I have my eye on a Shadow 750 with chain drive. I know that the Aero, for
example, has shaft drive. Is it mechanically possible (and easy) to modify
a chain drive to a shaft drive when other nearly identical bikes from the
same manufacturer have shaft drive?

Thanks.

--
David T. Ashley (dta@e3ft.com)
http://www.e3ft.com (Consulting Home Page)
http://www.dtashley.com (Personal Home Page)
http://gpl.e3ft.com (GPL Publications and Projects)

On Sat, 12 Jan 2008 21:40:43 -0500, "David T. Ashley" <dta@e3ft.com> wrote:

> Is it mechanically possible

Yes. Practically anything is mechanically possible.

> (and easy)

Of course not.

And you left out:

>inexpensive

ROFL

> to modify
>a chain drive to a shaft drive when other nearly identical bikes from the
>same manufacturer have shaft drive?

All you have to do is jack up the paint and roll a shaft drive bike under it,
and let it back down.

--
Jack

On Sat, 12 Jan 2008 21:40:43 -0500, "David T. Ashley" <dta@e3ft.com>
wrote:

>I have my eye on a Shadow 750 with chain drive. I know that the Aero, for
>example, has shaft drive. Is it mechanically possible (and easy) to modify
>a chain drive to a shaft drive when other nearly identical bikes from the
>same manufacturer have shaft drive?

If you have to ask - no.



>
>Thanks.

--
Click here every day to feed an animal that needs you today !!!
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/

Paul ( pjm @ pobox . com ) - remove spaces to email me
'Some days, it's just not worth chewing through the restraints.'
'With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine.'
HVAC/R program for Palm PDA's
Free demo now available online http://pmilligan.net/palm/

On Sat, 12 Jan 2008 21:55:03 -0500, Jack Hunt <jhunt1x@tds.net> wrote:

>On Sat, 12 Jan 2008 21:40:43 -0500, "David T. Ashley" <dta@e3ft.com> wrote:
>
>> Is it mechanically possible
>
>Yes. Practically anything is mechanically possible.
>
>> (and easy)
>
>Of course not.
>
>And you left out:
>
>>inexpensive
>
>ROFL
>
>> to modify
>>a chain drive to a shaft drive when other nearly identical bikes from the
>>same manufacturer have shaft drive?
>
>All you have to do is jack up the paint and roll a shaft drive bike under it,
>and let it back down.

That's a pretty funny mental image :-)


--
Click here every day to feed an animal that needs you today !!!
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/

Paul ( pjm @ pobox . com ) - remove spaces to email me
'Some days, it's just not worth chewing through the restraints.'
'With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine.'
HVAC/R program for Palm PDA's
Free demo now available online http://pmilligan.net/palm/

On Sat, 12 Jan 2008 21:40:43 -0500, "David T. Ashley" <dta@e3ft.com>
wrote:

>I have my eye on a Shadow 750 with chain drive. I know that the Aero, for
>example, has shaft drive. Is it mechanically possible (and easy) to modify
>a chain drive to a shaft drive when other nearly identical bikes from the
>same manufacturer have shaft drive?
>
>Thanks.

Possible, definitely. But talk to the manufacturer of the models in
question to find out how much modification is required. I have a
moderately well appointed machine shop, and I don't think I'd try
this.

Al Moore
DoD 734

On Jan 12, 6:40�pm, "David T. Ashley" <d...@e3ft.com> wrote:
> I have my eye on a Shadow 750 with chain drive. �I know that the Aero, for
> example, has shaft drive. �Is it mechanically possible (and easy) to modify
> a chain drive to a shaft drive when other nearly identical bikes from the
> same manufacturer have shaft drive?

No, it would not be easy, nor cost effective to convert a chain drive
motorcycle to shaft drive. You would have to take the whole engine
apart to change the transmission countershaft, you might also have to
change some transmission gears. You would need a different swing arm
and probably a different frame. You would need a different wheel and
the final drive unit.

