Your dream bike final drive?

[GoldOxide_imp]

Alright, I am putting this out there:

I am curious what riders prefer for their final drive.

To help narrow the scope, consider the question in regards to "touring".

Final drives that come to mind include:

* Chain
* Belt
* Shaft
* Electric drive
* Other?
* In some extreme and unfortunate cases: Feet.

Each type might be broken down into further detail, so please share.

- - -

I will start: I prefer shaft drive, and the lighter the better for me. I understand that lighter implies accepting certain side-effects. However, I can mostly live with that, unless of course a newer mechanical arrangement is available. I will say that I am open to new technologies in belt drive, but their implementations are still somewhat gaudy.

Thoughts?

 

[the Ferret]

I prefer shaft drive in a touring motorcycle and I don't care what it weighs, I'm not carrying it.

 

[GoldOxide_imp]

I like your attitude!

 

[peterbaron]

It depends for what bike size and purpose:
1* For my CB & riding , I am OK with chain.
2* If it came with shaft, I'd be happy as well.
3* In general, small, sports bikes = chain, big/heavy ones = shaft.
4* As to belt = doesn't fit classic bikes, am not crazy about it's look

 

[Lord Popgun]

Shaft

 

[GoldOxide_imp]

1907 FN 412 cc Four (with shaft)

 

[SportsterDoc]

1. Shaft, if as smooth as my V7II was
2. Belt
3. Chain, which seems very appropriate for the CB

1907 FN 412 cc Four (with shaft)

So accessible!

 

[Nortoon_imp]

1. Shaft, if as smooth as my V7II was
2. Belt
3. Chain, which seems very appropriate for the CB

1907 FN 412 cc Four (with shaft)

So accessible!

+1
1. Shaft to avoid chain maintenance.
2. Belt if you don't have to take half the bike apart to replace it.
3. Chain. Better now that I use chain wax.

 

[Retsel_imp]

I like what I have and have what I like, CB1100. Chain and all.

Sent from my SM-T710 using Tapatalk

 

[LongRanger_imp]

For a touring or sport-touring bike, my preference is shaft, but only if it's a single swingarm design (Paralever, CARC, etc.). Wheel removal on a shaft drive bike with a dual swingarm design can be a pain.

That said, on the CB, I think anything other than chain drive would be out of character and unnecessary.

 

[redbirds_imp]

Shaft drive, especially on a touring bike. Chains are so much better now they're hardly a bother even on a trip. Belt drive requires large sprockets that look a bit wierd to me and they can be incapacitated by a pebble, however they are clean and require little maintenance.

 

[Houtman_imp]

Chain , let the chain be unbroken.

 

[GoldOxide_imp]

1. Shaft, if as smooth as my V7II was
2. Belt
3. Chain, which seems very appropriate for the CB

1907 FN 412 cc Four (with shaft)

So accessible!

So accessible!
Now that looks like a "sewing machine" to me.
Up to this point:

Shaft: 8
Chain: 2
Belt: 0
Other: 0

1. Shaft, if as smooth as my V7II was
2. Belt
3. Chain, which seems very appropriate for the CB

1907 FN 412 cc Four (with shaft)

So accessible!

+1
1. Shaft to avoid chain maintenance.
2. Belt if you don't have to take half the bike apart to replace it.
3. Chain. Better now that I use chain wax.

+1
1. Shaft to avoid chain maintenance.
2. Belt if you don't have to take half the bike apart to replace it.
3. Chain. Better now that I use chain wax.
You still own the V7?

 

[SportsterDoc]

2016 V7II traded on 2018 Yamaha XT250, which was traded in on the new 2014 CB1100.
CB sold back to dealer on 4 Sep, after ~12,500 miles, a month after I developed eye issues.

 

[GoldOxide_imp]

Sport'Doc: Sorry to learn about your eye challenges. Really ... the most critical organs connecting you to the experience. I wish you find a solution, and resume the journey.

 

[SportsterDoc]

1. Shaft, if as smooth as my V7II was
2. Belt
3. Chain, which seems very appropriate for the CB

1907 FN 412 cc Four (with shaft)

So accessible!

+1
1. Shaft to avoid chain maintenance.
2. Belt if you don't have to take half the bike apart to replace it.
3. Chain. Better now that I use chain wax.

Oh yes! I let it dry overnight and no flying off onto the wheel.

For a touring or sport-touring bike, my preference is shaft, but only if it's a single swingarm design (Paralever, CARC, etc.). Wheel removal on a shaft drive bike with a dual swingarm design can be a pain.

That said, on the CB, I think anything other than chain drive would be out of character and unnecessary.

