Motorcycle Chain VS Belt VS Shaft Drive Which is Better?

What's up guys it's Alex, and in this video I want to cover one of the ultimate motorcycle questions: motorcycle chain vs belt vs shaft drive which is better?
There are subtle differences between motorcycle drive systems, whether it be a motorcycle chain, motorcycle belt or motorcycle drive shaft. The biggest difference comes in the motorcycle shaft drive, but we will get into that in the video.
At the end of the day when you boil it all down chain driven motorcycles will have the lightest and best power transfer, shaft driven motorcycles have the longest-lasting and lowest maintenance system, and belt driven motorcycles are a perfect compromise between the two.
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[@marcalampi5036]

Honestly I love drive shafts the very best, very reliable no frills

[@victorhawkins3461]

Glad my VN2K has a belt, of course...couldn't have changed THAT anyway! But glad you think as highly of belts as you do. And you only have one more vid to upload and you will have achieved your December goal! Congrats!

[@AlexSimmons11c]

Haha, technically I did miss one day, but close enough!

[@randall1959]

My favorite thing about shaft drive is the ease of removing and replacing the rear wheel. No adjustments usually other than maybe the brake.

[@Meianju]

Wish I had a belt on my bike XD but drive shaft would be ideal for me from the sounds of it but belts also sound amazing. Thanks this was good information and insights

[@rogersmith5371]

Another good video that sums up the main points of the 3 types of drive, chain, shaft or belt. I've owned a shaft drive and a belt drive and have found both good systems. Chains need regular oiling and frequent replacing depending on how you ride. A shaft never needs replacing and maybe just the oil changing once in a while. My current bike, a Kawasaki Voyager 1700, has a belt and at 90000kms it is still running on the original belt. Given all of that the chain makes sense for smaller bikes because it is light, brings the power to the rear wheel quickly. A big bore cruiser like mine would need a huge chain that would still need regular servicing and replacing so a shaft makes sense but I think at some point the size of the shaft adds too much weight so manufacturers go for a belt instead. So the answer depends on the bike you ride, most sports bikes have a chain, cruisers and tourers are more likely to have a shaft or a belt.

[@scottlochans4180]

Had 4 KAWASAKI Shaft drive's, all trouble free, enjoyed my '84 GT 750, in'85, more than my nearly new Kawa.750 turbo '84. No bike Kawasaki for 27 years, March 19 got a 05 GSF Bandit650 inj. W.T.F., at least 58, 59 times more biking joy, than the turbo, and it was SUPERB. But Bandit Time,?, WAS A PERFECT STORM OF ACCELERATION, PROPELLED FORWARD, felt like an INDUSTRIAL CATAPULT FIRED IT OFF, was all at the back wheel. TIME CAPSULE, and I'm not even lying.

[@davidrochow9382]

After riding for 47 years and using all 3 my vote has to go to the shaft drive system.

[@32Aurelio]

Thanks Alex! My dubts about the three power transmition systems are now very clear! Thanks for that valuable info!

[@suds782]

😂 I am not forgetting any Harley model . No worries mate we are watching you from across here in the EU.

[@AlexSimmons11c]

Hahaha, thanks my friend!

[@Dimythios]

I'm going to put this here because he's a youngin' and I'm not. I have over 1/2 million miles of riding Motorcycles in the past 43 years. 2 of my bikes which I have kept are the 1987 1100cc Sportster with 168+ thousand miles and my 1993 FXRS LowRider Convertable... THE best year motorcycle Harley Davidson ever made with 138+ thousand miles. 99% stock. I ridden BMW's Honda's Sususki's and Ducati's for the rest of the miles and here's what I have to say. I have not only traveled cross country several times on my Harley's, I've traveled to several countries as well. 1. I have never... EVER had a failure on my chain. 2. I had 1 belt failure on my FXRS and I was pissed. Luckily it was close to home and I got there safely. Everything is how you maintain your motorcycle so I'm a gear head. I'm not a weekender and to be honest I frown on all of the add ons that people put on their Harley's. this keeps my bike as light as possible. With my FXRS I was able to get 50+ mpg and on my 87, it was as high as 63 mph because I had those bikes fine tuned for riding and not bar hopping. Everything is how you maintain your bike and for me I tend to go chain as I have a maintenance schedule that I tend to keep. But Belt is a close second... Until you have to replace one, then it becomes a pain.

[@dogphlap6749]

I was planning to change my chain for a belt and the sprockets for larger toothed pulleys because I assumed that would drop the weight of the bike just a little. I was surprised when Alex said belts are heavier than chains. The reduced maintenance would have been a bonus but increased weight rules this modification out for me. I'm still looking for an aluminium fuel tank, again to save weight.

