 |
|
12 Nov 2003
|
|
Registered Users
HUBB regular
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Singapore
Posts: 73
|
|
|
Motorcycle Chains
Hi Guys,
Wanted to know your experiences with your chains with the bike fully loaded up. My trip from Singapore to UK, i lost a few links, snapped my chain once and have used 4 chains so far. No kidding! Maybe i was overloaded and should have used proper O ring Chains. This was on my dommie. I used KISS heavy duty chain (3 altogether) and one bought in Iran. I should have listened to people who said get an O ring chain. Now i will. Whats ur experiences? Is DID the way to go, what about regina and the others. Is it worth paying the higher price. For me i think it would have been better, then i need not adjust my chain every other day. Thats the only thing that really was messing and irritating, playing around with the chain.
Cheers
Dalbir
|
12 Nov 2003
|
 |
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Vancouver, BC, for now...
Posts: 792
|
|
|
Hello.
After years of off-roading and hair-scrambles, the issues with chains and sprockets has always been a hot topic between and my fellow bikers. Here's my two cents: Always buy the best o-ring chain!D.I.D. x-ring are the best, but any o-ring chain will be far superior. As far as lubrication goes, its far more important to keep the chain clean. O-ring chains have the grease sealed inside with an, you guessed it, an o-ring. I like to clean my chains with WD-40 and a rag after i lightly wash the dirt off with water and a gentle scrub. WD-40 drives out all the moisture and cleans off sand and dirt that can damage the o-rings. Try to use a chainwax spray which doesn't attract dirt, or a light penatrating oil daily in small amounts. Don't use oil or grease! This attracts dirt and grit making things worse in the long run. And finally, unless your sprockets are stainless steel, change them at the same time. Old sprockets prematurely wear out chains. Stainless steel never wear out, but are very heavy and not available outside the dirt-bike market. This is what i have discovered over the last 20 years, and it works well for me. Does anyone else have an opinion on this topic?
Good Luck!
|
12 Nov 2003
|
 |
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Oxford, UK
Posts: 994
|
|
|
I always get an X-ring if possible & keep it clean & well lubed. I quite often squirt some WD40 on to a rag, wipe the chain with it to free off any crap & old lube, then re-lube the rollers & then run an old toothbrush with lube on over the o'rings. You need to keep the o' rings lubed to prevent them from perishing & then letting the inner roller grease out.
Just because a Dommie is not that powerful, does not mean it will not eat chains in the wrong conditions. Big singles have big power pulses through the transmission - too low a gear & the chain has a hard time. I've also read or heard that WD40 itself is a good chain lube in sandy conditions - makes sense to me? Always replace chains & sprockets as a set where possible, old sprockets will soon wreck your new chain.
Never heard of KISS chains, you'll be okay sticking with DID, EK or Regina.
Steve
|
12 Nov 2003
|
 |
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Waterford, Ireland
Posts: 310
|
|
|
All the above advice is very sound and accurate, but I have one question. Do you adjust the chain as per the manufacturers instructions? When fully loaded I would recommend adjusting the chain so that it has a bit more slack in it.
__________________
The electric monk always has faith.
|
12 Nov 2003
|
|
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: London - UK
Posts: 159
|
|
|
Dalbir,
I rode the other way last year on my Dommie. I had a D.I.D. X-ring chain fitted and that lasted me all the way from the UK to Singapore with a diversion including Laos and Cambodia. Didn't change/fix either chain or sprockets until it was shipped back to the UK. I also had a ScottOiler fitted. Chain was a bit tired by the end but probably due to the rubber chain guide having snapped earlier in Thailand.
Cheers
Dave
__________________
Dave
|
12 Nov 2003
|
|
Registered Users
HUBB regular
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Singapore
Posts: 73
|
|
|
Thanks guys,
You have convinced me. I did more worrk with my chain. Occasionally i would clean it with petrol and soak it in hot grease. End of the day, i was using a lousy chain. Its DID for me now on. Wheres a good (cheap)place to get a set and sprocket here in UK?
|
12 Nov 2003
|
|
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Oxford, UK
Posts: 994
|
|
Try M&P Accessories on 08705 - 703030 / www.mandp.com , mail order, based in Swansea. Ask them to at least send you a catalogue, it's very useful.
Also try:
B&C Express in Lincolnshire, mail order, on 01522 - 791369 / www.bandcexpress.co.uk
Trade Direct, mail order, on 08705 - 134859.
B&C are very useful should you wish to try alternative sprocket sizes or aluminium rear sprockets.
If you can afford it & intend keeping the bike, I'd go for DID Extra Heavy X-Ring. If selling the bike, just get an ordinary O-Ring.
I would recomend a chain with soft links rather than split links but that's a personal preference.
