Discussion
Shaft drive does take a lot of unfair stick.
I suppose most of it comes from years ago when it was crap; heavy, clunky, funny reactions on and off the throttle etc (70's BMW anyone?).
The modern stuff with it (Pan Europeans, new BMW's, even the new Guzzi's) are actually really rather good.
Not really for sports kit due to the extra weight and complexity, but ideal for tourers (though a chain drive with a properly set up Scotoiler needs very little maintenance anyway).
I've not ridden any of the newest "sporty" BM's yet, but I'm told they handle well enough for most folk, and there's no way you can accuse them of being "pipe and slippers" bikes.
However, with increasingly restrictive noise legislation we are going to get more and more shafties soon anyway as even the best lubed chain produces a phenominal amount of noise. How long before we see one of the Japanese manufacturers launching a sportier shafty?
I suppose most of it comes from years ago when it was crap; heavy, clunky, funny reactions on and off the throttle etc (70's BMW anyone?).
The modern stuff with it (Pan Europeans, new BMW's, even the new Guzzi's) are actually really rather good.
Not really for sports kit due to the extra weight and complexity, but ideal for tourers (though a chain drive with a properly set up Scotoiler needs very little maintenance anyway).
I've not ridden any of the newest "sporty" BM's yet, but I'm told they handle well enough for most folk, and there's no way you can accuse them of being "pipe and slippers" bikes.
However, with increasingly restrictive noise legislation we are going to get more and more shafties soon anyway as even the best lubed chain produces a phenominal amount of noise. How long before we see one of the Japanese manufacturers launching a sportier shafty?
slim_boy_fat said:
Hooli said:
dont shafteys try & roll over as you get on & off the power?
never ridden one but its what i always hear about them.
Nonever ridden one but its what i always hear about them.
is that just a leftover scare story from the early ones then? no real interest in getting one (or any other bikes atm) just nosey.
I have a drive shaft on my K1200S. TBH there is really no real power loss due to the shaft but then again it was never going to be a Fireblade or GSXR1000 superbike, but against a Busa then it holds its own. The shaft is fairly light weight but the exhaust is bloody heavy and could do with a change. Does the drive make any difference to handling? not really, if you turn the twisty thing too harshly you will feel a slight tug at the rear wheel on the side of the shaft, but then thats part of the fun. Does it restrict tyre size? Not on this beemer, there is plenty of rear tyre to play with and enjoy the cost of replacing
Modern shaft drives tend not to impact the bike handling other than the fact that they increase the unsprung weight of the rear wheel. The handling issues are from the days before the likes of BMWs Paralever system.
Before such systems shaft drives would tend to cause the rear of the bike to rise and fall as the power was applied/removed. This was not a problem unless you were caught out going too fast into a bend. In such a circumstance, the (incorrect) instinct is to shut the power off, which would cause the rear to squat, extending the wheel base and increasing the steering angle, making the bike even slower to change direction. A slower steering bike was the last thing wanted when you were already going too fast, hence the bad press. However, if you could use this effect to good advantage then you could apply power sooner through the bend, which would sharpen up the steering and help push the bike through the bend even quicker.
Before such systems shaft drives would tend to cause the rear of the bike to rise and fall as the power was applied/removed. This was not a problem unless you were caught out going too fast into a bend. In such a circumstance, the (incorrect) instinct is to shut the power off, which would cause the rear to squat, extending the wheel base and increasing the steering angle, making the bike even slower to change direction. A slower steering bike was the last thing wanted when you were already going too fast, hence the bad press. However, if you could use this effect to good advantage then you could apply power sooner through the bend, which would sharpen up the steering and help push the bike through the bend even quicker.
Conian said:
carinatauk said:
I have a drive shaft on my K1200S .... but against a Busa then it holds its own.
And do you have a Nova that 'eats' Porsche's at traffic lights too? 
Edited by Silver993tt on Friday 15th February 12:09
Silver993tt said:
Conian said:
carinatauk said:
I have a drive shaft on my K1200S .... but against a Busa then it holds its own.
And do you have a Nova that 'eats' Porsche's at traffic lights too? Edited by Silver993tt on Friday 15th February 12:09
The K1200S is a very fast very capable bike, as is the ZZR1400 and the Busa. The rest is ‘pub talk/top trumps’.
I suspect that the 'in your dreams' comments about K1200S are from bar room test pilots! I have owned a Hyabusa and ridden many K1200 and there is no plapable difference (other than the K12 being less effort to ride) in performance. Probabaly a roll-on at 150 would see the Suzuki pull ahead, but what use is that in the real world?
Anyway shafts? Bllody brilliant and as have far more good points than bad. I accept the weight and complexity, but that is about all - and off set against the chain's lack of refinement and lubrication spreading ability, it is no contest.
Tyre size limitation? Perhaps not, in the light that you can spec a 190 for the R1200S and the Suzuki ML is larger I believe.
Anyway shafts? Bllody brilliant and as have far more good points than bad. I accept the weight and complexity, but that is about all - and off set against the chain's lack of refinement and lubrication spreading ability, it is no contest.
Tyre size limitation? Perhaps not, in the light that you can spec a 190 for the R1200S and the Suzuki ML is larger I believe.
black-k1 said:
Silver993tt said:
Conian said:
carinatauk said:
I have a drive shaft on my K1200S .... but against a Busa then it holds its own.
And do you have a Nova that 'eats' Porsche's at traffic lights too? Edited by Silver993tt on Friday 15th February 12:09
The K1200S is a very fast very capable bike, as is the ZZR1400 and the Busa. The rest is ‘pub talk/top trumps’.
Edited by Silver993tt on Friday 15th February 17:20
black-k1 said:
I would think that the performance difference between any of the above mentioned bikes would be very difficult to notice on the road. Any difference 'experienced' is much more likely to be about the willingness of the riders to push their own (not the bikes) limits.
The K1200S is a very fast very capable bike, as is the ZZR1400 and the Busa. The rest is ‘pub talk/top trumps’.
I would agree, the K1200 is putting out 160hp, a busa what about 170-175.The K1200S is a very fast very capable bike, as is the ZZR1400 and the Busa. The rest is ‘pub talk/top trumps’.
Not going to notice much there, I bet the BMW will brake better. Only drawback with the the big BMW is the extra weight.
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