tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44355637440676282482024-02-07T17:52:23.687-08:00Shaft Drive MotorcyclesMr Shaftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00744322615346233885noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4435563744067628248.post-54546357580276194732016-12-07T22:22:00.000-08:002016-12-07T22:22:07.682-08:002017 Moto-Guzzi Shaft Drive Motorcycle Line-UpThere is only one remaining motorcycle manufacturer 100% comitted to the shaft drive paradigm, and that is the Italian marque Moto-Guzzi.
Moto-Guzzi V7 Stornello
Their 2017 lineup features every kind of chain-free motorcycle imaginable, from adventure bike to sports cruiser with most things inbetween.
Models are based around the same engine configuration, a 90 degree V-Twin mounted accross Mr Shaftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00744322615346233885noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4435563744067628248.post-19757983955178944892016-12-02T12:38:00.000-08:002016-12-02T12:38:19.896-08:00BMW R Nine T - a practical Hipster dream machine
BMW have stepped off their high tech high horse and thrown a bone towards the section of motorcycle buyers looking for a more retro, trendy people might say pure, machine.
Drawing on 90 years of engineering experience, and a considerable parts bin, the R 90 R nineT takes its inspiration and styling cues from various R-Bikes of old, as well as recent retro attempts from other manufacturesrs likeMr Shaftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00744322615346233885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4435563744067628248.post-67023392990349374432016-11-23T06:00:00.000-08:002016-11-23T09:03:56.227-08:002017 Honda Shaft Drive Motorcycle Line-UpFor the upcoming 2017 model year, Honda Motor Co remain the undisputed kings of shaft drive bikes by retaining more than a dozen shaft drive models in their lineup, based upon five distinct drive train configurations.
2017 Honda ST1300
In the touring segment, venerable GoldWing leads the charge in the guise of the GL1800 and F6C six cylinder models, while the Pan European model line Mr Shaftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00744322615346233885noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4435563744067628248.post-91517701207983669732015-07-14T01:49:00.001-07:002015-07-14T01:49:59.483-07:00The shaft drive UJM isn't dead, it just retired to ItalyIn the glory days of the mid 1970s through to later 1980s, every single one of the "Big Four" Japanese manufacturers had at least a couple of UJM's in their line-up.
If you never heard the expression, UJM stands for "Universal Japanese Motorcycle" - a no bullshit, unpretentious, basic street bike that's just as good at getting you work every day, as it is for a coast to coast adventure trip. SuchMr Shaftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00744322615346233885noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4435563744067628248.post-22102568577891446212015-06-11T15:26:00.000-07:002015-06-11T15:26:00.115-07:002015 Kawasaki Shaft Drive Motorcycle LineupShame on you, Kawasaki Heavy Industries!
With a history of legendary shaft drive models like the Drifter 1500, KZ1300 and KZ1100 Spectre, the 2015 lineup contains but a single such machine, the Kawasaki Concourse 1400.
Are motorcycle enthusiasts really on course for a purely belt- and chain-driven future?
official promo image of Kawasaki Concourse
How about a shaft-driven Versys 650? Mr Shaftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00744322615346233885noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4435563744067628248.post-55177087503976737722015-06-08T08:17:00.002-07:002015-06-08T08:18:36.973-07:002015 Yamaha Shaft Drive Motorcycle LineupIn the current model year, Yamaha Motor Co. are only offering three shaft drive machines, namely the FJR1300, the V-Max and the Super Tenere.
Let's say this again: the second largest manufacturer in the world, with a palette of some 30-odd models, offers a mere three types of shaft drive machine.
Yamaha promotional image of FJR1300
The Japanese giant's catalog is full of Mr Shaftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00744322615346233885noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4435563744067628248.post-4009462059448113462015-05-16T05:27:00.003-07:002016-11-23T05:35:54.602-08:002015 Honda Shaft Drive Motorcycle LineupIn the current model year, Honda Motor Corp. are offering the following shaft drive machines:
GL1800 Gold Wing Grand Tourer
Gold Wing F6B and F6C Baggers
ST1300 Pan European
VT1300CX Fury
CTX1300
VT750 Shadow
Honda CTX1300 photo courtesy of motorcycle.com
For a company on Honda's size, this is a rather disappointing line up!
