Question about shaft drive and gear changing...

[me!]

I'm looking to buy a bike soon, so I've been out shopping. I've
noticed that bikes that have shaft drive seem to be harder to get into
gear while standing still. (Note, this refers to sitting on them on
the showroom floor, with the engine off.)

The couple shaft-drive bikes I sat on were difficult to shift into 1st
from neutral, and back to neutral from first, while the bike was
perfectly still. But when I rocked the bike forward while changing
gear, it seemed to switch gears pretty easily/normally.

Is this common, or just my inexperience? Anything else I should be
aware of regarding changing gears with shaft drive?

Thanks.

[Thomas H. Faller]

Post by me!
I'm looking to buy a bike soon, so I've been out shopping. I've
noticed that bikes that have shaft drive seem to be harder to get into
gear while standing still. (Note, this refers to sitting on them on
the showroom floor, with the engine off.)

If you're going to drive it this way, it may be a concern.

Post by me!
The couple shaft-drive bikes I sat on were difficult to shift into 1st
from neutral, and back to neutral from first, while the bike was
perfectly still. But when I rocked the bike forward while changing
gear, it seemed to switch gears pretty easily/normally.
Is this common, or just my inexperience?

Don't expect stuff to work or feel the same with the engine off.
Have you tried the same trick with a manual shift auto? Do
you have a chain drive auto?

Post by me!
Anything else I should be
aware of regarding changing gears with shaft drive?
Thanks.

Don't do it with the engine off. The next person to start it up
may not appreciate it if you can't get it back into neutral.

Tom Faller

[Demetrius XXIV and the Gladiatores]

Post by me!
I'm looking to buy a bike soon, so I've been out shopping. I've
noticed that bikes that have shaft drive seem to be harder to get into
gear while standing still. (Note, this refers to sitting on them on
the showroom floor, with the engine off.)

An unfortunate side effect of owning a shaft driven bike for sure.

You will also notice how difficult it is to balance them when standing
still as well. Shaft driven motorcycles fall down a lot sooner than
chain or belt driven ones. The additional metal in the driveline
increases their gravitational affinity. In the northern hemisphere
they will tend to fall to the right.

Of course all bets are off if the engine is mounted lengthwise in the
frame. Then you can spin it up in neutral and keep it upright until
you run out of gas just by keeping the engine revved in the sweet spot
and allowing gyroscopic precession to do its thing. I've seen a few
Goldwing precision rider groups do this exact thing at rallys. Brings
a tear to my eye.

Shafties however do not properly countersteer or wheelie. The latter
part is of course a welcome benefit for beginners purchasing powerful
motorcycles as their first ride who are still learning the fine art of
throttle control. You'll never find yourself riding along and suddenly
staring at the birds in the sky just because you sneezed or were
startled by your cell phone.

Also make sure you replace the blinker fluid with silicone based. I
neglected that part and found out the hard way that Yamaha wanted $395
for a new solenoid/CPU assembly!!! A lot of makers are saving money
and intergrating this unit into the EFI computer. If you're the type
that forgets to cancel your turnsignals, the non-silicone based
formula will heat up a lot sooner. Heat kills electrical components.

[me!]

Post by Demetrius XXIV and the Gladiatores

Post by me!
I'm looking to buy a bike soon, so I've been out shopping. I've
noticed that bikes that have shaft drive seem to be harder to get into
gear while standing still. (Note, this refers to sitting on them on
the showroom floor, with the engine off.)

An unfortunate side effect of owning a shaft driven bike for sure.
You will also notice how difficult it is to balance them when standing
still as well. Shaft driven motorcycles fall down a lot sooner than
chain or belt driven ones. The additional metal in the driveline
increases their gravitational affinity. In the northern hemisphere
they will tend to fall to the right.
Of course all bets are off if the engine is mounted lengthwise in the
frame. Then you can spin it up in neutral and keep it upright until
you run out of gas just by keeping the engine revved in the sweet spot
and allowing gyroscopic precession to do its thing. I've seen a few
Goldwing precision rider groups do this exact thing at rallys. Brings
a tear to my eye.
Shafties however do not properly countersteer or wheelie. The latter
part is of course a welcome benefit for beginners purchasing powerful
motorcycles as their first ride who are still learning the fine art of
throttle control. You'll never find yourself riding along and suddenly
staring at the birds in the sky just because you sneezed or were
startled by your cell phone.
Also make sure you replace the blinker fluid with silicone based. I
neglected that part and found out the hard way that Yamaha wanted $395
for a new solenoid/CPU assembly!!! A lot of makers are saving money
and intergrating this unit into the EFI computer. If you're the type
that forgets to cancel your turnsignals, the non-silicone based
formula will heat up a lot sooner. Heat kills electrical components.

