Guys, the splines in the final drive need to have lube on them. They are a manufactured part and therefore subject to tolerances. If they were made absolutely perfect no one could afford the bike.
Its metal to metal, and an extremely small gap that the splines bang against each other. That banging (after having backed up the play will be there), whether or not you can feel it, wears on the splines. I have a 1981 Honda CX500D that has a shaft drive. If you wipe those splines clean and ride it, you WILL hear and FEEL a noticeable thunk when going forward after backing up. That is the splines in your final drive being WORE OUT. The grease takes up the space and lubes and helps to cushion the impact making that VERY expensive part LAST. The older shaft drive bikes used to have zerks to grease things. Not so anymore.
I am not saying take your bike apart at xxxx mile intervals. I am not telling you to check those splines for grease or to even grease them. If you want to wear out your final drive, go ahead. Check with the Goldwing riders and any body else who is up to speed on shaft drives. They will tell you.
Its your bike. Do as you wish.
