Converting a Motorcycle from Shaft to Chain Drive? 

Correct hahaha, thanks!

Of course he's helping people ! He's given them the best practical advice. If you want a shaft driven motorcycle, then just buy one, but don't bother converting yours in your garage, because it's difficult, expensive, time consuming, but in the end,...it's unnecessary !

@@intergalacticbasketballdro7186 Thank you captain obvious. Your comment has little to no value. But I guess you felt good making it! Don't ever assume that people that criticize or thumbs down this video are 'fools'. The people that already know what a foolish endeavor it is to try to convert are the people you should be listening to. If they are not making videos and spouting away about it doesn't make them less knowledgeable, just less noisy. Think about that.

He does have a valid point on that. However in this case. I was Basically just wondering if any machining work or welding work was going to be needed Or if it was all basically just Switching out parts. He did an excellent job of answering. I think I should have done a better job of wording my question. 😂 This bike is an 85 Yamaha verago with the xv 1000 limited edition. Essentially the same bike from from Harley Davidson and the Marlboro man. I picked the thing up for 600 bucks because an old man in the mountains couldn't figure out how to get it running. It had been kept in a garage. I got it home and had it running in a 1/2 hour. the valves just needed adjusted. 🤷‍♂️ I'm only the 2nd owner and the thing runs like it's brand new. the original pipes Don't even look like they've been hot. I'm just not a big fan of shaft drive. Bought it to flip it. But now I might keep it. Unfortunately I still haven't done any more work to it. Had to take a break and put an engine in my truck

@@funkymonkey529 That movie had an HD FXLR, not remotely the same as an 85 Virago. That is generally a good thing as the Yamaha is a far more reliable bike but supremely uncool in the wrong circles since it is one of the worst examples of a Japanese copy of an HD. Dreadful when looked at in that way, but best not to. There have been many conversions of Viragos into infinitely cooler bikes, but few if any succeed in converting the shaft to chain. Most don't even try. A really great example is a builder named Greg Hageman who more or less made a name for himself doing Virago conversions. Here is one of my favorites, but you will note no attempt is made to shed the shaft. www.bikeexif.com/yamaha-virago-920

@@jameshisself9324 One of the bikes was a Harley. There were 2 bikes and the other one sure as hell isn't. You might want to look again

Absolutely! If someone wants to take a power bike like that and convert it for the purpose of gaining the extra power to ground plus the versatility of changing sprockets out for different ratios then that is a different story! I still say it should be done by a pro, and obviously if someone is doing that to a Vmax for those reasons they wouldn't be coming to me for advice on it probably hahaha. Thanks James!

Hahaha, thanks for the comedic relief Don :-)

Betty Swallows, the answers to all of your questions is, "No" ! Stop greasing your brake disks. Stop adding water to your gasoline. AND TAKE THAT STUPID STEERING WHEEL OFF OF YOUR MOTORCYCLE !

Some people prefer to have their power cut And are too Pansy to do their own mechanic work. Some just don't enjoy it. Others are the guys passing you on the freeway you wish you could catch. just saying

Just put them on the list :-)

I think that the answers would be the same as in this video. Go with whatever your bike has, and don't bother swapping motors. As far as which one to buy though, it's all good, so just buy whichever motorcycle best suits your needs, and you'll probably be happy !

Yeah they've been married to the belt for a long time haha

I'm pretty sure that you are acting in accordance with Alex's recommendations. Remember to give him a "Like" on this vid, because the ratio there needs improvement, too.

Hi, there are applications for it. It might sound dumb but I was gifted a 1983 yamaha 950 engine and I need it to be chain so I can rebuild and throw it onto a go cart 😅😂

@@patjcolonna5811 ok, a go cart I can accept...lol.

@@user-us1hx2cx3j 😂😂

Thanks Matthew, I do my best haha! That is all anyone can do in my humble opinion! If I can get better equipment and more time I will continue trying to improve overall quality, but for now I do what I can! Thanks so much for the support, means the world!

@@AlexSimmons11c I know just a little about the video production side of things, but I have and would donate a pretty okay webcam if it would be an improvement for your current setup. Also, my profession is IT if you ever need anything along those lines. Even just some free support and advice! I've certainly gotten at least that much on the subject of bike maintenance from your channel.

