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The only thing i really dont like about my bike

If you are referring to chain final drive, I have to agree. I hate it. It’s the highest maintenance aspect of the motorcycle. Final drive chains belong only in a museum, alongside carburetors, drum brakes, and breaker points ignition systems. Fortunately the majority of our own two wheel moto fleet is now belt drive, and one motorcycle has shaft drive. I hope never to be tempted to buy another chain drive motorcycle.

The NC was a forward thinking motorcycle design in terms of usability and fuel efficiency. It could have been even better with a low maintenance final drive system. Honda is an innovative motorcycle company, but in some areas, like longer maintenance intervals and vehicle electrification, they are stuck in the past.
 
No reason, except economy of manufacture, for chain drive on any street motorcycle these days. Guzzi’s have been shaft drive for what 9 decades? Maybe, on a race bike where you want every last bit of power, but on a street bike? Nah. Just cheaper to make
 
Oldbear said:
No reason, except economy of manufacture, for chain drive on any street motorcycle these days. Guzzi’s have been shaft drive for what 9 decades? Maybe, on a race bike where you want every last bit of power, but on a street bike? Nah. Just cheaper to make
Click to expand...
I don’t even think economy of manufacturing is an excuse for using chain drive. As an example, the Zero DSR motorcycle’s motor is capable of way more torque (116 ft-lb) than an NC, and it’s drive belt is about the same width and replacement cost as a chain, and the belt lasts longer and requires less maintenance than a typical NC drive chain.
 
Shaft drive is great, but there are some undesirables with them.
They sap much more engine power than does a chain drive system, particularly in engines with transverse crankshafts which would require 2 sets of expensive, heavy bevel gears, as would the NC.
Longitudinal cranks, as in a Goldwing or BMW pancake engine, have only 1 set of bevel gears, so half the mechanical loss.
Shaft drive systems are much more expensive, heavy, and very costly should one fail.
The ideal would be a belt drive for the NC, but then the problem of removing the swing arm rears its ugly head.
So, I'm also OK with a chain drive.
I don't mind cleaning and lubing, and rarely adjusting the chain.
But for the typical rider who either can't or hates doing any DIY maintenance, I can see them disliking a chain drive system.
 
Belt drives are no good off-road. Little stones can get between the belt and a pulley. The stones are then forced through the belt perforating it. Too much of this will fail the belt.
 
hulkss said:
Belt drives are no good off-road. Little stones can get between the belt and a pulley. The stones are then forced through the belt perforating it. Too much of this will fail the belt.
Click to expand...
The VFR1200X had a shaft drive, which would solve the problem that belts have off-pavement. The NC is not going to be ridden in serious (technical singletrack, off-road/overlanding) and truly shines as a pavement pounding commute queen. The marketers at Honda need to be more honest with what the NC is. Especially with the upcoming 'baby' Africa Twin.

I would gladly trade a few BHP for never mucking with a chain again.
 
hulkss said:
Belt drives are no good off-road. Little stones can get between the belt and a pulley. The stones are then forced through the belt perforating it. Too much of this will fail the belt.
Click to expand...
Yes, I keep hearing that, over, and over.

I just don’t believe this is a problem that engineering can’t very easily solve. If stones in the belt are actually a problem, not just a rumor, the solution is simply an inexpensive piece of plastic belt guard. Motorcycles have guards on the top run of chains and belts, so the belt just needs a guard on the bottom to keep stones off the belt. Simple solution.

The Zero drive belt is tensioned snug and has no slack. If it was necessary to totally protect the belt, the designer could rather easily enclose most of the belt with a plastic housing for what would seem like very low weight and production cost.