[@ethanloughlin9052]

make sure you only fill the tank up half way

[@Drunken_Hamster]

After all the learning and research, I like belts the best. I have no experience with either, but I don't think I could stand to oil and maintenance a damn chain every 500-1000 miles or whatever it is. I just wish there were belt conversions for chain bikes. Especially for that there CB1100 I want, haha.

[@AlexSimmons11c]

Lol yeah it's a good compromise with the betls, but on chain-only bikes it's not as bad as you think to do the maintenance as long as you keep up with it.

[@jedslather]

Chains for race, shaft for touring and custom cruisers.

[@Knotdead73]

Don't wanna do willies, don't wanna do 0-60 in under 2.0 sec. Don'T care about not being the fastest around the block. Drive Shaft 100%

[@jimmydavis5055]

It seems like the belt is less maintenance. I have to change the oil on a drive shaft, but the belt seems to be fine until you need to change them.

[@user-kp6ud7ht4z]

Good video

[@dreamride8512]

my motorcycle is a 30 year old yamaha fzr 400 (the bike at my profile photo) and i never changed chain and it runs just fine..

[@boomerguy9935]

Changing the belt on a Sportster does not involve the swingarm, unlike the Big Twins.

[@kentmathieson1342]

Hey Alex, I live 3 miles of gravel from pavement and am thinking of upgrading my Kawasaki Versys to a probable cruiser type. Should I be concerned about gravel stones in a belt drive on a Vulcan and lean towards a shaft drive Honda Shadow or the like? Thanks for your input.

[@AlexSimmons11c]

I have not personally had issues with gravel or rocks in a belt drive, but I have occasionally seen it. That being said I've only seen a rock cause a belt issue maybe 3 times in 10 years, so it's possible but I would not let that sway you, as there are a lot of great belt drive machines out there. Just pick the bike that works right for you whether it is belt or shaft, and I think you'll be fine!

[@shoomapador5043]

Sold!! Belt it is. Gonna buy the Vulcan 900 custom. Soooo what's the best after market muffler? :)

[@MrGarnettmiller]

Best bet is Belt

[@anthonyhicks1354]

What did yall do to my dude to make him so self conscious about hate comments😂

[@AlexSimmons11c]

Hahahahaha, this was a while ago, I've long since become used to internet warrior youtube hate comments :-)

[@mattcero1]

I don't think I'll ever have a chain again. They're loud, messy high maintenance and there's no reason to opt for a chain if a belt or shaft is in the class of bike you're looking for.

[@AlexSimmons11c]

I agree, the only reason to go for a chain these days is that there are still just certain classes of bikes where that is still the only option or at least most commonly accepted option, i.e. offroad, dual-purpose, or classic style.

[@mattcero1]

I miss the belt on my Oh-eight Nightster. I understand mud and dirt are no place for a belt, but a shaft can endure most, but not all, of the abuse a chain can. The only thing that bugs me about a shaft is the efficiency loss, but at my age with my hair no longer on fire, I don't mind.

[@r000ketman5]

Which one has more chances of getting broke while Riding & DANGEROUS?? Thx

[@juandias7353]

Not need to lubricate belt drive, les noise, and they are timing belts type. Think how much they last inside of a car engine .

[@d.n.8578]

Hi Alex, what are your thoughts on the BMW RnineT range, especially the Scrambler and its shaft drive? Are those BMW shaft drives on the RnineT range reliable and how often do they require servicing and have you in your experience or heard from others issues with reliability on BMW RnineT range? Thanks.

[@pasiutrial]

What about the feel of the transmission? Is riding experience different between chain and drive shaft? For example, more smoothness or something like that?

[@AvidEnduro]

pasiutrial yes there is a considerable amount difference. Shaft drive seems laggy, slower than a chain in my few

[@charliesullivan3192]

what do you think of a suzuki c90. looking about maybe a 2006 c90 or maybe a newer c90 boss.

[@user-kp6ud7ht4z]

Bro gates belts are like $80 what do you mean a motorcycle belt is gonna start at $150!?

[@MrGarnettmiller]

Belt will last about 50,000 miles or more.

[@shoomapador5043]

What's a sealed chain?

[@frankmilo4805]

How much power does a shaft driven Kawasaki vulcan 1600 loss?

[@aducksecho]

neither is better they just work differently

[@AlexSimmons11c]

Absolutely correct...different systems for different purposes

[@davidsundquist1845]

Belt is the least efficient of all drive systems shaft second and chain the most efficient- that is a scientific fact not my opinion.Sorry if my observation has hurt anyones feelings. d.s.

[@user-kp6ud7ht4z]

Belts are not heavier than chains

[@CapitanTavish]

You look like yo mr white yea sciiieeennce

[@user-kp6ud7ht4z]

My belts tend to last ~80,000

[@ainanimagi5729]

Belt only good roads, otherwise they fail fast