[Scott L]

The good thing about chains and sprockets a lot cheaper to change final drive ratio for the type of riding you do.
I have the Henrys final drive in my 06 love it but $1500 would buy quite a few sets of chains and sprockets.

 

[GOV5]

Has Honda ever used belt drive on a motorcycle? None that I can think of.

I honestly don't know, but it's about time Honda changed that history....../and many other companies too!

I do now that BMW had a belt drive on one of it's F models...think it was F800GT. I liked the looks of the bike but the riding position was more like a sportsbike than a Grand Tourer(GT).

 

[GOV5]

The good thing about chains and sprockets a lot cheaper to change final drive ratio for the type of riding you do.
I have the Henrys final drive in my 06 love it but $1500 would buy quite a few sets of chains and sprockets.

".....but $1500 would buy quite a few sets of chains and sprockets."

AND even a modest amount of trips to the Chiropractor too.

 

[GOV5]

I think one of the biggest reasons it is chain drive is because it is the same motor as the Africa Twin (with a few tweaks to make it more of a cruiser motor). The cost to retool for a shaft drive would be too cost prohibitive, and belt drive, don't think Honda has anything to draw from to adapt it to belt drive, so lots of cost there.

Yeah, I know that it would require costs to change to shaft or belt. Here's where my mechanical lack of understanding fails me. I know there is cost, but look at it from another point of view: what could be the cost of the sales LOST by folks that DON'T want a CHAIN DRIVE? And I can also see the point that for many folks, a chain and sprocket scenario isn't a big deal to them, so I don't want you guys here to think that I don't see alternate views and positions.

 

[Walrus]

Nice but it's a bit small and cramped..good for a woman..I have friend who just bought one and she is like 5' 4" at maybe 120 lbs and it fits her nicely..she loves it..I wouldn't be comfortable on it for long.

That be a fun bike for her. Same power plant as the Africa Twin. Her being 120lb, it'll have no problem hauling her around, that's for sure. 👍 My buddies wife has a Ninja 400, and she's pretty petite. She loves it. That little Ninja makes me wish I was pretty petite, I'd love to have one.

Just the pics I seen on Honda's website, it does look a little cramped for me. Mid controls and a low seat height. I like the idea of it though, hope it sells well for Honda. Little people need bikes too!

 

[blupupher]

Real thing with belt drive:
View attachment 411433

At what, 2-3x the cost?

 

[Roadie]

That be a fun bike for her. Same power plant as the Africa Twin. Her being 120lb, it'll have no problem hauling her around, that's for sure. 👍 My buddies wife has a Ninja 400, and she's pretty petite. She loves it. That little Ninja makes me wish I was pretty petite, I'd love to have one.

Just the pics I seen on Honda's website, it does look a little cramped for me. Mid controls and a low seat height. I like the idea of it though, hope it sells well for Honda. Little people need bikes too!

Yea she really likes the bike and the DCT.

 

[Roadie]

You know guys since this whole chain discussion came up and its been many years since I had a chain bike, I looked it up and while the chains are the best they have ever been with the o rings and now the x rings chains, there is still quite a bit of maintenance required for the longest life...like wiping the chain down right after a ride while the chain is hot and lubing it...having to lube the chain every 400 or so miles..chain replacement and sprockets replacement at 30k miles or less.
It is a bit surprising Honda would use it on a bike aimed at mostly newer riders and women. I can't see a women wiping a chain after every ride let alone spraying lube on a chain without even a center stand...bike will need a lift jack and most newer rider won't have that...so yea, you guys are right about the chain drive with this bike.

 

[SteelTraveler]

Not a fan of the styling of the Honda Rebel 1100 and putting a small batwing fairing on it was not helpful.

The trellis frame on this style of bike is just wrong and the engine is visually unappealling.

Harley Davidson understands that the engine is the centerpiece of this type of motorcycle and they spend a lot of time and effort to make their engines beautiful.

The African Twin engine that Honda has used for the Rebel is a successful engine, but it definitely is not beautiful.

Honda took an ugly engine and displayed in an ugly frame. However, being a Honda, I'm sure that it functions great.

 

[GOV5]

You know guys since this whole chain discussion came up and its been many years since I had a chain bike, I looked it up and while the chains are the best they have ever been with the o rings and now the x rings chains, there is still quite a bit of maintenance required for the longest life...like wiping the chain down right after a ride while the chain is hot and lubing it...having to lube the chain every 400 or so miles..chain replacement and sprockets replacement at 30k miles or less.
It is a bit surprising Honda would use it on a bike aimed at mostly newer riders and women. I can't see a women wiping a chain after every ride let alone spraying lube on a chain without even a center stand...bike will need a lift jack and most newer rider won't have that...so yea, you guys are right about the chain drive with this bike.

Roadie, you just made my day!! LOL. I had a 1999 Honda Shadow 750 and it had a shaft drive, and it was only about 500 lb or so. It was a nice bike and it only cost about $4200 as I recall. I think that was the price but I'm having to trust my memory on that....EKK!! My point is that having a shaft drive really doesn't add that much weight, as many use as an excuse. I realize that there is some power transfer loss with a shaft, but I doubt that is as big a factor as some think, from a practical standpoint. I don't plan on taking any bike I own to the drag races. LOL.

So Honda CAN do it. They also put a shaft drive in an ADV bike, the VFR1200X.

 

[metalman]

...It is a bit surprising Honda would use it on a bike aimed at mostly newer riders and women. I can't see a women wiping a chain after every ride let alone spraying lube on a chain without even a center stand...bike will need a lift jack and most newer rider won't have that...so yea, you guys are right about the chain drive with this bike.

Perhaps there is a method in their madness.

 

[virginiawing]

My wife narrowed down her choice to a Rebel 1100 or a Vulcan S 650. Both are similar in ergos. Hondas inability to deliver the bike or provide any realistic estimate was the deciding factor. I was not a huge fan of the frame on the 1100 but Cruise and DCT were strong positives.

 

[DillTm]

Chains give more direct power. That is why you see all racing bikes with chains. Also with chains you can easily change sprocket sizes to get more top end or better fuel mileage. Back in 1978 I had a Honda 450A. It was a two speed automatic and I fiddled with changing front sprocket only, rear sprocket only and or both. It was fun to try. I got the idea from just riding my ten speed bike for years.

 

[Nodaker]

For you chain guys that say oiling does no good, remove that old chain sometime and check it out. It will have stiff links that need lubrication. Then, give it a good shot of lube and bingo it will free up instantly.

 

[Sladep]

Not an effort to persuade, just relaying my recent experience. Have owned my '08 Airbag since new. Love it and it's shaft drive benefits. Also ride off-road all the time, with high-end o-ring chains. Have been wanting another street bike (2020 V-Strom 1050XT) and feeling as many stated about going back to a street bike with a chain - adjustments, lubing, kinking, etc... Ugh. Research on Stromtroopers forum revealed usage of many different types of chain oilers. I thought I would try one to see how it goes and if it's still too much hassle, and other things about the bike don't suit me, let it go. Well, I can tell you I bought the Tutoro Deluxe chain oiler kit (about $150) and couldn't be happier. It keeps the chain perfectly lubed and clean. In 3,000 miles, one adjustment, and that was a new chain settling in. Minimal oil sling on the rim, and the oil they provide is not like chain lube from a can. It is not sticky, stringy or hard to get off. My chain has zero kinks. Anyway, this has made owning a big bike with a chain no concern. I go on as long a multi-day ride as I want and know I never have any chain-related concerns.

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