Chainlessguy, thank you for your information. Looking for the literature I saw these numbers on the Dynamic Bicycle site http://www.dynamicbicycles.com/chain...ft_v_chain.php

For the sake of disclosure, are you affiliated with Dynamic Bicycles?

6,000 to 8,000 miles really isn't that much, given how specialized the parts are, and how easy it is to replace a chain... how easy is it to replace the shaft drive?

Then tell us why is it they sell a "grease gun kit" to relubricat the shaft? Do you not need this for the 4th generation shaft drive?

They also are only "desinged to last 6,000-8,000 miles" that is about a 1/2 of the life I get out of a good chain set-up. Dynamic has a cost of $89.95 +shipping for a new shaft. I only need to replace the chain and maybe a gear or two for a cost of less then that. Yes I've been known to shop around. That I can't do if I buy your bike! I will have to come back to you to buy your shaft made for your bike at your price! That more than likely will be higher than $89.95+shipping down the road.

So with a shaft drive bike you get only 8 gears at best, over my 24 to 30 and it is going to cost me two to three times more to keep it on the road at best? :-(

To be fair, your 24 or 30 gears have quite a bit of overlap, and 2 of the gears are completely useless (big-big and small-small).

But, using the same 8-speed hub with single-speed chain and a chaincase, you could get even better chain life than a derailleur setup, with even lower maintenance, and it'd be just as clean.

Also, there are internally geared hubs with up to 14 speeds.

Depending on how you look at it or what your priorities are, you can easily make both derailleur and IGH drivetrains sound good and bad.

[url]http://orlando.craigslist.org/bik/3705119598.htm


Don't know if i should post this here but is this bike worth 85.00.This ad just caught my eye..

Don't know if that link came out ok.But the bike is an iron horse adirondack.Its yelow and black looks to be in good shape..

no you should not post it here

start another thread to discuss that bike

Shaft drive is also used in motorcycles (more common on touring motorcycles because they are designed to go long distances. Shaft drives are better protected against dust and grit so they last longer ) but I don't see a practical application for bikes seeing as a bike chain ranges from $8-60 per chain.

Seems to have happened again with chainlessguy, it would appear.

The shaft drive looks like they weigh a ton. I guess it would be very low maintenance, but fg/ss and internally geared hubs are already nothing to complain about in terms of maintenance. A shaft drive fixed gear would be pretty cool though...

And, even in touring motorcycles, the shaft drive variants are known for getting quite a bit less power to the rear wheel.