Can anybody figure out why bicycle chains or "drive side" is designed to be on the right hand side, while motorbikes are designed on the left?
Bicycle vs Motorcycles.
- Thread starter Bike_Tyson
- Start date
I take a stab at it knowing someone will probably have a different answer.
Most engines are built to rotate in the same direction making it practicle for the chain to be on the corresponding side.
As far as a bicycle I believe that some tandems have chains on either side as well as some "motorized bikes".
As far as regular bikes I believe the design comes from the old standards that eveolved in the 1800's therfore they just haven't changed because thats the way it's always been, of course this part is theory.
Most engines are built to rotate in the same direction making it practicle for the chain to be on the corresponding side.
As far as a bicycle I believe that some tandems have chains on either side as well as some "motorized bikes".
As far as regular bikes I believe the design comes from the old standards that eveolved in the 1800's therfore they just haven't changed because thats the way it's always been, of course this part is theory.
They aren't. Motorcycles vary hugely from brand to brand. Mine is on the right and is a drive shaft. Some shaft drive bikes are on the left. Same with chain/belt driven bikes.
jhuskey said:
An engine will spin in which ever direction the starter motor and ignition/fuel system wants it to spin.
For the sake of being controversial, I'm pretty sure it's because bicyclists are right and good, while motorcyclists are, as the left hand was associated with evil in ancient times, well, not good. If you are both bicyclist and motorcyclist, you probably have a lot of internal conflict. Sorry.
one_beatnik said:
I hope you ain't nit-picking. What I'm referring to, as we can see on the roads daily, and COMMONLY and generally, in the 21st century, most motorcycles have chains on the left side, bicycles on the right.
Oh, now we all knew you have a motorbike with drive shaft (not chain-driven). That's cool, congrats! can we move on?
Bike_Tyson said:
He's just giving you the honest answer to your question. There's no universal truth about motorcycles that dictates that the chain be on the left, and this is aptly demonstrated in the fact that some bikes drive from the right, even here in the 21st century.
As far as bicycles go, there's also no universal truth which dictates that the chain should be on the right, but as there's a huge incentive to have compatibility between frames and components I expect that's enough reason for manufacturer's to conform to a standard. With motorcycles, a single manufacturer designs and builds most of the components on a particular bike so there's less reason to create or conform to some standard established across multiple brands or even models.
jhuskey said:
Aircraft such as piston powered twins can have counter rotating props. The engines are rotating in the opposite direction, makes for a slightly easier engine out operation in emergencies. I could get into the aerodynamics but that sounds like a different forum. Its been an interesting question.
Bicyclists: Fit, trim, athletic, often driven and sometimes competitive.
Motorcyclists: Fat, lazy, beer drinking, uses Harley to substitute for what's missing in the sack.
Motorcyclists: Fat, lazy, beer drinking, uses Harley to substitute for what's missing in the sack.
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