driveshaft guys, a question:

[unreconstructed1]

one more question regarding shaft driven bikes. I've never rode one, so is there any difference in the ride quality of the two types of drive? is one preferable over the other?

I still plan on doing this conversion, but maybe not on this bike. I've been talking to a few people who seem to swear by the shaft drives, and after pricing some of the wider tires, I figure since this'll be the only bike that I'll have for a little while, maybe I ought to go with a more conventional tire size...

[kgdb]

I have 2 shaft drives and they do tend to seem a little different at first. Lack of chain noise is groovy but the lift when you get on it is a little weird, just takes some getting used to.

[HenryinVa]

Yeah, that 1200-1500 buck tire and rim is kinda hard to swallow! I looked into it on my build and figured the rim and tire was going to be more than what I had in the whole build. F that.

[Widetail]

I have moded my vstar to accomodat a 300 Avon tire on a 12x18 rear wheel. This is an extreme case which required swing arm mods for clearance and a custom hub for the rim. What gave me the offset (6 degs) was the use of two u-joints.
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[Blackjack]

Z1000st.

Far as I recall, drop the primary bevel box off, pull the gearbox end cover and mainshaft.

Throw them away.

Replace with mainshaft and cover from chain drive version.

Use readily available offset 3/4" sprocket popular with drag racing/streetfighter guys or jackshaft arrangement.

That's how you chain drive a Z1000ST.

Get on the throttle hard on a chain drive bike, ther rear end squats. Get on the throttle hard on a shaft drive bike, the rear end rises.

If you ride like a girl, it makes no discernible difference, if you're haunting the ragged edge of the envelope deep into the twisties, it makes a huge difference.