Is there more than one type of final drive case?

[xjrjason]

I have an '08 GSA.

Been reading the final drive threads and thought I'd have a look at mine, with the view of changing the oil myself.

I'm handy with the spanners, but first times for every thing I do as much reading etc as poss.

Having had a look at my final drive, the drain plug is at the bottom of the housing. Where it should be, for some thing that needs doing on a regular basis. So unless I'm missing some thing, I don't need to drop the final drive through 90deg to drain the oil. I guess just do the wheel removal etc and re fill etc.

So back to my original question.

Is there a 'MKII' final drive casing, one with the drain plug in a sensible place?

Or should I be standing in the corner with a 'D' on my hat

 

[Nice 'n' Fat]

The later bikes have as you have already found the drain plug at 6 o'clock whereas on the earlier bikes (mines an 06my) it's at 9 o'clock

There is another way of draining the FD oil from an earlier bike like mine but it involves a length of chain and an overhead gantry

 

[xjrjason]

Ah ha!

That makes for more beer drinking time then!

 

[Nice 'n' Fat]

I was told when I bought mine that the oil was changed at the 600 mile service then it was "sealed for life"

 

[Spout]

Ah ha!

That makes for more beer drinking time then!

So when are you going to lube the shaft splines then?

 

[fennel]

FD ratios are also different

 

[Bear]

I suspect that there are actually three final drives. The original FD on my early 06 model had the drain plug at 9 o'clock. Its replacement has it where it should be at 6 o'clock. As far as I can tell the relationship between speedometer and tachometer readings has not changed so either I've a 2008-onwards unit and the change in ratio is trivial or its a redesigned early unit and the ratio hasn't changed. The 2008 models had the final drive ratio lowered to match a redesigned engine with an extra few hundred rpm.