Bugnatr
Well-known member
Not so fast there Ki mo sabe. I can get close to 10 k out of a rear on my wing before the darkside. Never did more than 7,800 miles with the FJR. Real lucky to get 4,800 miles from my 425lb 990 Ktm. HP and using it both up and down to control your spirited pace rider will chow on tries much faster than just weight.In defense of the guy you spoke with, though it is true that tire wear is a result of three factors: horsepower, speed and weight; there are a couple possibilities whereby he could logically come up with his conclusion. First, shaft drive bikes tend to be heavier. There are exceptions, but that's usually the case. In addition, shaftie owners tend to ride two-up more often than other types of bikes. Again, more weight. And since heavier bikes are harder on tires, there might be some truth to what he said. Another possibility is that shaft drive bikes are typically touring or sport touring bikes. Since they spend much of their lives out on the slab at 80+ mph, they might eat up their tires a little quicker. Those high speeds are hard on tires. However, as the the posts above verified, you were indeed right thinking that shafts don't cause extra tire wear in and of themselves. But it is understandable that someone would notice that a touring bike like a Goldwing, which of course has a shaft drive, would wear it's tires out faster than a lighter weight machine making 1/3 the power traveling at half the speed. Hope that makes sense.
Gary
darksider #44
It isn't the shaft, it's your wrist that has the most to do with tire wear.