Shaft vs Chain

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TKW · #1 Unread post by **TKW** » Sat Oct 22, 2005 11:48 am

Ok i'm debating on the Yamaha V-Sta 650 Cutsom or the Honda Shado Spirit 750, both 2006, as my first bike. One of the main difference between the 2 outside of the obvious displacement, is the Yamaha has a shaft drive, where as the Honda is the O-ring-sealed chain type. Is one better than the other? What actually are the difference, and what do you folks reccomend?

#2 Unread post by **Sev** » Sat Oct 22, 2005 1:15 pm

The difference in displacement won't be noticable especially as a first bike. Chains are more difficult to maintain requiring that they are greased often, and that you should get it itghtened often. It also needs to be replaced more often.

Shaft is relatively maintenance free.... but if something goes wrong while you're out on a ride you're borked.

Wizzard · #3 Unread post by **Wizzard** » Sat Oct 22, 2005 7:26 pm

Personally I find the shaft drive to be a much smoother ride .
Regards, Wizzard

flynrider · Sat Oct 22, 2005 10:58 pm

Sealed O-ring chains don't really need that much maintenance. The basic lube is already sealed into the rollers. The link plates need an occasional spray of lube to keep them from rusting. Mine only needs tightening every six to eight months, and it's a ten minute job.

Shafts have less ongoing maintenance, but can be a real bear when it comes time to change out the gear oil and clean up the rear end gears.

I wouldn't put that much emphasis on the final drive when considering a bike. I've had both shaft and chain and really didn't find a great deal of practical differences between the two.

#5 Unread post by **Sev** » Sun Oct 23, 2005 6:07 am

flynrider wrote:Sealed O-ring chains don't really need that much maintenance. The basic lube is already sealed into the rollers. The link plates need an occasional spray of lube to keep them from rusting. Mine only needs tightening every six to eight months, and it's a ten minute job.

Mine is also a sealed o-ring chain. It's supposed to be greased every 500-600km, and needs to be tightened every 5000. For me that's only a couple months of riding.

It doesn't take a long time, but grease flings off and needs to be cleaned. Tightening the chain takes work etc etc etc. It is more work to keep on the road. Though if you love the bike you won't care what the final drive is.

#6 Unread post by **Skier** » Sun Oct 23, 2005 7:32 am

For what it's worth, lubing a chain takes all of two minutes to do. That's two minutes to get on your bike, unlock the forks, put it on the centerstand, wander into the garage to find the chain lube, spray down the chain, wipe off the excess, put everything away and go for a test ride to make sure everything still works right.

Adjusting the chain also takes somewhere around 10 minutes to do, from putting the bike on the centerstand to rolling it off. And most of the time you don't need to do that but once or twice a riding season.

TKW · #7 Unread post by **TKW** » Sun Oct 23, 2005 7:53 am

awesome, good info. thanks all!

kabob983 · #8 Unread post by **kabob983** » Mon Oct 24, 2005 7:06 am

Good thing maintaining a chain isn't too rough as pretty much every bike I like is chain driven...

#9 Unread post by **Sev** » Mon Oct 24, 2005 7:24 am

It's at most 5 minutes of work every 500km. My bike has no centerstand, and I don't own a paddock stand so I spray what I can reach, back up, spray again until the whole thing is covered.

Mon Oct 24, 2005 10:54 am

if you ride it and get the chain warmed up before squirting chain lube on it the lube will get inside the rollers and links like it is supposed to instead of slinging off.