So the VT500 transmission ratio is pretty similar to that of Teresa (4000rpm at 100km/h in 5th, 5000 at 125). And I can't change it either, I don't know about different belt sprockets available for the F650CS, so in this sense a belt drive is similar to a shaft.
On aero: wow, the Virago is more like a piece of art, not designed with merely function in mind, that seems harder to aero mod to me! The VT500 has a more 'solid' look (if it's the VT500 I googled). I might be wrong, though
