Chain Vs Belt Vs Shaft Drive | Motorcycle Final Drive Systems Explained With Their Characteristics |

It’s all too common to see a pair of sprockets connected through a chain, driving the rear wheel of a motorcycle. However, it’s not the only final drive system used on motorcycles. Belt drive and shaft drive are the other two final drive systems, though they are not as ubiquitous as chain drive systems. So what exactly are the various advantages and disadvantages of the three drive systems, and what is it about chain drives that make them the preferred choice?
1. Belt Drive
A belt drive system isn’t as common as a chain drive system, though in terms of popularity, it stands at a distant second position. This setup comprises of a driving pulley towards the gearbox output shaft and a driven pulley at the wheel - the two pulleys are connected by a belt which has teeth, or grooves on the inner side, matching the grooves on the outer side of the pulleys. The belt is made of a rubber-like, but mostly a very strong synthetic material which lasts a very long time. Modern drive belts are strengthened with steel wires inside and Kevlar coating outside - such belt systems can last really long. You can expect a well maintained belt drive on a motorcycle to last in excess of 100,000 km or even more. Unlike chain drive, which requires very frequent cleaning, tightening and maintenance, belt drives are relative maintenance free. They run clean as they don’t have to be lubricated with sticky lubes and don’t require cleaning either. Belt drive systems also run much smoother, with much less jerks as compared to chain drives, and produce incomparably less noise too.
2. Shaft drive
To start off, shaft drive systems are the most expensive of the three systems we have here, and by some margin. They are, however, the sturdiest of the three, very smooth, and hardly ever need any maintenance. If designed and engineered well, drive shafts often last the life of a motorcycle without requiring any servicing or maintenance whatsoever. This system, as the name suggests, comprises of a shaft that’s connected to the gearbox output via a universal joint, which is essentially a coupling that facilitates transmission of rotary power at any selected angle. At the other end, the shaft is connected to the rear wheel hub via a spiral bevel gear. The bevel gear turns the direction of rotation of the shaft by 90 degrees to make the wheel turn. This entire drive system is bathed in oil for lubrication and sealed to protect it from any external elements, which makes it totally maintenance free.
Since shaft drive systems are heavy, expensive, and by themselves require more torque to work efficiently, they are not used on low-capacity or economy oriented motorcycles. They are used on large capacity (generally 600cc or above) motorcycles which produce good amounts of torque. Also, since shaft drive systems are very sturdy and reliable, they are often used in motorcycles built for the purpose of adventure, sports touring or adventure touring. In essence, these systems lend themselves very well for applications where the motorcycles have to run for very long distances, or in treacherous conditions, where minimizing breakdown possibility is top priority.
3. Chain Drive
Now that brings us to the trusty old chain drive systems. Comprising of a simple chain of linkages connecting sprockets, this is the drive system that an overwhelming majority of motorcycles implement. The sprocket connected to the gearbox output shaft is the driving sprocket and the one at the rear wheel is the driven sprocket, both are connected through a chain, which also comes in a variety of designs, but we’ll leave that discussion to some other day.
Now a chain drive system requires you to tighten it from time to time as the chain has a tendency to increase in length with time. There is an in-built provision in the swing-arm in motorcycles with chain drive systems to allow the rear wheel to move backwards by a limited extent. One has to check the motorcycle every 500-700 km for slack and adjust it if required. In addition, since chain drive systems are generally open to the elements and catch a lot of dust and grime, they have to be cleaned and lubricated every 500-700 km. This makes chain drive systems pretty service intensive and bothersome to an extent.
#ChainDrive #BeltDrive #ShaftDrive
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[@diliprishi8700]

बहुत अच्छी जानकारी दी गई. जो दुई चकर वाहन लेने वाले के लिये बहुत उपयोगी है.

[@MECHANICALTECHHINDI]

👍👍👍

[@bigb3267]

Old is gold

[@vishwajeetsingh3072]

BHAI ap bhut shandar explain karte ho ...ager mujhe SCHOOL life me ap jesa explain krne wala teacher mil jta na to me aj ..MECHANICAL ENGINEER😎

[@chandrarajbanshi2707]

125 cc se uper ke bike me open chain (without chain cover) kyou aata hai ?

