[net.cycle] Chain vs. Driveshaft

sth@rayssd.UUCP (03/21/85)

Any thoughts out there in netland as to the merits of a chain transmitting
power versus a driveshaft?  Pluses and minuses?  I presently have a Honda
200 and am looking for that elusive second bike.

Many thanx in advance.

Steve Hirsch,		{allegra, decvax!brunix, linus, ccieng5}!rayssd!sth
Raytheon Co,		 Submarine Signal Div., Portsmouth, RI

rsellens@watdcsu.UUCP (Rick Sellens - Mech. Eng.) (03/21/85)

Everything I've read/heard/seen/etc. suggests that chain drive is
clearly superior from a performance point of view. (Did you ever
see a shaft drive race bike?) Chain gives lower unsprung weight,
more efficient power transmission and has no torque reaction "hop".

On the other hand chains are dirty, ugly, high maintenance items.
They need regular lubrication and adjustment, and need replacement
after as little as 10,000 miles. (O-ring chains last longer)

If performance isn't your only concern, a shaft drive may make sense.
A slightly higher initial cost buys an essentially maintenance free
final drive which can be almost as good as a chain.

I don't know what the answer is (all other things being equal I don't
know what I'd choose myself just know), but I think the above gives
a reasonable context for thinking about it.


Rick Sellens
UUCP:  watmath!watdcsu!rsellens
CSNET: rsellens%watdcsu@waterloo.csnet
ARPA:  rsellens%watdcsu%waterloo.csnet@csnet-relay.arpa

rls@ihu1g.UUCP (r.l. schieve) (03/22/85)

> On the other hand chains are dirty, ugly, high maintenance items.
> They need regular lubrication and adjustment, and need replacement
> after as little as 10,000 miles. (O-ring chains last longer)

If you do go with the chain drive the another big advantage of the
O-ring chains is that your rear wheel and tire can be kept
relatively clean.  Most of the lubrication is contained by the O-rings
instead of spraying over the back end of your bike waiting to collect
dirt.

After years of trying to keep a clean bike with a lubricated, adjusted
chain, I can't say enough for shaft drive.  But if you decide to go
with a chain design, go for an O-ring chain.

				Rick Schieve
				...ihnp4!ihu1g!rls

petersen@ucbvax.ARPA (David A. Petersen) (03/24/85)

The way I see it, the advantages of a driveshaft are low maintenance and
no messy chain oil getting on anything.
The only disadvantage I've noticed on my SECA 650 is that there seems to be
a lot of gear lash. The connection between the engine and the rear wheel
has a lot of play and this can be troublesome in a high speed turn if you
go from engine braking to acceleration or vice versa. The resulting jerk
could cause a spill if you're already pushing things. What it comes down
to is the type of riding you do.  I think I'll go back to chain drive on my
next bike.

bob@vaxwaller.UUCP (Bob Palin) (03/26/85)

...
> 
> On the other hand chains are dirty, ugly, high maintenance items.
> They need regular lubrication and adjustment, and need replacement
> after as little as 10,000 miles. (O-ring chains last longer)
...
> 
> If performance isn't your only concern, a shaft drive may make sense.
> A slightly higher initial cost buys an essentially maintenance free
> final drive which can be almost as good as a chain.
...
> 
> Rick Sellens

This sums up chain/shaft fairly well though I suspect that someone who
bought a chain drive for the performance aspect could easily go through
a chain in less than 10000 miles, O-ring or not.  I have had four chain
drives and currently have two shaft drive bikes and will always try for
shaft drive in future though not at all expenses.

The bikes I currently have, a 1984 VF700 Sabre and a 1980 CX500 DeLuxe,
are both water cooled,  this is one area in which I can find no advantage,
they both get just as hot as air cooled bikes, they're heavier and there
is no noticable performance gain compared to similar air cooled bikes.

Why water cooled ?

Bob Palin,  zehntel!varian!bob

barbay@spp2.UUCP (Chris Barbay) (03/27/85)

The difference between chain and drive shaft power trains, I've been told,
heard and experienced is:

   chain drives are harder to maintain
   chain drives give better performance in power

   drive shafts are easier to maintain
   drive shafts give a smoother ride

			-- Chris Barbay

jason@ucbtopaz.CC.Berkeley.ARPA (03/27/85)

One of the big problems with chains is that the alignment of the sprockets
is crucial.  Even a small missadjustment can cause problems.  The amount
of missajustment I speak of is less than the manufacturing tolerance of
the alignment marks on the frame.
A few years back in a cycle mag (Cycle world?) the was an article about this.
To correct the problem,  someone had build a tool that let you do a really
good job on te alignment.  It was a frame that mounted on the wheels of the
bike,  and (due to teckie magic) exaggerated missalignments.

BTW,  my cycle has a drive shaft.

--
	Jason Venner
UUCP		{ihnp4,decvax}!ucbvax!ucbopal!jason
ARPA | CSNET	jason%ucbopal.CC@Berkeley.ARPA
BITNET		jason@ucbjade.BITNET

petersen@ucbvax.ARPA (David A. Petersen) (03/28/85)

A friend of mine described a procedure he uses on his bicycle to avoid
the mess and grime of chains.  Melt some paraffin in a coffee can on the
stove and (after cleaning the chain off in gasoline or something) drop
in the chain. Let soak until done. Fish it out and let harden. Then
break off the pieces on the outside by bending it and voila. You have
a lubricated chain that will not pick up grit or sling oil. Sounds like
a neat idea to try on a motorcycle. Does anyone know what kind of chain
lifetime to expect on a motorized vehicle? My friend claims it lasts
at least as long on bicycles treated this way as with chain oil. I'd
really like to try this someday.

phil@osiris.UUCP (Philip Kos) (03/29/85)

> 
> Why water cooled ?
> 
> Bob Palin,  zehntel!varian!bob

From what I've heard, the primary reason for water cooling is that it
provides much more consistent engine temperatures than air cooling,
and thus allows more precise engine tuning.

					Phil Kos
					The Johns Hopkins Hospital