The best approach to your situation would be to just buy the shaft
drive bike you want, or buy a chain drive bike and do the endless
cleaning and adjustment of the chain, or do a belt drive conversion.

http://www.scootworks.com/shop.cgi/p...00193754.32354

On Sat, 12 Jan 2008 21:40:43 -0500, "David T. Ashley" <dta@e3ft.com>
wrote:

>I have my eye on a Shadow 750 with chain drive. I know that the Aero, for
>example, has shaft drive. Is it mechanically possible (and easy) to modify
>a chain drive to a shaft drive when other nearly identical bikes from the
>same manufacturer have shaft drive?
>
>Thanks.

I don't know about a shaft drive conversion but I believe they can be
converted to a belt drive.
http://www.scootworks.com/shop.cgi/p...D=PUT_SID_HERE

Considering the value of the bike, is it worth the investment? Why not
just look for a similar bike that is a shafty.


--
See Ya On The Road

2000 Yamaha Venture Millennium
2004 HD Road King

>"???????" <RhiannonX@gmail.com> wrote in message
>news:67847f23-4080-43a1-bd86-39c08db9296c@m34g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
>On Jan 12, 6:40?pm, "David T. Ashley" <d...@e3ft.com> wrote:
>
>The best approach to your situation would be to just buy the shaft
>drive bike you want, or buy a chain drive bike and do the endless
>cleaning and adjustment of the chain, or do a belt drive conversion.
>
>http://www.scootworks.com/shop.cgi/p...00193754.32354

Thanks to everyone for the insight about the difficulty.

Just one question about the belt drive link you provided above:

a)What is the "belt gateway" cited for the Shadow 600 (involves cutting the
swingarm)? What is a belt gateway?

b)Why does the 600 apparently need to have the swingarm cut but the 750 not
require this?

Thanks.

--
David T. Ashley (dta@e3ft.com)
http://www.e3ft.com (Consulting Home Page)
http://www.dtashley.com (Personal Home Page)
http://gpl.e3ft.com (GPL Publications and Projects)

In article <sIGdnQGJx5W35xTanZ2dnUVZ_tCrnZ2d@giganews.com>,
"David T. Ashley" <dta@e3ft.com> wrote:

> I have my eye on a Shadow 750 with chain drive. I know that the Aero, for
> example, has shaft drive. Is it mechanically possible

If you've watched enough Monster Garage, Monster House, This Old House,
HomeTime, Mythbusters, and Junkyard Wars, you'd know that anything is
mehcanically possible.

> (and easy)

If you missed the subtle message presented in American Chopper, you'd
think it was easy.

> to modify
> a chain drive to a shaft drive when other nearly identical bikes from the
> same manufacturer have shaft drive?

Without drop-in replacement parts for similar bikes, such as the Honda
Revere and the Honda Hawk, I wouldn't do it. If you want shaft drive
that much, buy a bike with shaft drive.

--
Timberwoof <me at timberwoof dot com>
faq: http://www.timberwoof.com/motorcycle/faq.shtml
It's easy to say a war is so important your neighbor should go fight it for you.

In article <660jo3hvmt3dtenm6oovmp4lsvt8u8d1r6@4ax.com>,
Alan Moore <alan.s.moore@comcast.net> wrote:

> On Sat, 12 Jan 2008 21:40:43 -0500, "David T. Ashley" <dta@e3ft.com>
> wrote:
>
> >I have my eye on a Shadow 750 with chain drive. I know that the Aero, for
> >example, has shaft drive. Is it mechanically possible (and easy) to modify
> >a chain drive to a shaft drive when other nearly identical bikes from the
> >same manufacturer have shaft drive?
> >
> >Thanks.
>
> Possible, definitely. But talk to the manufacturer of the models in
> question to find out how much modification is required. I have a
> moderately well appointed machine shop, and I don't think I'd try
> this.

With a moderately appointed machine shop, plenty of spare time, and a
spare bike, I'd try it. :-)

--
Timberwoof <me at timberwoof dot com>
faq: http://www.timberwoof.com/motorcycle/faq.shtml
It's easy to say a war is so important your neighbor should go fight it for you.

On Jan 12, 7:24�pm, "David T. Ashley" <d...@e3ft.com> wrote:

> a)What is the "belt gateway" cited for the Shadow 600 (involves cutting the
> swingarm)? �What is a belt gateway?