[@attamjadhav6539]

???

[@alokayam9912]

Pulsar 150

[@TheStudent_bharat3938]

Usme saari guard nahi hota

[@childhoodart4198]

Bohot useful video. BMW bike ko lekar mare bohot dinse jo sawal tha uska jawab asse tarase milgaya. Thank you.

[@johnklumpp7901]

These type of visual productions often fail to list the other ways (than chain, belt, or shaft) that motor-powered two wheelers can transmit mechanical power from engine/motor to rear wheel. For instance, my Suzuki AN650 Burgman transmits engine (and SEVCT) power to the rear wheel via a straight-cut gear train using three intermediate gears in a (five-gear) train running enclosed in an oil bath. The domestic-market only Suzuki Skywave uses helical-cut gears. Very unfortunate, but I fancy that this method,s weight-penalty exceeds even that of shaft drive. Yet other ways are driving rod, friction-drive, magnetic-drive, fluid-drive, direct-drive, and motor-in-wheel. Its very possible that there are even other methods that I have not included.

[@user-uu8xl4eh7e]

भाई ऐसे ही मोटरसाइकिल के रहस्य बताते रहा करो।

[@akshaypatel4599]

Shaft system mujhe pata nahi tha aaj pata chala bhai thank u 👍🏻

[@sekhardakuaskd]

Lovely sir. Extremely knowledgeable

[@SonuKumar-fn6lz]

Chain drive me only new condition me 1-4% power loss hota h old hone pad badh jata hai and Maintenance nhi hone pr Loss or badh jata h jisse Average kam hone lagta h best Timing belt hai jisme loss 5-7% hi hota h

[@ashoka-iq4fq]

मेरे पास 2008 के मॉडल की बजाज प्लेटिना है जिसे में ओरिजिनल चैन ड्राइव सिस्टम और क्लच की साथ लगभग 125000 किलोमीटर चला चुका हूं।

[@MECHANICALTECHHINDI]

Good

[@sanjibkumarsahu1213]

ऐसे ही चलते रोहो अपनी और देस की तरक्की करते रोहो .

[@princerahul3320]

To ab aap belt drive ya shaft drive dal lo is se apka chain main oil dalna .tight karney ki bimari khatam ho jayegi Aap sukhi ho jaogey

[@bobbysingh7807]

platina is the best economical fuel efficient bike

[@rajivverma2879]

कहना क्या चाहते हो भाई!

[@saniyaamale9507]

amazing explanation !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@MECHANICALTECHHINDI]

😊👍

[@natarajk5638]

Very good information and nicely explained.. 👍🏻👍🏻

[@MECHANICALTECHHINDI]

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[@amolsahu8488]

Aapke vdos kafi and clear understanding hote hai

[@muditvishwakarma81]

Good information

[@MECHANICALTECHHINDI]

👍👍👍

[@vikashpandey7539]

पहली बार ये जाना. Thank you भाई

[@chikkandanandakumar8474]

Very nicely explained..very informative

[@sanghrajjadhav1210]

Nice explainatio 💯👍sir

[@hareshchavda137]

I'm using Chain Drive and i have changed Chain after 60000 kilometres. .. I think Chain Drive is the best...

[@biluroy2426]

Good

[@rider-wm4dz]

Bai yarr app ki jankari ka koi jawab nahi

[@md.moinulislam9467]

Mashaallah khub valo video.....

[@himanshuparmar7510]

Nice👌👌👌 Thanx for good explanation👌👌👌ase hi video banate rahiye sir

[@sachingaikwad1440]

बहोत अच्छे से समजाया सर tnx a lot🙏🙏😊

[@mohitkarmali7933]

Apka video OP hai sir😍😍😍😍

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Awesomeness redefined

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Nice video sir

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Bro next video on circular disc vs petal disc 👍👍

[@yogeshwakode434]

thanks

[@MECHANICALTECHHINDI]

Welcome

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Aap ki gyan ki jankari ke liye🙏 🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳

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Thank You.... So Much....

