2017 Moto-Guzzi Shaft Drive Motorcycle Line-Up

There 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 the frame, with displacements between 750cc and 1400cc.

The shaft drive UJM isn't dead, it just retired to Italy

In 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. Such bikes came in many configurations - 2, 3 or 4 cylinders, air or water cooled, engine size varying from "medium" to "massive" - but most had one thing in common: they were available with a reliable, easy to maintain shaft drive option.

official Moto-Guzzi V7 promo image

The Moto-Guzzi CARC System

CARC: 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. Broadly similar to the BMW Paralever or Kawasaki TetraLever setups, CARC is available on all larger engined bikes throughout the current Moto-Guzzi lineup. The smaller 750cc machines are not powerful enough to be badly affected by shaft jacking and are offered with a traditional driveshaft and swingarm.