When will they start listening to real world riders, whoMr Shaftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00744322615346233885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4435563744067628248.post-28888295265952593942014-07-30T07:29:00.001-07:002014-08-07T06:01:44.094-07:00Yamaha Super Ténéré XTZ1200
Yamaha have been making large dual purpose motorcycles under the (Super) Ténéré banner for something like 20 years now, but none of the earlier models have a lot in common with the new monster that is the Super Ténéré 1200. Clearly the crew from Iwata are dead set to seize the "big bore dualsport" crown from BMW's R 1200.
The new Super Ténéré sports its own unique high-tensile steel backbone Mr Shaftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00744322615346233885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4435563744067628248.post-25240307753196712152014-07-29T03:23:00.000-07:002015-06-07T04:06:22.544-07:00Suzuki GSX 1100G - the Shaft Drive Gixxer
When the GSX1100G was introduced in 1991, the bike press didn't really know what to make of it. Here was a derivative of the mighty GSX-R1100 "slingshot" engine, in a heavyweigt touring chassis with distinctive retro styling reminiscent of the VX800 model introduced around the same time.
Just like the earlier GS Suzuki models, ”G” after the model name tells that GSX1100G was shaft driven. The Mr Shaftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00744322615346233885noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4435563744067628248.post-17555444977932247942012-04-20T02:03:00.003-07:002012-04-20T02:24:35.357-07:00Simson AWO 425The AWO 425 has the distinction of being the only four stroke motorcycle manufactured in the former East Germany. In production from 1950 to 1961, the AWO was a popular base for choppers and custom bikes during the 1970s and 1980s, retains a cult following both as custom bike and classic restoration right through to the present day.
Following WW2, the gun factory in Suhl was converted into Mr Shaftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00744322615346233885noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4435563744067628248.post-68750785467112399082012-04-15T03:25:00.000-07:002014-07-29T03:30:16.622-07:00Honda NTV, Revere and DeauvilleThe Honda NTV was introduced in 1988 as a follow-up model for the VT 500, to recapture some of the success of the legendary CX 500 series. In a way this makes the NTV the last shaftdrive UJM.
The original NTV650 (sold in some markets as "Honda Revere") was a naked bike with a 57 horsepower 650cc water cooled V-Twin engine, mounted in the traditional position with one cylinder in front of the Mr Shaftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00744322615346233885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4435563744067628248.post-63313866656279638342012-03-30T03:11:00.004-07:002012-06-08T13:23:41.062-07:00MZ BK 350 Two Stroke Flat TwinThe MZ BK 350 (short for "boxer kardan 350 cc") was produced from 1952 to 1959, by Motorrad Werk Zschopau in East Germany. The BK 350 was the first new design to come out of the former DKW factory after World War 2, and was initially offered under the IFA (Industrieverbad Fahrzeugbau) brand.
Contrary to the popular claims, the two cylinder oppossed piston two stroke engine isn't a Nazi-era Mr Shaftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00744322615346233885noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4435563744067628248.post-90526649442416876042012-03-23T07:57:00.003-07:002014-07-29T03:25:46.798-07:00Yamaha XS750 and XS850 TriplesThe three-cylinder, shaft drive Yamaha XS750/850 was produced between 1976 and 1981, and while it was one of the most technologically advanced motorcycles of its day, the XS Triple never enjoyed the success of comparable bikes from other Japanese manufacturers.
