Shaft or belt

[taranis]

I've had shaft drives and belt. My last belt was on a Vstar 1300 tourer. The only thing I had to do was tighten it at around 4,000 miles. No other issues. Ann's 900 is belt, and I've yet to make any needed adjustments to it.

Used to be against belt drives and very much for shaft, but seeing all the maintenance a shaft drive requires, I dunno....

Either way, when my '06 is paid off, it's getting traded for a 1700 Nomad. Too much stuff there to like for me to worry about the belt drive.

[flavor]

I inquired about this issue at the dealer and they said with the new materials the belts are made from, that they last much longer than they did yrs ago. With more horsepower to the wheel it wouldn't bother me to have a belt. Either way shaft of driveshaft wouldn't be a deciding factor for choice of bike for me.

[bigjohn]

My two cents. I've had all three, chain (5), shaft (2) and belt (1).

Chains are for the past and i dont' know why any manufacturer would produce a bike iwth a chain today. Streachy, greasy, messy, noisey. Besides, they sling lube all over your rear wheel.

Shafts and belts are both pretty cool. I like both. It's six of one and 1/2 dozen of the other. I was a little apprehensive about gettign the 2K with the belt because of all the commotion about the infamous "V2K belt chirp." But, with proper adjustment (mine is) it is absolutley silent. No drive lash, direct hook up.

Yep, I'll take another scoot with a belt. Course, I'd take a shaft also, if it was attached to a good looking scoot.

[schoeney]

Hey John,

I am sure if you went to most any dealer they would be willing to give you the shaft

[bebop]

There is enough displacement in my 1600 Classic that I'm not too worried about any power loss from a shaft drive. A major criteria when moving up from a C50 was to continue with a shaft drive. I kind of like everything buttoned up inside a casing. I've never had a belt drive but I did have the pleasure of all the chain drive upkeep and I didn't want that hassle again.

Cheers!

[kawbuc]

My last bike had a belt. All of the bikes in my life time before that were all chain driven. I really liked the belt and never had a problem with it. Have friends that have belt drive and no problems with any that i know of.No complaints that i know of. Sure beats a chain.
I honestly think that the belt drive i had was alot smoother than the shaft. But i like the shaft also. I dont think i have ever heard of someones belt breaking.

She got the belt , i got the shaft.

[refugio]

I have had both...
VN 750 had a shaft
VN 900 had a belt
Nomad a shaft.

The belt drive on the 900 never gave me any problems after the correct tension and alignment. I put over 45,000 miles on it and it still look new when I traded my bike in.

Can't say I really have a preverence.

[donoller]

i like shaft better the belt. seems like going backward put almost 200,ooo miles on 1300 voyager with out a problem. and that much on two wings still no problem.

[landman]

it is much easier to get some really cool custom wheels for belt
drive bikes.i do realize that there are now some wheels for
shaft drive bikes but that wasn't the case kust a few years ago.