10-25-2019, 08:42 AM
(10-25-2019, 08:29 AM)postoak_imp Wrote: Well, the BMW has the shaft drive you were thinking about. The Kawasaki is chain drive, I think. I have had two shaft driven bikes and wouldn't want to go back to chain drive but it seems hard to avoid on a retro.
I somewhat agree.
Mainstream Japanese shaft bikes reined during the late 70's and early 80's. Shaft drive also adds weight, cost and some performance drag on the bike. I suspect manufacturers wish to keep costs down. Arguably, would a retro version of an 80's shaft Japanese bike be really retro? Some might argue for it.