The Shadow's swingarm has an upper brace that has to be cut so the
endless rubber belt can be installed. On the stock bike, the chain can
be threaded through the brace and the master link can be riveted.
>
> b)Why does the 600 apparently need to have the swingarm cut but the 750 not
> require this?

The 750 doesn't have the upper brace. But you probably have to unbolt
the swingarm to install the belt.

http://demo.motorsportdealers.com/mo...0703163BM9&z=2
VT600 swing arm

http://demo.motorsportdealers.com/mo...1452969IIV&z=2
VT750DCA swing arm

David T. Ashley wrote:
> I have my eye on a Shadow 750 with chain drive. I know that the Aero, for
> example, has shaft drive. Is it mechanically possible (and easy) to modify
> a chain drive to a shaft drive when other nearly identical bikes from the
> same manufacturer have shaft drive?

You won't be able to wheelie or countersteer anymore if you do!

>"???????" <RhiannonX@gmail.com> wrote in message
>news:6b5e52f6-79c1-41ae-a755-4fd7f6295b15@v29g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
>On Jan 12, 7:24?pm, "David T. Ashley" <d...@e3ft.com> wrote:
>
>> a)What is the "belt gateway" cited for the Shadow 600 (involves cutting
>> the
>> swingarm)? ?What is a belt gateway?
>
>The Shadow's swingarm has an upper brace that has to be cut so the
>endless rubber belt can be installed. On the stock bike, the chain can
>be threaded through the brace and the master link can be riveted.
>>
>> b)Why does the 600 apparently need to have the swingarm cut but the 750
>> not
>> require this?
>
>The 750 doesn't have the upper brace. But you probably have to unbolt
>the swingarm to install the belt.

Thanks.

The URLs you provided didn't work for me, but I did find diagrams at one of
the online parts places. I found it interesting.

I had never realized that (due to the topology), the chain on the VT600 has
to be installed "in place" (i.e. you can't start with a chain that is
already a continuous loop).

Interesting stuff, man. Interesting stuff.

--
David T. Ashley (dta@e3ft.com)
http://www.e3ft.com (Consulting Home Page)
http://www.dtashley.com (Personal Home Page)
http://gpl.e3ft.com (GPL Publications and Projects)

"Polarhound" <polarhound@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:2rqdnXBIOdQMPhTanZ2dnUVZ_tjinZ2d@comcast.com. ..
> David T. Ashley wrote:
>> I have my eye on a Shadow 750 with chain drive. I know that the Aero,
>> for example, has shaft drive. Is it mechanically possible (and easy) to
>> modify a chain drive to a shaft drive when other nearly identical bikes
>> from the same manufacturer have shaft drive?
>
> You won't be able to wheelie or countersteer anymore if you do!

I don't understand your comment. From a layman's point of view (mine), you
should be able to do wheelies with a shaft-drive bike, and also the steering
shouldn't be changed (gyroscopic forces come from the wheels, not very much
from the chain).

--
David T. Ashley (dta@e3ft.com)
http://www.e3ft.com (Consulting Home Page)
http://www.dtashley.com (Personal Home Page)
http://gpl.e3ft.com (GPL Publications and Projects)

"David T. Ashley" <dta@e3ft.com> wrote in message
news:h_CdnaN2YMoxMRTanZ2dnUVZ_uCinZ2d@giganews.com ...

>> You won't be able to wheelie or countersteer anymore if you do!
>
> I don't understand your comment. From a layman's point of view (mine),
> you should be able to do wheelies with a shaft-drive bike, and also the
> steering shouldn't be changed (gyroscopic forces come from the wheels, not
> very much from the chain).

He's referring to the old wive's tale - or rather, old
biker's tale - that "shafties can't wheelie." Complete
nonsense, of course - as you're thinking, put enough
torque in the right place, and sure enough, the front
wheel will come up. Doesn't matter if that torque gets
there through a chain, a shaft, a belt, or by magical
little elves holding hands.

Bob M.

