chain drive

 

[Baatfam]

What is going on here? I thought this was settled back in 2009

 

[Road_Clam]

What is going on here? I thought this was settled back in 2009

Well, not really. The "debate" was raised again 6 times in 2010, and 21 times in 2011 . Were still searching for the correct answer.

 

[JATO]

My '97 TL1000S and '78 GS1000 are chains and besides a bit of inconvenience every 500 miles or so, dealing with a chain doesn't bother me. My C90 is a shaftie and it doesn't have any of the shaft bad manners. Now, if you want to ride a terrible shaft drive, take a Honda CB900 Custom out for a spin. Absolutely horrible rear end rise under throttle and combine that with a frame that feels like it's made out of no less than five pieces held together with hinges. The CB900C is by far the worse handling and performing bike I've ever ridden. That being said, I have one for sale, $100 but it doesn't run and you have to come to me to pick it up...

 

[storm 64]

I have a 1100e and a 850g. I like the chain,my girlfriend likes the shaft! lol

 

[Jethro]

Chips, dips, chains and whips...

 

[850GT_Rider]

Well, not really. The "debate" was raised again 6 times in 2010, and 21 times in 2011 . Were still searching for the correct answer.

Since our beloved GS Series contains both chain drives and shaft drives, I think the correct answer is "Yes - shafts or chains. No belt drives"

 

[7981GS]

Since our beloved GS Series contains both chain drives and shaft drives, I think the correct answer is "Yes - shafts or chains."

^^^ This.


Eric

 

[FEFD17]

Shaft is the only way to fly for me. I dont mind wrenching on stuff that breaks,but if I can eliminate a maintenance point,count me in.

 

[boingk]

Since our beloved GS Series contains both chain drives and shaft drives, I think the correct answer is "Yes - shafts or chains. No belt drives"

Bingo.

I like chains on racy bikes like my current VTR1000F, but not more sedate ones like my soon-to-be-mine GS850G.

They both have their ups and downs, and provided you have a good oiler (I particularly like the Tutoro automatic dispenser) there is no reason a chain cannot last for 30,000 miles or more, even on heavy bikes ridden hard.

So, either one is great and comes to personal preference. Me? I like both... but for different things.

CHeers - boingk

 

[Ton1959]

The only bike that let me down while traveling was the G850GZ. De 1982 model. It lost all the splines from the ring inside the rear wheel. I do have a BMW with a shaft and they are also more expensive on maintenance.
Chains are easy to maintain and very reliable. And grease stops corrosion.
But a good shaft drive is better then a bad chain.
But a bad shaft drive can cost you a fortune. Okay I think I go for chain is better.

 

[tkent02]

Chains last forever anymore. Maintenance isn't even a consideration. Spend a half hour every three or four years replacing it, good to go another 30,000 mles.