Replacement? Should I?

[Lonewolf]

Spending a lot of money to go back to chain drive!

Exactly, it seems like a backward move. After having a virtually maintenance free drive system, to go back to a chain seems almost archaic. 

[BigAlan]

Exactly, it seems like a backward move. After having a virtually maintenance free drive system, to go back to a chain seems almost archaic. 

I did it, and to a Ducati, no regrets whatsoever, it's horses for courses I reckon.

GTR was awesome, but got to heavy for me otherwise it would still be here, Mutly here is 15 stone lighter, and it's my new girlfriend, does all I want and never complains.

[PRD]

I did it, and to a Ducati, no regrets whatsoever, it's horses for courses I reckon.

GTR was awesome, but got to heavy for me otherwise it would still be here, Mutly here is 15 stone lighter, and it's my new girlfriend, does all I want and never complains.

does your wife know?

[PRD]

I'm sure modern chains are better but they still need adjustment and oiling. Rather not have to do that.

[doebag]

Right, test ride for a Versys in the new Year, have a good one all 

Get over to the Versys 1000 forum, you may meet some familiar people. 

[Burchy]

Just ridden a 68 plate Versys 1000. Nice bike.  Sticking with a full-blown tourer with the 1400 engine!

[big mike]

Went for versys1k aswell and love it

[aljaxon]

I love chains, I can see them and touch them, clean them, tinker with them, replace them, upgrade them,
I am at one with them, I know how old they are, how long they've got left before they die and you just know where you are with them. they give you loads of warning when they are about to die and even then you can still use them past their sell by date (if careful) ive had a new chain and sprocket set for the zx6r on my shelf for 5 years!!! bought as I detected wear but 6000 miles later its still going strong.

this is my first shaft drive and ok ive stripped it and moly greased it (thanks to the how to on here) but im almost scared of it and I know that one day it could just die and that's it, marooned without any warning
ring the aa.

its like my plasma tv

I cant do anything about it and one day it will just fail and I cant afford to have another on a shelf

whereas with a chain its serviceable at a reasonable cost, I have a splitter/riveter and do it myself.
15-25000 miles for a chain if looked after 5 mins every month and  a few hundred miles before it needs replacing it will let you know compared to  half a day researching and stripping and greasing the shaft drive and still not knowing when the bomb is gonna go off. and I dread to think at what cost?

I hate all this constant technological advancement they force onto motorbikes rendering my bent spoon and fag paper toolkit useless.

[nobody]

.

[Boomer]

Mine had to have the output bevel box bearing replaced at 68k miles, but only because it was making a clunking noise. Otherwise I have well over 500,000 miles on shaft drive bikes and have only ever replaced the oil at the recommended intervals.
Chains can snap, seize, and if not lubed and adjusted correctly will trash the sprockets.
I've seen chains snap, and on one trip one of my mates had to have his front sprocket welded to the output shaft as it stripped the spline.

Shaft = reliable, low maintenance.
Chain = efficient, light.

[O.C.]

Modern chains are a massive improvement over those of yesteryear, as Boomer says simple occasional cleaning and correct adjustment of a modern chain and it should  last for 30 + thousand miles, many owners report better lifespan than this

I never had any issues with the shaft drive on any of my past bikes, again correct maintenance will help   

BTW it isn't advisable or necessary to ver grease the splines and also you should use a recommended lubricant (Moly)   

[aljaxon]

ive got 6 bikes and only one of em's got shaft drive

I was sold on the versys but now im looking at the z1000sx
still yet to test ride either