[@MECHANICALTECHHINDI]

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सराहनीय जानकारी भाई;👍

[@MECHANICALTECHHINDI]

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Bahot pyara sir

[@pankajdere201]

एकदम जबरदस्त जानकारी दिया है आपने

[@vijayswami2924]

Good explanation, last me ek comparisons शीट bhi dete aur और बढिया होता

[@sahilsaini4920]

Nice explaination

[@MECHANICALTECHHINDI]

👍👍👍

[@sbhatt.2995]

Thanks a lot bro for your informative video. Go ahead.

[@deepakdangi7224]

4 wheeler per video bana sir

[@tejpalnayak685]

Very good information sir..... Plz explain how there is power loss more in shaft drive.

[@MECHANICALTECHHINDI]

Okay

[@pritampramanik704]

Bhohut Acha hua ye video bro . please give other video .

[@MECHANICALTECHHINDI]

👍👍👍

[@brijeshwarsinghrathiya430]

Good information sir ji

[@debabrataghosh8532]

Bhaiya bhoti acha video ha, thank you, Bhaiya isk liye video baniye Ager engine ko direct wheel se connect kiya jaye to friction kaya kam hoga, Apne to answer diya, lakin detail ma ak video jarur

[@MECHANICALTECHHINDI]

Ok

[@debabrataghosh8532]

@@MECHANICALTECHHINDI thank you Bhaiya

[@srushtinagargoje5604]

Kya baat hai !!! Very nice 🔥 explanation

[@sandipchakraorty5654]

Very good advice for drive mechanism.But I want Electronic and normal carbo... Adjustment for Pollution testing examination passed.

[@parvejalam4142]

Universal cupling kaya hai

[@shaikhatif2544]

Good explanation sir🔥

[@saarcful]

Sir why engine input pulley's diameter wheel will be smaller than output pulley always? Can you do video on this ?

[@rkumarravi23]

Bhai saab nice information

[@AmitKumar-tv8ng]

Great sir but sir I want to say and request u politely please sir aap jo bhi video bnate hai ushki pdf format niche link me dal diya kre sir bohot help krta hai aapka channel humari knowledge ko growth krne ke liye but pdf nhi mil pata to thoda nirasa hoti hai sir

[@MECHANICALTECHHINDI]

Okay I will try 💖

[@AmitKumar-tv8ng]

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Very informative video keep it up brother

[@RanjeetKumar-fp7sp]

Bahut achcha laga Sir

[@MECHANICALTECHHINDI]

👍👍

[@GloomyMinati]

Good information bro 👍

[@MECHANICALTECHHINDI]

👍👍👍

[@anupverma5109]

Mst information bhai behtar koon Chen ya belt draf

[@MECHANICALTECHHINDI]

👍👍👍 Chain drive

[@rarestsudeep1634]

Knowledgeable. Thanks Bro😍😉

[@brajeshkamp4741]

Thanks sir for explain about the drive system

[@MECHANICALTECHHINDI]

👍👍👍

[@ntvlogger7064]

Thanks you for knowledge sir

[@MECHANICALTECHHINDI]

👍👍👍

[@MahendraPatel-rv3bx]

Shaft system I think best but sen drive bhi 👍

[@MECHANICALTECHHINDI]

👍

[@krishnakumarkulkarni2029]

Shaft drive me power loss jyada hota hai

[@vijaywadekar3154]

Nice explaination about three systems.

[@simple_user000]

Well explained brother...

[@jairoopjeevan9268]

Very good explanation

[@Amaztech7]

nice information 👍👍👍

[@MECHANICALTECHHINDI]

👍👍👍

[@scCBRRRTRrider]

Very nice bro

[@rao_sahab_00756]

please make a special video on electric vehicle...

