Shaft drive vs chain drive?

[P_syko]

Which is more reliable? Shaft or chain drive? 

[Gwbarm]

I feel shaft is more reliable but chain is more responsive thats why you see them more on sport bikes with shaft drive on utility.

[johndeerefarm]

I like the shaft drive.

[Gwbarm]

Agreed, shaft drive requires less maintenance.

[jen]

My Kaw 1000 is Shaft drive.  94 K + miles and never had shaft drive issues.  Changed oil regularly or checked never leaked.   My friend had a restored KZ900...carbruated .... with 4 into one header...It was  LYA on the ground fast!   Chains were always a maintenance issue.   But wow chains are efficient way to transfer KA Power!   I had a Yamaha SR 500 'Thumper' ..20K miles and never changed the chain.

[WeeBee]

Shaft Drives are more maintenance free ,I've had 2 Honda Goldwings & my Arctic Cat 300 4x4 has the Shaft drive as well as Independent rear suspension which I really like !  I've had several Bikes, Both Dirt & Street with chain drive never had any problems providing they were Always maintained! 

[jen]

Yes my friends KZ 900 was hard on chains.   I liked to ride with him.  I had to hold onto him tight as he liked to twist that throttle at every light.

[Callaway]

from strictly a reliability stand point a good shaft drive is far less maintenance and reliable.  You do not however get the ability to change ratios by adding or subtracting teeth on your sprocket. 

[jen]

Yes my Kaw 1000 is shaft drive.  >94 K miles ( I did not put all those on..LOL) It had a trailer hitch when I got it with 65 K miles from a widiow.  But one looses some efficiency frrom the worm gear.  Not that I need it.

[jen]

The gas tank was rusted when I got him.  I epoxy coated the inside of his tank.   You know when I was in Croatia on a Nato highway cnstruction job the trucks were from the US...CAT with tandem front steering axles.   But from the factory they had "Coated epoxy tanks!  

[jen]

Chains break...My fried always carried an extra makeup link master link with his Kaw 1000.  I was always afraid it would break and lock up the rear wheel.

[john4295]

I’ve only owned one Atv and it was a shaft drive however I think shaft drive would be more reliable since it is sealed and no way for dirt or sand to get in there, where a chain can get damaged. However shaft drive is a bit more complicated so if something does go wrong there’s probably not a way to fix it, so in my opinion chain is simpler and easier to fix whereas shaft is more protected and tougher and more difficult to damage

[jen]

Yes chains wear and need replaced However, when changed the Chain on my Yamaha thumper ..SR 500...I changed the sprockets also.  That was a fun bike. I would lay out over the tank and stretch out  on the seat when cruising it was like a massage .

[WeeBee]

A friend had the Triumph 500 Single w/ Chain Drive, it came out in the Mid to Late 70s To compete with the BSA 500 at the time - Very Low geared ,literally Pull Stumps with it ! Fun bike but wasn't built for speed !

Edited February 15 by WeeBee

[WeeBee]

To compete with The BSA 441 Victor Single

[Ajmboy]

You will typically see utility quads with shaft drive and sport quads with chains. Shaft is more reliable IMO.

[jen]

My SR 500 Yamaha was old but low milage when I got him.  Compression release start valve as He was kick start only.  Good hanling.   Did not go thru chains as he was not a "lam Bam Thanky Mamm"  he was made for long performance.   That was a popular bike in Europe,    I still have him disassembled ...in a box.