Lubing a chain every 500 miles with a thorough chaining maybe every other time is not a big deal to me. A big deal is having to pay 5-6 hours shop time to check and shim valve lash every 10-20,000 miles. I hope the Pan Am doesn't require that.

 

Could it be that the Trans-Am has it but we haven't heard about it due to the delay in introduction?

 

If BMW just announced it, would they have a patent on it? Maybe the t-CA has been around and is just now being used for chains and a patent isn't necessary.

Anyhow, if this new chain takes away 500 mile lube requirements, it also takes away the main reason I don't want to own chain drive bikes. That's a BIGGIE for ME, because it puts a lot more bikes on my potential BUY list.

 

Great Find DAN!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is a Big Deal for all motorcyclists everywhere. This puts a TON of potential customers into a pool that previously were not there. No matter how many here claim you aren't a real man if you don't lube a chain drive bike, they are definitely in the minority of bikers. The vast majority of bikers at forums I visit absolutely hate chain drive motorcycles that will be used for anything other than trail riding. If they Tour at all, they don't want that extra maintenance hassle. They want belt or shaft drives.

 

Five minutes later...

 

Has anybody from H-D actually come out and said that the PA will be chain drive?

I know the prototypes that have been shown are chain drive but didn't think H-D had given out hardly any specifics about the bike.
I know bikes going off road benefit from a chain drive, but that didn't stop Yamaha from making their scr950 scrambler with a belt.

The MoCo does love their belt drives and don't seem averse to doing stupid stuff. Just saying.

 

Seriously,

And wash you bike while you are at it.

I've been riding since the mid 1980's. Only got into Harley's and belt drive bikes in the last 5 years. Never owned a shaft drive bike. I've ridden motorcycles across the Australian Outback. Taking care of a chain is not that big of a deal. Modern X-Ring chains are even better. Other than some big heavy adventure bikes most off road bikes use a chain. Most Sport bikes use a chain. Hell how many Sportster and chopper builders replace their belt drive with a chain?

 

The aversion to the chain so people can understand....

It is not an issue puttering around on a sunny Sunday afternoon.

It is not riding to the grocery store, participating in a 'patriot ride', or off on an afternoon adventure to see where the winding river road goes.

I am on the cusp of retirement. I have plans to see stuff. I would like to start in Times Square and ride the Lincoln Highway to San Francisco. I want to ride the TAT, go to Tuk, and see the Arctic Ocean near Deadhorse. I have even mapped out a route to ride up to James Bay. There was this real cool video I watched once of the "Coast to Coast Rally" where a group of riders went from Key West to Deadhorse AND BACK. The video was shot from a Road Glide and I posted it on this forum because it was a Road Glide going up the Dalton, then back, then finishing something like 14,000 miles back to Key West...and the bike (and belt) survived; imagine that.

I have watched the "adventure videos" where a small prop rod is manufactured to hold the rear wheel off the ground (small light 'adventure bike') so you can get a cup of diesel fuel from the hose of the fuel pump and use an old tooth brush to clean the chain while out in the wild (storing all that in the saddle bag must smell really good. As a sailor with a diesel aux engine that smell gets everywhere and does not dissipate and permeates EVERYTHING). "It's easy"..."it's simple"..."just clean it"...every 500 miles...on a 7,000 mile adventure What a waste of time.

And, no, I don't regularly wash my bikes either. I washed the Ultra Limited this year...second time I think since buying it. I haven't washed the BMW in 2 years. I suppose me even considering THIS bike based on my riding habits that have developed with belt and shaft drive bikes since 1992 is idiotic (6 months into that first shaftie I swore off chains). Maybe a GS or GSA would be a better fit for me. I was excited to see Harley do the Pan America and was 90% confident I would adopt one. Now it is down to about 60%. It will depend on the final specifications but chances are pretty good that I may end up on another path.

 

If you plan on touring on mostly paved road or well maintained gravel roads... I'd get the BMW. You won't find better comfort and rider aids. Performance is incredible too.

But if you want to travel down rough terrain, I'd look for something else. The big bikes aren't much fun on the difficult sections. It can certainly be done, but it's not nearly as fun.

Hey, if they come out with a chain that never has to be cleaned .. sign me up.

 

A regular riding buddy, riding Instructor, and, like me, former HOG Director and Road Glide owner, just bought a brand new R-1250GS. I told him: "Now you know what the word 'acceleration' really means."

His eyes got big and he just said: "Wow."