David T. Ashley <dta@e3ft.com> wrote:

> Is it mechanically possible to modify
> a chain drive to a shaft drive

Yes

>(and easy)

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no,
no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no,
no, no, no


--
K1100LT 750SS CB400F CD250 SL125
GAGARPHOF#30 GHPOTHUF#1 BOTAFOT#60 ANORAK#06 YTC#3
BOF#30 WUSS#5 The bells, the bells.....
chateau dot murray at idnet dot com

David T. Ashley <dta@e3ft.com> wrote:

> "Polarhound" <polarhound@comcast.net> wrote in message
> news:2rqdnXBIOdQMPhTanZ2dnUVZ_tjinZ2d@comcast.com. ..
> > David T. Ashley wrote:
> >> I have my eye on a Shadow 750 with chain drive. I know that the Aero,
> >> for example, has shaft drive. Is it mechanically possible (and easy) to
> >> modify a chain drive to a shaft drive when other nearly identical bikes
> >> from the same manufacturer have shaft drive?
> >
> > You won't be able to wheelie or countersteer anymore if you do!
>
> I don't understand your comment. From a layman's point of view (mine), you
> should be able to do wheelies with a shaft-drive bike, and also the steering
> shouldn't be changed (gyroscopic forces come from the wheels, not very much
> from the chain).

No, Coriolis Effect means shafties can't.


--
K1100LT 750SS CB400F CD250 SL125
GAGARPHOF#30 GHPOTHUF#1 BOTAFOT#60 ANORAK#06 YTC#3
BOF#30 WUSS#5 The bells, the bells.....
chateau dot murray at idnet dot com

David T. Ashley wrote:
> I have my eye on a Shadow 750 with chain drive. I know that the
> Aero, for example, has shaft drive. Is it mechanically possible
> (and
> easy) to modify a chain drive to a shaft drive when other nearly
> identical bikes from the same manufacturer have shaft drive?

Suggestion--add a Scottoiler, keep the oil topped up, and go ride.


--
--
--John
to email, dial "usenet" and validate
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)

> He's referring to the old wive's tale - or rather, old
> biker's tale - that "shafties can't wheelie." Complete
> nonsense, of course - as you're thinking, put enough
> torque in the right place, and sure enough, the front
> wheel will come up. Doesn't matter if that torque gets
> there through a chain, a shaft, a belt, or by magical
> little elves holding hands.
>
> Bob M.

Yup, my Yammie'79 XS750 triple wheelied as did my '85 Nighthawk
750S :-)
Bg

On Jan 12, 9:38�pm, Polarhound <polarho...@comcast.net> wrote:

> You won't be able to wheelie or countersteer anymore if you do!

Save your Spagthorpe gag. It's getting stale.

On Jan 12, 10:16�pm, "David T. Ashley" <d...@e3ft.com> wrote:
> "Polarhound" <polarho...@comcast.net> wrote in message
> news:2rqdnXBIOdQMPhTanZ2dnUVZ_tjinZ2d@comcast.com. ..

> > You won't be able to wheelie or countersteer anymore if you do!
>
> I don't understand your comment. �From a layman's point of view (mine), you
> should be able to do wheelies with a shaft-drive bike, and also the steering
> shouldn't be changed (gyroscopic forces come from the wheels, not very much
> from the chain).

Gyroscopic precession works parallel to the exact same three axes of
the chassis and steering orientation, it doesn't oppose steering
inputs. Also, the gyroscopic effect is quite small at ordinary road
speeds.

The only riders who take advantage of the gyroscopic effect of the
rotating wheels are motorcycle jumpers who will twist the throttle in
mid-air ro get the front wheel up, or tap the rear brake to get the
front wheel down a little bit while in flight.

<ottguit@hotmail.com> wrote:

> > He's referring to the old wive's tale - or rather, old
> > biker's tale - that "shafties can't wheelie." Complete
> > nonsense, of course - as you're thinking, put enough
> > torque in the right place, and sure enough, the front
> > wheel will come up. Doesn't matter if that torque gets
> > there through a chain, a shaft, a belt, or by magical
> > little elves holding hands.
> >
> > Bob M.
>
> Yup, my Yammie'79 XS750 triple wheelied as did my '85 Nighthawk
> 750S :-)

Don't believe it.

Think: when you dump the clutch on a shaft drive bike, you can see the
back wheel rising as the crownwheel climbs up the bevel box. The back
end goes up, and the forks compress. That's why shafties can't wheelie.