@@MatthewGallagher93 I super appreciate the offer! I already have a couple of decent cameras, it is more just getting things I would need to upgrade my video space for sound quality and finding the time to go do more on site motorcycle reviews haha, plus the time to edit together bigger videos. It will all come in time as the channel keeps growing, just have to also spend a lot of time working outside of this to keep the bills paid :-). Thanks again!

A shaft is wider than chain, which takes up real estate that could be used for a wider tire. This is of course if having a wider tire is wanted bad enough to do the conversion.

I don't know, most men get married to a woman that is only 90% of the woman they really wanted.

I don’t know if you have recommendations for places if so that would be awesome. I wanna get a bigger wheel that’s 17 inches to the 15 inches I have right now

Hahaha, well people come up with all sorts of crazy idea, to each their own I say!

Only good reason is drive ratios.. other than that, fuck it

need to know so i can put a 1988 goldwing 1500 engine on a go kart

Thanks Sayan, have a great day!

I'm doing something similar.. I have traded a pickup camper for a go-kart. I have very little money involved and was given a V Star 650 shaft drive. The Kart is set up with a chain drive rear end. I'm wanting to find the best way to go, either change the rear end to a shortend shaft drive or get the V Star converted to chain drive. Some people just don't think outside the box. I'll get something to work I was hoping to get a little helpful suggestions.. but not everyone has the imagination to want to put a street bike motor on a mid size go-kart No guts no glory.. lol

A logistical nightmare really! You have to remove the shaft and do a longer extended swingarm like with a chain, then you either have to engineer and install a longer shaft or convert the motorcycle over to chain. Most people extending a shaft drive bike will convert to chain because it's much easier than trying to install a longer shaft itself.

@@AlexSimmons11c ... I've never worked on a shaft drive bike before but i'm going to give it a crack... it's a 1800 v twin drag bike...

@@dozer3955 Why on Earth would you want 10% power loss from a shaft drive, on your drag bike?

You can only do it if the final output or countershaft turns the right direction. Counterclockwise. Then you might be able to do it. Not a beginner project!

In 2005 Kawasaki changed the 1500 from shaft to belt drive! Good move Kawasaki! I hope my articles on Kawasaki forum influenced Kawasaki. Also they changed the Plastic oil pump gear to metal after many complete engine failures! All manufacturers should keep car designers out of the motorcycle dept. Lol

(Hello, paranoia) how many people do you know that's EVER broken a motorcycle chain ? I have never seen this happen before. Nobody I know has EVER seen that happen before. How do you break a motorcycle chain anyways? That would take years of neglictive maintenance ! Dont be scared. Just lube it and ride it.

@@intergalacticbasketballdro7186 mine broke on a 250 and knocked a hole in the block next to the transmission gear

Such modifications would protract the maintenance interval, as Alex (being pretty well educated) patiently tried to explain in his "clearly spoken", "uncut" and "unedited video, while giving "valuable input" and "solid advice". It does seem somewhat foolish to have so many questions from such a comprehensive presentation.

Well those are very different machines for sure, the Duke 390 will be lighter and more "fun" in a lot of ways, but the 650 is a way better all-around bike in my opinion (plus better on the maintenance etc)

@@AlexSimmons11c The Royal Enfield is reliable, but they look like they were built in 1981 ! (Ugly) The Duke 390 is sporty & fun, and it looks awesome, too ! But you'd be sacrificing a lot of Horsepower. That's why I chose a Kawasaki Versys 650. Good power, Reliable, Sporty & Fun, and it still looks awesome too !

Build reverse trike with engine at front. Something like Morgan.

INTERGALACTIC BASKETWEAVING ROID FARCE It would range from very easy to impossible. It would be easy - up to impossible, as I said. It wouldn't cost too much, but might be quite a bit. Benefits are no chain drive and new belt. Drawbacks are no chain drive. The best types of motorcycle to do this on are chain drive motorcycles, if any. It depends if it's worth the time, effort and expense on how much you want to convert chain to belt drive. "Hey Alex ! I've watched a few of your videos, and you seem to be a pretty well educated motorcycle guy. You speak clearly, without having to cut and edit. I value your input. I think that you're recommendations here are solid advice. I was kinda surprised that you received so many thumbs down, but I guess you just can't help those fools." Hi Alex!

Nope !

Why do you "NEED" to get rid of your drive chain ? You "really" can't live with it ?

WTG (100 mpg hero) !