Shaft effect (original) (raw)

The shaft effect, also known as elevator effect or shaft jacking, is a phenomenon occurring in shaft-drive motorcycles. This effect occurs because the acceleration being applied to the rear wheel creates a reactive force on the drive shaft. This in turn lifts the rider and the body of the bike, exacerbating the natural "tucking under" of the rear wheel. Under acceleration Newton's third law says trying to turn the wheel forward exerts a reactionary force against the drive mechanism. In the case of a belt, this makes the top part of the belt tighten and the whole bike "shrug" down just a bit. This is typically obscured because acceleration causes the rear wheel to "tuck under." A shaft-drive, on the other hand has a rigid connection to the hub so this reactionary force turns the shaft backw