Amusing.

[Steve Makohin]

Post by Demetrius XXIV and the Gladiatores

Post by me!
I'm looking to buy a bike soon, so I've been out shopping. I've
noticed that bikes that have shaft drive seem to be harder to get into
gear while standing still. (Note, this refers to sitting on them on
the showroom floor, with the engine off.)

An unfortunate side effect of owning a shaft driven bike for sure.
You will also notice how difficult it is to balance them when standing
still as well. Shaft driven motorcycles fall down a lot sooner than
chain or belt driven ones. The additional metal in the driveline
increases their gravitational affinity. In the northern hemisphere
they will tend to fall to the right.
Of course all bets are off if the engine is mounted lengthwise in the
frame. Then you can spin it up in neutral and keep it upright until
you run out of gas just by keeping the engine revved in the sweet spot
and allowing gyroscopic precession to do its thing. I've seen a few
Goldwing precision rider groups do this exact thing at rallys. Brings
a tear to my eye.
Shafties however do not properly countersteer or wheelie. The latter
part is of course a welcome benefit for beginners purchasing powerful
motorcycles as their first ride who are still learning the fine art of
throttle control. You'll never find yourself riding along and suddenly
staring at the birds in the sky just because you sneezed or were
startled by your cell phone.
Also make sure you replace the blinker fluid with silicone based. I
neglected that part and found out the hard way that Yamaha wanted $395
for a new solenoid/CPU assembly!!! A lot of makers are saving money
and intergrating this unit into the EFI computer. If you're the type
that forgets to cancel your turnsignals, the non-silicone based
formula will heat up a lot sooner. Heat kills electrical components.

A cheeky piece of writing :-) But you'd be surprised by how many
people believe that shafties can't wheelie, and that BMW boxers will
throw you off to the right when you spool up the engine.

BTW, what do you recommend in the way of after-market muffler bearings?

-Steve Makohin | Reply to ***@interlog.com
2000 BMW R1100S/ABS | (hotmail acct is spam catcher)

[High Plains Thumper]

Post by me!
I'm looking to buy a bike soon, so I've been out shopping. I've
noticed that bikes that have shaft drive seem to be harder to get
into gear while standing still. (Note, this refers to sitting on
them on the showroom floor, with the engine off.)
The couple shaft-drive bikes I sat on were difficult to shift into
1st from neutral, and back to neutral from first, while the bike
was perfectly still. But when I rocked the bike forward while
changing gear, it seemed to switch gears pretty easily/normally.
Is this common, or just my inexperience? Anything else I should
be aware of regarding changing gears with shaft drive?

That's true of just about all bikes. Gears don't mesh sometimes unless
there is some motion. I wouldn't let that stop me if interested in a
shaft drive bike. What bike are you thinking about getting?

[me!]

On Wed, 06 Aug 2003 23:19:14 -0000, High Plains Thumper

Post by High Plains Thumper

Post by me!
I'm looking to buy a bike soon, so I've been out shopping. I've
noticed that bikes that have shaft drive seem to be harder to get
into gear while standing still. (Note, this refers to sitting on
them on the showroom floor, with the engine off.)
The couple shaft-drive bikes I sat on were difficult to shift into
1st from neutral, and back to neutral from first, while the bike
was perfectly still. But when I rocked the bike forward while
changing gear, it seemed to switch gears pretty easily/normally.
Is this common, or just my inexperience? Anything else I should
be aware of regarding changing gears with shaft drive?

That's true of just about all bikes. Gears don't mesh sometimes unless
there is some motion. I wouldn't let that stop me if interested in a
shaft drive bike. What bike are you thinking about getting?

Thanks. I'm thinking about the Yamaha Vstar Classic.

[High Plains Thumper]

Post by me!
On Wed, 06 Aug 2003 23:19:14 -0000, High Plains Thumper

Post by High Plains Thumper

Post by me!
I'm looking to buy a bike soon, so I've been out shopping. I've
noticed that bikes that have shaft drive seem to be harder to
get into gear while standing still. (Note, this refers to
sitting on them on the showroom floor, with the engine off.)
The couple shaft-drive bikes I sat on were difficult to shift
into 1st from neutral, and back to neutral from first, while the
bike was perfectly still. But when I rocked the bike forward
while changing gear, it seemed to switch gears pretty
easily/normally.
Is this common, or just my inexperience? Anything else I should
be aware of regarding changing gears with shaft drive?

That's true of just about all bikes. Gears don't mesh sometimes
unless there is some motion. I wouldn't let that stop me if
interested in a shaft drive bike. What bike are you thinking
about getting?

Thanks. I'm thinking about the Yamaha Vstar Classic.

Even belt drive although more maintenance free than chain, requires
occasional tightening. If that's what you want, go for it!