Photos of some Harleys show a bottom run belt guard.
CF39C359-83DB-4E29-BC96-49CAB722D3F4.jpeg
 
bigbird said:
Shaft drive is great, but there are some undesirables with them.
They sap much more engine power than does a chain drive system, particularly in engines with transverse crankshafts which would require 2 sets of expensive, heavy bevel gears, as would the NC.
Longitudinal cranks, as in a Goldwing or BMW pancake engine, have only 1 set of bevel gears, so half the mechanical loss.
Shaft drive systems are much more expensive, heavy, and very costly should one fail.
The ideal would be a belt drive for the NC, but then the problem of removing the swing arm rears its ugly head.
So, I'm also OK with a chain drive.
I don't mind cleaning and lubing, and rarely adjusting the chain.
But for the typical rider who either can't or hates doing any DIY maintenance, I can see them disliking a chain drive system.
Click to expand...
The current NC design would not do very well with a belt. In my opinion, it would need a redesign to do it the right way.

Again using the Zero as an example, being one of about three companies that seem to use belt drive extensively, I’m told by the dealer that the endless loop drive belt can be replaced without removing the motor or the swingarm on the latest SR street models.
 
670cc said:
If you are referring to chain final drive, I have to agree. I hate it. It’s the highest maintenance aspect of the motorcycle. Final drive chains belong only in a museum, alongside carburetors, drum brakes, and breaker points ignition systems. Fortunately the majority of our own two wheel moto fleet is now belt drive, and one motorcycle has shaft drive. I hope never to be tempted to buy another chain drive motorcycle.

The NC was a forward thinking motorcycle design in terms of usability and fuel efficiency. It could have been even better with a low maintenance final drive system. Honda is an innovative motorcycle company, but in some areas, like longer maintenance intervals and vehicle electrification, they are stuck in the past.
Click to expand...
I totally agree. The word part about the NC chain is the little markers on the side are not stamped correctly.
 
Oldbear said:
Us old duffers remember when some bikes had enclosed drive chains. Chain stayed pretty clean and help up well. I’d think a new generation chain in an enclosed system would work pretty well (double ugly though)
Click to expand...
I was thinking of bringing up the enclosed chain subject. I'd expect an enclosed chain system could keep water and dirt out, and greatly extend chain service life. Like you said, perhaps it just wouldn't look cool.
 
If a belt drive uses a tensioner system, small stones _should_ be able to be tolerated, as one would also expect them to rarely get caught on a road bike. There are some who ride the NCX like an adventure bike. I don't know whether a belt drive would prevent them using it like that or not.

The bulk of my experience with belts and pulleys is with agricultural equipment. In that context, having tons of guards that cradle but do not fully enclose the belt are NOT the right way to address rocks getting between the belt and the pulley. Guards of that sort merely assure the rocks will ride along with the belt into the pulley, in that context. Full enclosure works well against rocks, obviously, but tends to fill with mud unless WELL sealed. Maybe in the m/c context, things would be different.

I don't know what I think about belt drive. Surely it's better than chain drive in that there's no lube nor adjustments needed, and it's quieter. Are replacement belts more costly than chains? How often do the toothed pulleys need replacement on the 'average' belt-drive bike? Are they a lot more expensive than sprockets and chains?

When I ask my Harley-riding brother, he tells me that belts are a major pain to replace (he actually rides his bike), so it's a good thing they last longer than chains.
 
dduelin said:
10,300 miles on the original chain and it was beginning to kink links. Replaced it today with a DID VX3. I have no complaints really about chain drive. Chains these days don't require much attention and give a Honda owner something to do.
Click to expand...
Motorcycle owners are a different bunch, I know. Plenty of Honda owner's want to have something to do. But my NC owner's manual tells me to inspect and lubricate the drive chain every 500 miles. But why should motorcycle owners put up with an antiquated design? If a salesperson tried to sell an automobile that required the owner to get down on their knees with gloves, and rags, and a lubricant spray can, and perform a drive train maintenance task every 500 miles, the customer would surely laugh and walk away.

I plan to ride 600 miles tomorrow on day one of a trip. I can't even go one day without tending to the drive chain? I had to pack gloves, rags, lubricant can, and axle wrenches for my trip. I'm just about done with this chain nonsense. I hope I never buy a chain drive motorcycle again. It's belt or shaft for me.
 
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