Would would the best be, for me as a new, green, inexperienced biker?

Should I get a chain or a shafty?

And why?

Oh and examples of any 125 shafties would be good too!!!

Thanks

I can't think of a 125 shaftie, it's mainly used on bigger bikes as far as I'm aware. Chains are perfectly fine, you just have to wax them of a regular basis. Even so, a replacement chain for a 125 won't be that expensive. For a big bike you're looking at about £120.

Modern chains are well manufactured and robust, so looked after should last well. However, they do still need basic maintenance - lubrication and adjustment. And, from time to time, you will need to replace both it and sprockets. The general advantage of a chain over a shaft is more power gets delivered to the rear wheel.

The advantage of a shaft, despite more weight is that you largely forget it's there. Oh, and your pillion doesn't get chain grease all over their legs...

Comes down to personal choice really. Having used both extensively, I prefer a shaftie.

Ive ridden both

but prefer the shaft drive myself

but like BD i have never heard off or seen a shaft driven 125

I've never heard of a 125 shaftie either - I think the shaft drive would soak up too much of the power - 125s need to use all the power they generate!

But as a general thing, I'd go for a shaftie every time - no adjusting, no oiling, no changing chains and sprockets - basically you just forget it's there and change the oil about once every three years if you keep the bike that long!

3 years

i brought a GT550 brand new on a G plate done 400,000 miles in 2 years then sold it for about a 3rd what i paid for it

i saw that same bike this year at 3 diff rallies

if i had not been despatching i would more than likely still have that bike

I ride both shaft drive and chain and find no difference at all, I do find I dont get that jump forwardor clunk when I engage gear with the shaft drive but then again they are two diffrent bikes in make and engine size.

I have a touring scott oiler on the XJR and never have to do much maintainance on the chain, ajudtments are down to a minim.

Chain driven bikes are easier to wheelie than shafts, they tend to weave

Ex, was that supposed to be your famous V-Max wheelie picture?

Oh bugger............


This board still doesn't like the URL's for my pictures