BMW announces the "Phase-Out" of shaft drive motorcycles.

[omega man]

BMW New Jersey-
BMW news coordinator and press release specialist Rïchaedé Hértzé announced today.
"BMW has announced the gradual "Phasing-Out" of shaft drive motorcycles due to the unsustainable reliability issues. For years BMW has touted the performance and superior performance of a shaft-driven BMW motorcycle. Ultimately true with the /2 design, improvements through the years have been able to keep up with the ever increasing horsepower and torque engineered into BMW motorcycles including advancements such as enclosing the driveshaft.
It found that enclosing the driveshaft had many advantages beyond structural but....without the ability of the owner to have a constant, visual check of shaft components, maintenance issues occurred. The other considerations in possibly retaining the shaft-drive was making the whole rear drive assembly more robust. Engineers calculated that making the rear drive more robust would add approximately 18lbs (8.1kg) to the overall weight of already really heavy motorcycles. Changing the metal used to Titanium was contemplated but, for obvious reasons, decided against. The final consideration was to make the rear drive section fully supported by a complete swing-arm assembly. This seemed to be the logical move and allow the newer generation of BMW motorcycles to be equipped with a belt-drive system.
With a narrow margin, the engineering was approved and it was noted that- "If Harley Davidson can make it work, So Can We"."
BMW motorcycles wishes to thank all it's loyal owners and hopes to see you at the next BMW Truck Demo Days!
Sincerely and safe riding,
Rïchaedé Hértzé
om

 

[20774]

The Horror!

 

[gotfog]

 

[rogerc60]

 

[PGlaves]

Well, no more shredded shaft splines or floppy U joints. At least until tomorrow.

 

[pauls1150]

That author sounds familiar somehow...

 

[omega man]

That author sounds familiar somehow...

It is reported that Rïchaedé Hértzé, when not in Berlin, has a summer house in Holdensbuűrg Germany.
OM

 

[riderr1150gsadv]

 

[Skidward]

He has a cousin in the US, Richard Crainium.

 

[paul_f]

Could by chance today be April 1st?

 

[flyhi2cfar]

reel’em in on the first day of April, eh!

 

[Scott9999]

My first thought was "yep, sounds just like BMW ..." followed by ...

... well, a really LONG pause, because I'm old and I don't pickup little hints like "APRIL FOOLS DAY", very quickly, anymore.

 

[oldcamper]

Well, the 310, 650, 700, 800, 850, 900 and 1000 ARE already chain drive after all so this “press release” is at least plausible.

 

[PGlaves]

Well, the 310, 650, 700, 800, 850, 900 and 1000 ARE already chain drive after all so this “press release” is at least plausible.

Front-to-back crankshaft and output shaft can use a driveshaft without a 90 degree gear horsepower robbing device. Likewise a crosswise crankshaft and output shaft can use a chain or belt most efficiently.

 

[willhawks]

BMW New Jersey-
BMW news coordinator and press release specialist Rïchaedé Hértzé announced today.
"BMW has announced the gradual "Phasing-Out" of shaft drive motorcycles due to the unsustainable reliability issues. For years BMW has touted the performance and superior performance of a shaft-driven BMW motorcycle. Ultimately true with the /2 design, improvements through the years have been able to keep up with the ever increasing horsepower and torque engineered into BMW motorcycles including advancements such as enclosing the driveshaft.
It found that enclosing the driveshaft had many advantages beyond structural but....without the ability of the owner to have a constant, visual check of shaft components, maintenance issues occurred. The other considerations in possibly retaining the shaft-drive was making the whole rear drive assembly more robust. Engineers calculated that making the rear drive more robust would add approximately 18lbs (8.1kg) to the overall weight of already really heavy motorcycles. Changing the metal used to Titanium was contemplated but, for obvious reasons, decided against. The final consideration was to make the rear drive section fully supported by a complete swing-arm assembly. This seemed to be the logical move and allow the newer generation of BMW motorcycles to be equipped with a belt-drive system.
With a narrow margin, the engineering was approved and it was noted that- "If Harley Davidson can make it work, So Can We"."
BMW motorcycles wishes to thank all it's loyal owners and hopes to see you at the next BMW Truck Demo Days!
Sincerely and safe riding,
Rïchaedé Hértzé
om

NO, Thank You. The technology is out there and the concept is sound. Having owned BMWs from an R80 to the six cylinder 1600, and now, an R18 bagger, in over 25 years of riding them, I have yet to encounter a single problem with ANY shaft drive BMW motorcycle.

 

[Scott9999]

NO, Thank You. The technology is out there and the concept is sound. Having owned BMWs from an R80 to the six cylinder 1600, and now, an R18 bagger, in over 25 years of riding them, I have yet to encounter a single problem with ANY shaft drive BMW motorcycle.

That's why this bit is supposed to be "April Fools Day" funny. Most Beemer bike owners buy it with the shaft drive as one of the reasons. Shaft drive's don't beat other options in every situation (e.g. adventure bikes still use chains), but for BMW's street bikes, they offer lots of advantages.

BMW will give up "ICE" engines before their shaft drive bikes (well, in fact, it looks kind of like they're going that direction anyways). Don't worry about losing your shaft, .. um... I mean ... "DRIVEshaft" (yes, there ARE other worries in life, as we age, but not your shaft drive motorcycle).

 

[105258]

BMW New Jersey-
BMW news coordinator and press release specialist Rïchaedé Hértzé announced today.
"BMW has announced the gradual "Phasing-Out" of shaft drive motorcycles due to the unsustainable reliability issues. For years BMW has touted the performance and superior performance of a shaft-driven BMW motorcycle. Ultimately true with the /2 design, improvements through the years have been able to keep up with the ever increasing horsepower and torque engineered into BMW motorcycles including advancements such as enclosing the driveshaft.
It found that enclosing the driveshaft had many advantages beyond structural but....without the ability of the owner to have a constant, visual check of shaft components, maintenance issues occurred. The other considerations in possibly retaining the shaft-drive was making the whole rear drive assembly more robust. Engineers calculated that making the rear drive more robust would add approximately 18lbs (8.1kg) to the overall weight of already really heavy motorcycles. Changing the metal used to Titanium was contemplated but, for obvious reasons, decided against. The final consideration was to make the rear drive section fully supported by a complete swing-arm assembly. This seemed to be the logical move and allow the newer generation of BMW motorcycles to be equipped with a belt-drive system.
With a narrow margin, the engineering was approved and it was noted that- "If Harley Davidson can make it work, So Can We"."
BMW motorcycles wishes to thank all it's loyal owners and hopes to see you at the next BMW Truck Demo Days!
Sincerely and safe riding,
Rïchaedé Hértzé
om

With regular cleaning and greasing of the splines the splines and u-joints have a chance of staying together. I do mine every 20,000kms, and with over 800,000 kms on 4 bikes with shafts, never a failure of any components related to the drive shaft.. it will be hard to keep the belt clean enough to last on a mud caked adventure bike.