--
K1100LT 750SS CB400F CD250 SL125
GAGARPHOF#30 GHPOTHUF#1 BOTAFOT#60 ANORAK#06 YTC#3
BOF#30 WUSS#5 The bells, the bells.....
chateau dot murray at idnet dot com

"David T. Ashley" <dta@e3ft.com> wrote in message
news:sIGdnQGJx5W35xTanZ2dnUVZ_tCrnZ2d@giganews.com ...
>I have my eye on a Shadow 750 with chain drive. I know that the Aero, for
>example, has shaft drive. Is it mechanically possible (and easy) to modify
>a chain drive to a shaft drive when other nearly identical bikes from the
>same manufacturer have shaft drive?
>
> Thanks.
>
> --
> David T. Ashley (dta@e3ft.com)
> http://www.e3ft.com (Consulting Home Page)
> http://www.dtashley.com (Personal Home Page)
> http://gpl.e3ft.com (GPL Publications and Projects)
>

Modification of Honda Shadow?

LOL!

Stick with the chain drive or wait until another shaftie comes up.




--
"Of course, you'll have the good taste not to mention that I posted this."


Thumper


"I don't want a pickle..."

http://www.thumpers-roadhouse.ws


2006 H-D VRSCA V-Rod
2006 Buell XB12X Ulysees
2006 BMW K1200GT
2004 H-D FLHCRI Road King Classic
1979 Honda CBX
1978 Triumph T140V Bonneville
1975 Triumph T160 Trident
1974 Norton Commando Interstate
1969 BSA A75 Red Rocket III
1962 Triumph T20 Tiger Cub
1958 BSA Super Bantam COCK
1954 Velocette MAC

On Sat, 12 Jan 2008 21:40:43 -0500, "David T. Ashley" <dta@e3ft.com>
wrote:

>I have my eye on a Shadow 750 with chain drive. I know that the Aero, for
>example, has shaft drive. Is it mechanically possible (and easy) to modify
>a chain drive to a shaft drive when other nearly identical bikes from the
>same manufacturer have shaft drive?
>
>Thanks.

By now you have many answers, all basically telling you the same
thing.

What it comes down to is how much do you like your current bike?
Do you really want to keep it forever or is it a stopgap on the way to
something you want more?

No, there is no economical way to do a shaft drive conversion but if
you really like the 750, there is a newer ACE model with the shaft
drive, just pay the difference and buy one.
If you have the 750 Spirit model and really like that the only way I
can see to do it is to buy a wrecked ACE with shaft drive and swap out
components.
It still won't be easy or economical.

I once considered doing that with the Yamaha 920 brothers.
Like liked the design of the chain drive model but wanted the shaft
drive from the Virago. I really think they messed up badly on both
those bikes. The Virago features and shaft would have been so much
better on the sporty variant. It just wasn't worth the money though.

So, basically, do the belt conversion which has been around a long
time or just buy a bike you like with a shaft drive.

--
Bob Mann

Sex is like air; it's not important unless you
aren't getting any

Bob Mann wrote:

> I once considered doing that with the Yamaha 920 brothers.
> Like liked the design of the chain drive model but wanted the shaft
> drive from the Virago. I really think they messed up badly on both
> those bikes. The Virago features and shaft would have been so much
> better on the sporty variant. It just wasn't worth the money though.

Were you really thinking about converting an XV920RJ to
shaft drive?

If there ever was a chain drive bike that deserved to stay
with chain, the XV920RJ was it! The XV920RJ had an enclosed
chain running in an oil bath which gave it extreme longevity
and nearly maintenance-free, lighter than a shaft drive, and
without the shaft effect on the rear suspension.

--
'01 SV650S '99 EX250-F13 '98 ZG1000-A13
OMF #7

Bob Mann wrote:

> I once considered doing that with the Yamaha 920 brothers.

