motorbike chain and sprocket

Chain final-drive systems are the most common. In this system, a sprocket mounted to the output shaft (i.e., the shaft in the transmission) is connected to a sprocket mounted on the rear wheel of the motorcycle by a metal chain. When the transmitting turns the smaller front side sprocket, power is definitely transmitted along the chain to the bigger rear sprocket, which in turn turns the rear wheel. This kind of transmission system in automobile should be lubricated and adjusted, and the chain stretches and the sprockets put on, requiring periodic replacements.

Belt drives
Belt drives are an alternative to chain drives. Early motorcycles often used leather belts, which could be tensioned to give traction using a spring-loaded pulley and hand lever. Natural leather belts often slipped, especially in wet weather, therefore these were abandoned for various other materials and styles. By the 1980s, advances in materials made belt final-drive tranny system in automobile practical once again. Today’s belts are made of cogged rubber and operate quite similar way as metallic chains. Unlike steel chains, they don’t require lubrication or cleaning solvents.

Shaft final-drive
Shaft final-drives are occasionally used. This transmission program in automobile transmits power to the back wheel with a drive shaft. Shaft drives are popular because they are hassle-free and don’t require as much maintenance as chain sprocket chain-based systems. However, shaft drives are heavier and sometimes cause unwanted motion, called shaft jacking, in the rear of the motorcycle. The various other components that make a motorcycle a motorcycle are part of the chassis.
Advantages and Disadvantages
The major benefits of shaft-drive are lower maintenance and running costs, and cleanliness. Chain-drive bikes need their chains adjusting regularly and they can be costly to replace when they degrade.
They want lubricating often, specifically in bad weather, which can be messy and inconvenient. And chain lube increases the running costs.
Shaft-drive systems are completely enclosed and are unaffected by the elements and only require periodic oil changes.

The disadvantages of shaft-drive are that it is a lot heavier than a chain and absorbs more of the engine’s power before it reaches the rear wheel

In comparison to a Chain system

A shaft-drive can also change the actions of the rear suspension – when the throttle is opened and closed quickly the bike can rise and squat because the shaft is trying to “climb” the cog on the back wheel.

Power Transmission

The chain drive system is made up of two sprockets, one on the gearbox and one on the trunk wheel, that are connected by a chain.
In a shaft-driven transmission system in automobile, a shaft connects a gear inside the gearbox to some other gear in the hub on the rear wheel.
When the engine is sparked, power is transferred along the chain or shaft to the rear wheel, and the bike movements forward. Either system is commonly referred to as “final drive,” as it is usually the last group of components employed to provide power to the rear wheel.

Some manufacturers, notably Harley Davidson, have used belt drives on a few of their model line-ups. BMW, Kawasaki, and Suzuki have also attempted the belt drive system.