Small Motorcycles With Belt Or Shaft Drive...

[MantaRay]

...is there such a thing, or is it necessary to take the scooter route to avoid chain drive on a smallish commuter bike?

Can't really be bothered with all that faffing around with chains any more.

[MantaRay]

Well I put chains down as least efficient as they absorb too much time in cleaning, lubricating, adjusting, etc...hence looking for another option.

[Slapshot]

Belt drive and shaft drive can be very expensive to repair hence chain drive is the most popular and less can go wrong with minimal repair and maintenance

[Linotype]

Hi there: as far as I know all small motorcycles (below, say 500cc) only come with rear chain drives ... even BMW offer only chain on their F650GS models, I have one; and can tell you maintenance to it is only required every 1000km (600miles) and that by way of a spray can. If you do lots of off-road riding this distance/maintenance would obviously be reduced/more necessary. You don't say if you considering new or old, but most scooters today are of the automatic (CVT) type, I recently rode a Honda Integra (scoot lookalike but big wheels, ie 17-inch) 700cc and thoroughly enjoyed same. Superb brakes (linked) and even ABS ... fuel consumption better than 3.9 litres per 100km (not sure what that is in your money, I live in South Africa. Your concerns over chain drive are not to be feared ... sprockets/chains at worst only need to be replaced at 16000km (10 000 miles) ... Adjustment usually a doddle but does need to be done properly ... Enjoy!

[ToraToraTora]

there is minimal maintenance needed with a chain if you fit a scottoiler, then just get them to adjust it annually when you have an MOT, should need no more than that really. I have 2 bikes and really the faffing is minimum.