What is the true reason for the right side chain drive?

Corey · Mar 11, 2005

I have encountered this conversation more than once and want to have an educated answer. I have a buddy who is a big Honda fan. I was talking about Husaberg to him the other day and how impressed I have become with their direction and their bikes in general. One comment he made was "yea, but I could never get used to that right side chain drive thing they have going on." Now, I find this completely ridiculous as it should make zero difference and this is completely a perception of people who are used to the chain drive being on the left side. However, I would love to have an answer as to why Husaberg does put the chain on the right side and equally so the exhaust on the left. There must be a reason for this in comparison with the "Jap" bikes (and KTM). I was watching one of those bike building shows on television a while back and they put the chain drive on the right side because they said it made the bike balance better since the flywheel was on the left side of the motor. Anyone have any feedback on this?

Thanks!!!!

LeFrog · Mar 11, 2005

That's the typical Honda guy answer.

Like I don't know what magazine gave KTM a bad grade because the bike had 13mm bolts and nuts, I mean, seriously...

44014 · Mar 11, 2005

i dunno :? prolly the same reason the kicker is on the left .
cause there husaberg and they can do what ever they like i guess

:?

Taffy · Mar 12, 2005

the europeans have had both sides but the italians usually like the right side. the japs ALWAYS the left.

if it was something to do with the side of the road you ride on then the brits and the japs would be the same and the yanks and eyeties the opposite side.

the swedes for anyone who knows their history-would be the only people in the world allowed to swop from 1962 onwards.

i keep leaving little quizes and none of you get them. did anyone recieve an education!!!! better still don't any of you read fer chrissakes!!

i'll try this one again "as far as a set of rings go; i'm leaning towards asso". anyone get that one?

regards

Taffy

FC501EAST · Mar 12, 2005

Pretty deep subject, Taff; probably went over their heads :shock: !!

CraigHB · Mar 12, 2005

Here's what I think. In Japan, motorcycles were born out of the motorized bicycle more so than in other countries. Japanese bicycles at the turn of the 19th century had the chain on the left. Since the Japs were used to wearing their bicycle hoops on the left (a bicycle hoop is a spring steel retainer to keep your pants leg out of the chain), their motorcycles carried over that characteristic. The Europeans don't care one way or the other since they have style and would never wear something so ridiculous as a bicycle hoop. For example, the Japanese also wear dust masks in public. Look at the KTM 525, chain is on left, KTM 625 has the chain on right. Also, the left side is a smarter place for the kicker. That way, you can get to the gear shifter without changing your footing. Despite popular belief, the Japs don't always have logical reasons for doing things the way they do.

- Craig

wildbill · Mar 12, 2005

I think it is a question of balance, like clutch lever on the left and the shifter on the right. Once you got used to it, that to me was more natural.Flywheel on the left, chain on the right. The kickstarter, I used to own a Suzuki GT250 streetbike that had the kickstarter on the left also.I think it was planned that way, a matter of engine design and a question of balance that is a carry over from days past.

Corey · Mar 13, 2005

That makes sense Bill, thanks for the input....

steve · Mar 13, 2005

I suspect that it is mainly related to the origin of the gear lever and brake pedal. Originally the Euros generally had the gear on the right and brake on the left. This changed when the Yanks legislated otherwise for their market in the early 70s. When engineering a gearbox it seems easier to have the kick start associated with the clutch hub and the gear lever on the same side and the final drive on the opposite side.

I have an old IT Yamaha 175J with right side drive and kicker with a cross over shaft. I seem to recall that at the time when the Japs were trying to match the Euros in performance it was a marketing tool, ie the performance Euros had right side drive, therefore as we now have right side drive, we are as good, maybe better because we maintained a rhs kickstart. They then combined the drum brake and sprocket on the same side and arguably had a lighter hub too.

Showing my age
Steve

bahnsy · Mar 13, 2005

Just remember that the all conquering Honda motocross bikes of the 78 to 81? vintage were in various combinations left kick start and right chain drive !!!

FC501EAST · Mar 14, 2005

Hi, Steve...
The bikes I rode back "then" were mostly late '50s britbikes - Norton, Beezers, and Triumphs, with the occasional Royal Enfield and Beemer tossed in. When my son-in-law trickled-down his 'berg to me, even after 40 years away, I almost killed myself trying to shift by stomping on the right hand lever :wall:

DaleEO · Mar 15, 2005

So far I like the Yanks legislation angle. I'm sure that Japan, after the War, which was being heavily rebuilt by the US, was not blind to the fact that to the victor comes, well you know.

Fast forward to the 60's, and Ralph Nader and his "unsafe at any speed" book about the corvair, started a legislation process which resulted in how cars are made in the US, and ultimately the world, b/c if you want to sell your cars/trucks/bikes here you have to comply with the safety standards set up during this time. I watched a show on the History channel a while back, and I was amazed at how much gov regulation is in the making of cars, that is other than emission type stuff.

BundyBear · Mar 16, 2005

I originally thought the kicker was on the left 'cause the chain was on the right - or perhaps the chain was on the right 'cause the kicker was on the left. Simple. Nice Engineering Solution. Seemed obvious.

Bloody Dale drags out a pic of the BBR501 - a pre2001 Husaberg 501 engine in this wild-looking handbuilt frame that he helped build with a right hand side kicker mod. Shot the Nice Engineering Solution to the s**thouse.

Why does someone always do that?

Cody · Mar 16, 2005

Right side chain

The Swedes built there machines to finish races do you remember back when chain guid systems didn't work very well and what happened to a shift shaft when the chain came off thats the reasoning.

SFO · Mar 17, 2005

Honda has made some cr's with right hand chains.
If you can remember that far back.

Taffy · Mar 17, 2005

everyone knows the reason the chain is on the left on jap bikes so that dogs can **** their legs and lubricate the chain. it's known that due to the high alkali content of dog urine in japan a chain is good for another 18,000k.

i've seen pictures of the D.I.D development teams abroad. they work in disguise at dog rescue centres and vet them for their R & D programme.

of course to get this to happen elsewhere in the world they had to get the dogs to move off the pavement and around the bike.

now the dogs that are "left leg cockers" they're ok coz they have to turn and look at the oncoming traffic. this allows them to get out the way at certain times of danger.

but all the "right cockers" have to face down traffic and well, there just aren't too many of them left.......

SO REMEMBER FOLKS, IF YOU EVER SEE A RIGHT COCKER; TAKE HIM HOME AND TEACH HIM. TEACH HIM TO USE THE KIDS BICYCLE.

we've gotta protect the last o the breed. :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

IT'S A DOG'S LIFE.

yours in tears

Taffy

AUSBERG · Mar 18, 2005

G'day Taff !

I live in Australia mate, and have a 10 year old Jack Russell/Australian Cattle Dog cross who has gone blind in the last couple of years.

Which of my bikes do I need to ride at the moment to ensure his final time comes peacefully and not as the result of an altercation with an 200 ton SAR Kenworth road train? LHS KTM 300 or RHS 650 Berg?

Quick reply please mate, as Chief the dog really, really needs to know. A.S.A.P. Cheers!

nsman · Mar 20, 2005

Taffy,usually your replys are just informative but in this case you are ....brilliant....nsman

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What is the true reason for the right side chain drive?

Corey

LeFrog

44014

Taffy

FC501EAST

CraigHB

wildbill

Corey

steve

bahnsy

FC501EAST

DaleEO

BundyBear

Cody

SFO

Taffy

AUSBERG

nsman

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