Chain Drive vs Belt Drive vs Shaft Drive in Motorcycles | Which is Better?

Chain, Belt, or Shaft Drive in Motorcycles has its own ups and downs, but which is the best drivetrain among these three?

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In this video, we'll discuss Which is Better? Let's find out: chain Drive vs Belt Drive vs Shaft Drive in Motorcycles.

Chain Drive: The Chain drive requires two sprockets, one on the transmission's output shaft and the other on the wheel. The sprocket size differs depending on the engine’s power and torque output.

Belt Drive: The Belt Drive is the same as the chain drive; instead of a chain, this uses two pulleys. One on the engine's output shaft and the other on the wheel. A belt connects both pulleys, and it snugly fits on the grooves.

Shaft Drive: The engine runs the main shaft inside the transmission, and the output shaft is connected to a propeller shaft. The propeller shaft runs the rear wheel by transferring the rotation via a 90-degree differential. For you to know, Bevel gears are used in a motorcycle differential.

--------Content----------
00:00 - What is Drivetrain?
01:10 - Chain Drive
02:29 - Disadvantages of Chain Drive
02:59 - Belt Drive
03:54 - Advantages of Belt Drive
04:25 - Disadvantages of Belt Drive
05:07 - Shaft Drive
07:42 - Wrap Up

#chaindrive #beltdrive #shaftdrive

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[stanroberts]

I own all 3 types. Break a chain, repair and keep going. Break a belt not as easy a fix, but still not bad. Break the shaft drive and you're in for a long fix. It's rare but does happen. And it's the most expensive fix of the 3.

[robertkb]

Missed belt vs chain trade off: while a belt is more expensive itself to replace, during catastrophic failure a belt will simply zip away with the rider only noticing a complete loss of power transmission, while a chain can both jam between the sprocket and swing arm instantly locking the rear wheel and can also be flung forward into the transmission/engine/drive sprocket requiring a complete rebuild or engine/transmission replacement. This is an important difference as how a system operates at its limits and at failure can have lethal consequences.

I’ve personally seen all three modes of failure, and had both a locked rear wheel in a turn from a broken chain and a lost belt at highway speed. While a chain can simply fall away if it breaks in the right location every instance I’ve seen has resulted in a high speed projectile thrown either behind the bike or into some portion of it (or getting jammed between a sprocket and swingarm). A shaft drive, on the other hand, only fails catastrophically when the front u-joint disconnects and if the design is otherwise unsupported it becomes an ersatz pole vault flinging the entire rear of the bike into the air, much like a disconnected drive shaft can do on an automobile. While this essentially only occurs due to direct damage it is still a more dangerous failure mode than a belt.

[Shawn_the_Protogen]

As someone who rides a 1984 Honda VF700C with a shaft drive, I can fully say. They are nice since I don't have to worry about maintenance as much.

[MartinMcMartin]

I have owned all 3. No checking belts for cracks, or oiling chains and buying new ones, the shaft drive is perfect.

[johnnymcgonigle]

Shaft drive system is totally maintenance free while showing the oil being changed on one.

[MontysMotos]

As long as you ensure it's properly adjusted every once in a blue moon, a belt is a lifetime part. Really, the price difference is not an issue for most riders because they will never have to buy one. Of the handful of belts I've installed for my customers, one was damaged by gravel and the others weren't aligned properly, never seen one just wear out. Chains were a daily thing, also saw quite a few engine cases broken by broken chains and countershaft seals and bearings ruined by worn out chains with tight spots. In fact, I believe I've repaired more bikes that were broken by their chains than I've replaced belts. For what it's worth.

[andreww]

"Totally maintenance free"
Shows a video of oil change.

[ecubeautomotive]

Always shaft driven for me ... Zero maintenance needed. Love it.

[barkinsahin]

I have lubed and cleaned my 1st bike's chain regularly, and replaced the chain/sporket set at 15.000km.
I have rarely lubed my second bike's chain and nearly never cleaned. Again replaced the set at 15.000 km.
Finally I switched to shaft drive. Despite the losses of power in transmission, I love its being maintenance free.

[STohme]

I prefer the shaft system despite its cost and its higher weight because it is the most reliable and the most robust and its requires a a clean and minimum maintenance. I have it on my Honda VFR 1200 and I am able to compare it with the chain drive present on my previous VFR 800. Very nice video with a relevant analysis of the characteristics of each transmission system. Many thanks.

[TravisBerthelot]

If you want consistent acceleration then the drive shaft is the way to go. If you want more power then a chain is better, but it does not behave the same each time you accelerate. Chains are more fun and less predictable than drive shafts.

[gearhead]

One HUGE difference ( covered by a couple others but not the author ) between chain and shaft for sport riding :
While leaning into a turn and applying moderate throttle a chain driven bike will tend to "SQUAT" at the rear due to the physics of the top of the chain pulling force on the top of the rear sprocket ... which, in turn, compresses the rear shock ... which, in turn, lowers the center of gravity mid-turn.
Not the case on a shaft driven bike. The physics of the ring & pinion gearset ( at the rear wheel ) demands the pinion gear is attempting to climb UPWARDS on the ring gear ... which, in turn, makes the bike RISE AT THE REAR.

It's a strange feeling if you are used to feeling a SQUAT and get a RISE when you apply a heap of throttle. But it's just physics.

[JSimon-pqdj]

As a Honda NTV driver, I can say that nothing beats a HQ shaft-drive system. Reliable, robust and always clean 👍

[densilcardna]

I've never done belt drives, just the chain and shaft. And the shaft wins it for me.

[themergen]

I had a 1984 Honda V65 Sabre shaft drive. Changing 5 fluid ounces of 90 weight gear oil was yearly maintenance. It took hard beatings and high mph. My bike was A FAST ACCELERATING ROCKET.

[niklar]

I grew up on chain drives, but eventually got tired of the constant maintenance required, and switched to shaft drive.
I'll never go back to chain.
A chain is a piece of precision machinery, like a gearbox. If I suggested that a biker should remove the cover from his gearbox, let the oil run out, and then use the motorcycle, I'd be regarded as crazy! Yet that is exactly the situation with most motorcycle chains.
There are a very few motorcycles that have a fully enclosed chain, that runs in an oil bath, like a gearbox.
That is sanity!
Some years ago, I did a 21, 000 mile, 45 state, tour of the USA, and chose a shaft drive Honda, ST1100 to do it with. Not one problem during the whole tour!
I hate to think what the difference would have been with a chain drive.
.

[gordonmurray]

I've been watching vids like this, I think my next bike might be a shaftie. This vid did nothing to discourage me.

[davidjames]

I much prefer chain drive generally speaking because of the flexibility to easily change sprockets. Also, with a centerstand (such as on my ZX-11), lubing the chain is easy (especially with the chain guard off). Chains also look very cool and can be downsized to shave weight. Pretty impressive how something that has to handle the full power of the bike only weighs a few pounds.

[jamtin]

There's an automatic chain oiler kit available, manufactured in the UK. Kit consists of an oiler resiviour with flow rate adjuster, drip feeds oil onto chain via tiny tube. Keeps chain 100% clean, no oil spray onto back rim/tire. No more cleaning/lubricating chain. Highly recommended chain drive. 🖐🇦🇺

[jonathanperkins]

All 3 designs have a specific purpose and type of motorcycle they are generally used for.
I've experienced all of the different final drive types. For me, cruising the open highways I love my shaft drive. Reliable, very easy maint. and I'm on a larger V-Twin cruiser, so a little loss of power at the rear wheel really isn't that noticeable. It's not a sport or super sport.