Driven from the superbike market after the Yamaha TX750 twin proved unreliable, Yamaha faced the challenge of producing a new bike that Mr Shaftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00744322615346233885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4435563744067628248.post-56601005869450790662012-03-13T08:42:00.000-07:002012-03-13T08:42:08.039-07:00Triumph Tiger 1200 - a Step in the Right DirectionThe brand new Explorer 1200 is the flagship model of Triumph's Tiger range of adventure bikes. With a 1.2 liter 140 horsepower engine and 1 kW electric generator the bike is perfectly suited to long distance rides in excess of 1000 kilometres per day - and after 14 hours in the saddle, who wants to adjust a dirty greasy drive chain?
That's why Triumph sensibly fitted the Explorer with aMr Shaftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00744322615346233885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4435563744067628248.post-86573565774313654262012-03-09T02:17:00.001-08:002014-07-29T03:26:22.808-07:00The Moto-Guzzi CARC SystemCARC: Cardano Reattivo Compatto (Compact Reactive Diveshaft)
On powerful motorcycles, the forces created by the spinning driveshaft and differential can severely affect the suspension and handling, an effect known as "shaft jacking". Moto-Guzzi first offered an anti-jacking system in the 1990's on the Daytona, and this system was developed over the years into what is now known as CARC. Mr Shaftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00744322615346233885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4435563744067628248.post-64248421002857098012012-03-06T05:17:00.001-08:002012-03-06T05:17:44.637-08:00Yamaha V-MaxThe Yamaha V-max inhabits a category of its own. Is it a sportsbike, a cruiser, a musclebike? Who knows. All we know is that since it's launch in 1985 the V-Max has polarized the biking community like no other.
With an insanely powerful V-4 engine, shaft drive and monster looks the 1200cc machine never was for the faint hearted. While some criticise the cornering ability and general Mr Shaftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00744322615346233885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4435563744067628248.post-37551718227623968152012-03-02T07:40:00.001-08:002015-06-07T04:08:08.936-07:00Honda CX 500 - The Plastic MaggotUnlike today, with 1,800cc 150 horsepower machines ruling the road, the 1970s were the era of the medium displacement, middle weight motorcycle. While there were a number of litre bikes even then, the most hotly contested category was the 400 - 600cc range with each of the Big Four Japanese manufacturers officering several distinct models.
Honda's leading middleweight bike at the time Mr Shaftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00744322615346233885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4435563744067628248.post-88073334559414929312012-02-24T05:00:00.000-08:002012-02-24T05:38:56.845-08:00Wartime Oddballs: Indian 841 and Harley-Davidson XANot many people are familiar with the Indian 841, or Harley-Davidson XA. See one in the flesh and you'd most likely mistake it for an older Moto-Guzzi or a BMW.
Both are unique in the profile of their respective manufacturers in that they use a shaft drive coupled with a transverse twin cylinder engine layout, and both were inspired by the well-known BMW and Zündapp military sidecar bikes used Mr Shaftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00744322615346233885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4435563744067628248.post-49449141201744853502012-02-23T01:45:00.001-08:002014-07-29T03:27:15.209-07:00BMW invents the Shaft Drive Dual-SportWhen BMW launched the R80 G/S (the G/S stood for "Gelände/Straße", that is "Dirt/Street") in 1980, it elicited a lot of head-shaking in the motorcycle community.
After all, it was by far the largest capacity and heaviest offroader available; and it came with such street touring bike features like boxer twin engine, and Monolever single swingarm with integrated kardan Mr Shaftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00744322615346233885noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4435563744067628248.post-76145847374621906562012-02-22T04:33:00.001-08:002014-07-29T03:27:25.412-07:00Introduction to Shaft Driven Motorcycles
Drive shafts have been used on motorcycles almost as long as there have been motorcycles. As an alternative to chain and beltdrives, drive shafts offer relatively maintenance-free operation and long life. A disadvantage of shaft drive on a motorcycle is thatgearing or a Hobson's joint or similar is needed to turn the power 90° from the shaft to the rear wheel, losing some power in the process.Mr Shaftyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00744322615346233885noreply@blogger.com2