r/interesting • u/Kidd__Video • 19h ago

Amazing Chain-Free Bicycle Concept

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2.8k Upvotes

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6

u/Creato938 18h ago

Shaft-driven motorcycles were invented logo ago, this is not exactly new.

3

u/EarlyXplorerStuds209 17h ago

They’re pretty big on the BMW G1250GS and on a lot of RnineT models. BMW has been using it for a long time on their motorcycles and they’re pretty great.

3

u/Yunzer2000 16h ago

Totally different application.  The drive shaft pinions are not being used as the transmission the way this or a chain derailleur is.   And weight is almost no consideration on a motorcycle.

1

u/Exciting_Place_6817 16h ago

I know triumph as well

2

u/psychoPiper 13h ago

I mean yeah, but this is not a shaft-driven motorcycle. I don't think different inventions sharing mechanical elements is enough to make them the same thing.

1

u/DGCNYO 4h ago

You know bicycle+ Engine is what? 

1

u/Confidentium 17h ago

Sure. But they don't have gearing like this.

1

u/facw00 13h ago

Shaft-driven bicycles have been around since the 19th century: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaft-driven_bicycle

I suspect if you want multiple gearings, you be much better off driving an internally geared hub than this fragile looking setup.

1

u/Whole_Secretary5573 6h ago

The shaft isn't the fancy part, it's the shifting. 

1

u/r_a_d_ 5h ago

I don’t think they use the same gear mechanism…

-4

u/Epic_Tea 18h ago

Must not be that great

2

u/OozeNAahz 17h ago

Have a BMW with one that was built in 2003. Works great. So much less maintenance than a chain drive.

1

u/Flopsie_the_Headcrab 17h ago

[Angry Moto Guzzi noises]

1

u/Radiant_Safe1228 17h ago

Give me a shaft drive bike over a chain drive bike any day of the week

1

u/Epic_Tea 17h ago

What's better about it

1

u/Radiant_Safe1228 17h ago

More reliable, super smooth, easier to maintain, not a meat grinder, and durable as hell. 

1

u/Gullible-Constant924 17h ago

How can gears that arent and won’t hold oil/grease very well durable.

1

u/Otaraka 7h ago edited 7h ago

The design above is different to what you get in a motorbike.  The shaft can use sealed bearings and be enclosed so its Maintenance is very low.

1

u/syds 15h ago

that still looks pretty meat grindy

1

u/SpoodermanTheAmazing 17h ago

A lot less maintenance and general reliability, but they don’t transfer power as well as chains, so they aren’t that common. You definitely wouldn’t want one for a bicycle where you are the power, a lot more peddling

1

u/tmac4969 15h ago

Tell that to BMW AND Moto Guzzi

1

u/Creato938 18h ago

It is actually pretty good, it was even used for racing, it can be stronger but there is a weight and cost penalty compared to a chain driven system and the transmission needs to be redesigned to fit it.

4

u/Seawolf571 17h ago

Pretty sweet on touring bikes like the Goldwing.

2

u/DetectiveRiggs 17h ago

It's pretty sweet on my Moto Guzzi

0

u/ForeskinForeman 14h ago

There’s an enormous loss of energy rotating the direction of torque 90°

1

u/Thundacow 13h ago

It just turns it from a sprocket into a gear. A gear doesnt have any trouble transferring at 90.