Or you could have just bought an XS-850 and been done with it :P

<ottguit@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:4282e6fb-592e-4d8e-ab5d-0c77f4763ed7@k39g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
>
>> He's referring to the old wive's tale - or rather, old
>> biker's tale - that "shafties can't wheelie." Complete
>> nonsense, of course - as you're thinking, put enough
>> torque in the right place, and sure enough, the front
>> wheel will come up. Doesn't matter if that torque gets
>> there through a chain, a shaft, a belt, or by magical
>> little elves holding hands.
>>
>> Bob M.
>
> Yup, my Yammie'79 XS750 triple wheelied as did my '85 Nighthawk
> 750S :-)
> Bg

My favorite wheelie on my shafty Seca 750 came when I popped the clutch w/o
shifting down while going WAY fast....

On Sun, 13 Jan 2008 10:55:24 -0600, Mark Olson <olsonm@tiny.invalid>
wrote:

>Bob Mann wrote:
>
>> I once considered doing that with the Yamaha 920 brothers.
>> Like liked the design of the chain drive model but wanted the shaft
>> drive from the Virago. I really think they messed up badly on both
>> those bikes. The Virago features and shaft would have been so much
>> better on the sporty variant. It just wasn't worth the money though.
>
>Were you really thinking about converting an XV920RJ to
>shaft drive?
>
>If there ever was a chain drive bike that deserved to stay
>with chain, the XV920RJ was it! The XV920RJ had an enclosed
>chain running in an oil bath which gave it extreme longevity
>and nearly maintenance-free, lighter than a shaft drive, and
>without the shaft effect on the rear suspension.

There were a number of things that set it off.
At the time a shafty just seemed like the way to go and I really
didn't like the look of that enclosed chain.
I was l0oking to do something along the lines of the old XLCR Sporty
with it.
Basically, the idea came to me while looking around a wrecker's yard
here.

Now, looking back, I would just like an RJ period. :-)
Maybe a belt conversion. Have to do *something* to it.
--
Bob Mann

Sex is like air; it's not important unless you
aren't getting any

"???????" <RhiannonX@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:9954235b-2c55-48e7-bde3-0365ff6da728@j20g2000hsi.googlegroups.com...
On Jan 12, 10:16?pm, "David T. Ashley" <d...@e3ft.com> wrote:
> "Polarhound" <polarho...@comcast.net> wrote in message
> news:2rqdnXBIOdQMPhTanZ2dnUVZ_tjinZ2d@comcast.com. ..

> > You won't be able to wheelie or countersteer anymore if you do!
>
> I don't understand your comment. ?From a layman's point of view (mine),
> you
> should be able to do wheelies with a shaft-drive bike, and also the
> steering
> shouldn't be changed (gyroscopic forces come from the wheels, not very
> much
> from the chain).

Gyroscopic precession works parallel to the exact same three axes of
the chassis and steering orientation, it doesn't oppose steering
inputs. Also, the gyroscopic effect is quite small at ordinary road
speeds.

The only riders who take advantage of the gyroscopic effect of the
rotating wheels are motorcycle jumpers who will twist the throttle in
mid-air ro get the front wheel up, or tap the rear brake to get the
front wheel down a little bit while in flight.
------------------

All of us throttled up just before we came back to earth on any dirt bike
back in the day when swingarms moved 3 inches or so.

"The Older Gentleman" <totallydeadmailbox@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
news:1iansh0.1bake00kj8w00N%totallydeadmailbox@yah oo.co.uk...
> <ottguit@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>> > He's referring to the old wive's tale - or rather, old
>> > biker's tale - that "shafties can't wheelie." Complete
>> > nonsense, of course - as you're thinking, put enough
>> > torque in the right place, and sure enough, the front
>> > wheel will come up. Doesn't matter if that torque gets
>> > there through a chain, a shaft, a belt, or by magical
>> > little elves holding hands.
>> >
>> > Bob M.
>>
>> Yup, my Yammie'79 XS750 triple wheelied as did my '85 Nighthawk
>> 750S :-)
>
> Don't believe it.
>
> Think: when you dump the clutch on a shaft drive bike, you can see the
> back wheel rising as the crownwheel climbs up the bevel box. The back
> end goes up, and the forks compress. That's why shafties can't wheelie.
>
>
> --

I've told this before here, but I've had low-rider drivers fall out when I
sit at a light with them. I lock the front brakes, then lightly goose the
clutch in & out while in 1st gear. Heh.