Yep!

Sport'Doc: Sorry to learn about your eye challenges. Really ... the most critical organs connecting you to the experience. I wish you find a solution, and resume the journey.

Thank you. I promised family that #17 was final bike, so 55 years of riding has come to an end. I now have full (almost full?) movement of right eye, double vision only occurs looking far right and I can now drive with both eyes open. So now I am limited to vicarious motorcycling through this and one other forum. Cause remains unknown. Doctor thinks it is too limited to be a stroke.

I accepted Iodine injection for CT Scan and nothing found.

Peter Baron kindly asked via email about the scheduled MRI/MRA. I balked at Gadolinium injection for MRI/MRA, so doctor ordered MRI/MRA without contrast; but I backed out when the "catcher's mask" was put on and told to be still for 25 minutes. More claustrophobic than I thought. Radiology voided the co-pay.

 

[flynrider]

I'm a big fan of the modern chain drive. With O-rings and wax based lubricants, maintenance and clean up are minimal. I like that chains are light, simple and make rear wheel removal a piece of cake.

I was a big fan of shaft drive back in the 80s. Those standard chains and heavy sticky lube were a maintenance nightmare. It made the jacking tendency of early shafties very easy to live with.

 

[GoldOxide_imp]

1. Shaft, if as smooth as my V7II was
2. Belt
3. Chain, which seems very appropriate for the CB

1907 FN 412 cc Four (with shaft)

So accessible!

+1
1. Shaft to avoid chain maintenance.
2. Belt if you don't have to take half the bike apart to replace it.
3. Chain. Better now that I use chain wax.

Oh yes! I let it dry overnight and no flying off onto the wheel.

For a touring or sport-touring bike, my preference is shaft, but only if it's a single swingarm design (Paralever, CARC, etc.). Wheel removal on a shaft drive bike with a dual swingarm design can be a pain.

That said, on the CB, I think anything other than chain drive would be out of character and unnecessary.

Yep!

Sport'Doc: Sorry to learn about your eye challenges. Really ... the most critical organs connecting you to the experience. I wish you find a solution, and resume the journey.

Thank you. I promised family that #17 was final bike, so 55 years of riding has come to an end. I now have full (almost full?) movement of right eye, double vision only occurs looking far right and I can now drive with both eyes open. So now I am limited to vicarious motorcycling through this and one other forum. Cause remains unknown. Doctor thinks it is too limited to be a stroke.

I accepted Iodine injection for CT Scan and nothing found.

Peter Baron kindly asked via email about the scheduled MRI/MRA. I balked at Gadolinium injection for MRI/MRA, so doctor ordered MRI/MRA without contrast; but I backed out when the "catcher's mask" was put on and told to be still for 25 minutes. More claustrophobic than I thought. Radiology voided the co-pay.

More claustrophobic than a full face helmet?

 

[the Ferret]

I absolutely believe chain drive is right for the CB 1100

 

[misterprofessionality]

1. Shaft, if as smooth as my V7II was
2. Belt
3. Chain, which seems very appropriate for the CB

1907 FN 412 cc Four (with shaft)

So accessible!

+1
1. Shaft to avoid chain maintenance.
2. Belt if you don't have to take half the bike apart to replace it.
3. Chain. Better now that I use chain wax.

Oh yes! I let it dry overnight and no flying off onto the wheel.

For a touring or sport-touring bike, my preference is shaft, but only if it's a single swingarm design (Paralever, CARC, etc.). Wheel removal on a shaft drive bike with a dual swingarm design can be a pain.

That said, on the CB, I think anything other than chain drive would be out of character and unnecessary.

Yep!

Sport'Doc: Sorry to learn about your eye challenges. Really ... the most critical organs connecting you to the experience. I wish you find a solution, and resume the journey.

Thank you. I promised family that #17 was final bike, so 55 years of riding has come to an end. I now have full (almost full?) movement of right eye, double vision only occurs looking far right and I can now drive with both eyes open. So now I am limited to vicarious motorcycling through this and one other forum. Cause remains unknown. Doctor thinks it is too limited to be a stroke.

I accepted Iodine injection for CT Scan and nothing found.

Peter Baron kindly asked via email about the scheduled MRI/MRA. I balked at Gadolinium injection for MRI/MRA, so doctor ordered MRI/MRA without contrast; but I backed out when the "catcher's mask" was put on and told to be still for 25 minutes. More claustrophobic than I thought. Radiology voided the co-pay.

Oh yes! I let it dry overnight and no flying off onto the wheel.
Ok, I need to learn about this. i've been religiously cleaning and oiling my chain for a while now, what's the wax i keep hearing about?