[@MECHANICALTECHHINDI]

Okay

[@premanandamajhu1437]

Good sir

[@MECHANICALTECHHINDI]

😊👍

[@sushilshahi6518]

Very good knowledge mostly shaft drive

[@rajafayyazalhassan7956]

Very good . Informative video . Keep it up please

[@jai1859]

How to make a propeller shaft for Honda unicorn 150 please give me tricks

[@qaiserabbas2916]

Brother, the question is. Reduce the length of the chain of the motorcycle. That is, how does the efficiency or speed increase by moving the tire closer to the engine. Will you explain it? Thanks

[@premgajwani11]

Suitable wheelbase is important

[@sohanlal8101]

Chain drive system is imp. For excellent pick up.

[@Tushar-mm7os]

Which drive system is better for electric scooter?

[@ramakantabehera930]

Sir shaft, axle and spindle ke upper ek video banaiye please.

[@swarnarabha4427]

Nice video

[@RavindraKumar-lg1vc]

Sir very very nice video, So thankyou

[@rajvishwakarma29]

Sir bike ka axhaust change karana se kya nuksan he or kya faida he ..plz reply sir ...nai to ek video bana do plz

[@sagarbirhade3310]

another best from u

[@MECHANICALTECHHINDI]

👍👍👍

[@NIRAJKUMAR-xu6yw]

Very informative knowledge thanks

[@future840]

Suprb knowledge sir...explain to jabardast.

[@MECHANICALTECHHINDI]

👍👍👍

[@mallickhabibulla2766]

Electrical vehicle me konsa use keya jata hay,or electrical bike par ek video bano. Or jo log mera bat se agree ha vo reply or like kare,take you tuber es par video banay😎

[@biluroy2426]

Chain drive

[@deepakgairola8817]

Chain drive pick up ke liye hota hai pulling ke liye nahi inme torque Kam hota hai, for eg. All motorcycle, shaft drive pulling ke liye hota hai pickup ke liye nahi inme torque high hote hai. for example old Bajaj scooter, Honda eterno, truck, bus etc, belt drive sabse bekar drive hota hai inme sabse jyada power loss hota hai, isme na pickup milta hai na pulling isliye mileage bhi kam milta hai, for eg. all scooty mein belt drive hota hai.

[@user-zc9gb2nn4s]

Which type of drive use in scooty?

[@divyanshh__]

Belt drive

[@Dinesh.Mandare]

Good Information Sir jj

[@sandeepbanra4087]

thank you

[@Pankajkumar-ym5br]

Agar bike ke piche lage chain drive ki redius ko kam kar diya jaye to kya bike ki speed increase ho jayegi?

[@sandeepmankar8546]

Sir 2 stroke bikes yamaha rx aur suzuki series pe एक detailed vdo banaye

[@rrdancedunia1471]

Super informition

[@MECHANICALTECHHINDI]

👍👍

[@sridharramkarur2745]

Very useful information

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Very useful information bhai ji 👍❤️❤️👍🚩🚩🌹❤️ se

[@ruchirdewangan8219]

Chain ko khula kyo rahta hai or purane bike ke dhala rakha huwa kyo rahta tha . Scooty or car me kon sa system hota hai ?

[@shekharprasad3650]

Sir scooty ke bare Mai bhi kuch bataye

[@Mehta_Galaxy]

Please make similar unique technology videos please 👍

[@ganeshbharadwajshooter1913]

Ossuum explanation 👌✌️

[@krish_bart]

Thanks 🙏

[@sundersingh1215]

Nice information

[@sekhardakuaskd]

Sir maine suna hai ki timer chain ke badle timer shaft v hota hai uske bare me v kavi bataiye.

[@koustavchanda2609]

Thanks sir

[@MECHANICALTECHHINDI]

Welcome

[@UBIAICOSMOS]

Ring #orbis vs petrol vehicle video please

[@samirocks6166]

Sir, honda Activa me belt drive system kyu use hota he woto 110-125 cc ki hi hoti he fir bhi ?

[@MECHANICALTECHHINDI]

Usme CVT (continuous variable transmission) hota hai isliye

[@chandansirsat1413]

Great information

[@animalsandbirdslovertukara2058]

Awesome information bro...

[@ramakantmorya6855]

Great video

[@18rahulverma]

Which mechanism uses in activa scooty?

[@kundanjasud7700]

Sir Make video Dominar 400 bike