Steve
|
13 Nov 2003
|
|
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Estonia
Posts: 787
|
|
Also recommended to use are Tsubaki chains. Known for a good resistance and reliability. Tsubaki is a good alternative for more expensive D.I.D in high-end chain line.
http://tsubakimoto.com/products/chai...cle_chain.html
Margus
|
13 Nov 2003
|
 |
Registered Users
HUBB regular
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Fife, Scotland
Posts: 96
|
|
I'd agree with all that. Even slightly used sprockets seem to have an adverse affect on a new chain! I don't know what other people's experiences are, but I'd avoid Iris chains (with an RS stamped on the side) if I were you! I wrote one off in less than 3000 miles, on a Transalp, even with a Scottoiler on full blast! Try www.gear4bikes.com for chain and spockets, they list the 110 link chain by DID for £55.12.
Stig
__________________
Tall men see everyone else's bald patch but their own.......
|
13 Nov 2003
|
|
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: the netherlands
Posts: 266
|
|
|
Used two DID520VM's (X-Ring) on my Amsterdam - Capetown trip and must say these are the best. Did not do too much maintenance and still goes about 20.000km on a Honda Dominator. And even still when the chain starts slacking you can do a another 8000km or so, taking links out as a last drastic measure but it worked for me. One time the joining link snapped but replacement was lonnnggg due, skipping on the rear sprocket etc etc....
|
14 Nov 2003
|
|
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: germany
Posts: 104
|
|
|
hello out there,
have been driving regina, rk and did chains for years on different bikes.
my personal experience is that there's not much of a difference. even the chains from one company seem to vary in their life expectance.
of course, it's imperative to use o-ring chains, but the best thing you can do is to put some oil on it EVERY DRIVING DAY. a good method is to use regular motor oil and put it on the chain with a brush.
another good manner is to start slow and get out of the first gear as soon as possible...but i'm sure you know about that.
good luck to everyone
|
19 Nov 2003
|
|
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: NZ
Posts: 1
|
|
|
I've been using a DID X-ring chain and JT sprockets on my Dakar with good results. After initial run in and adjustment (about 1500 k's), I have hardly touched the adjuster's in the last 10,000 ks, sprockets are still in good order. I do not have a scottoiler fitted, but use Belray Superclean chain lube reguarly, excellent stuff.
Join chain with endless link supplied and you'll have no problems, most chain failures are due to the use of a "clip link" to join the chain, they will always part company at the most inconvenient time, normally with disasterous results.
As above, any of the "branded" o/x-ring chains will last much longer than any roller chain, you get what you pay for. Good quality chain/sprockets + regular maintenance = long distances between replacements.
|
22 Nov 2003
|
|
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: sunny England
Posts: 790
|
|
|
RK make a chain with what they call "X/W" rings, one up from x rings i guess! are RK any good?
------------------
dave
__________________
dave
|
6 Dec 2003
|
|
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Kings Lynn UK
Posts: 2
|
|
|
I am currently using a regina gold x-ring chain on me bandit12 engined gsxr-750, this chain has been severely abused and is still as good as the day i fitted it about 20,000 miles ago... But, i do use renthal sprockets(aluminium rear) and replace at first signs of wear!!
Any good chain (Did,tsubaki,regina) will return good mileage with little maintenance if run on good quality sprockets, they're as important as quality chains!!
Just be carefull what you clean your chain with on o or x ring chains though, most solvents will perish/melt the o rings
|
13 Jan 2004
|
|
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Bathurst, NSW, Australia
Posts: 8
|
|
|
I use RK or DID O-rings, whichever happens to be cheaper at the time.
I've never snapped a chain and I'm not entirely sure how people manage to do so, unless they're running the chain too tight or using a cheap, nasty chain.
My mechanic insists that cleaning an O-ring chain is probably counter-productive - as long as there's no sand or accumulated debris that will interfere with the sprocket engagement, a film of oily crud stuck to the chain will merely prevent non-oily (and therefore more abrasive) crud from sticking to it.
With that in mind, I do not clean my chain, only apply a light lube regularly (either an O-ring suited aerosol spray if I have access to it, otherwise 80W-90 gear oil applied via a dropper bottle, one drop per link) and if it has obvious accumulations of dirt, I poke them off with a stick/brush/finger/cable tie.
My bike has just clocked up 20,000km, most of that in dirt, and I'm literally taking a break from changing its first chain and sprocket set as I type this, so I think I'll continue with not looking after my chain "properly"!
------------------
Rob
99 DR650SE
Bathurst, NSW
Australia
__________________
Rob
99 DR650SE
Bathurst, NSW
Australia
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
Next HU Events
ALL Dates subject to change.
2025 Confirmed Events:
- Virginia: April 24-27 2025
- Queensland is back! May 2-4 2025
- Germany Summer: May 29-June 1 2025
- CanWest: July 10-13 2025
- Switzerland: Date TBC
- Ecuador: Date TBC
- Romania: Date TBC
- Austria: Sept. 11-14
- California: September 18-21
- France: September 19-21 2025
- Germany Autumn: Oct 30-Nov 2 2025
Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!
Questions about an event? Ask here
See all event details
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...
2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.
"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)
Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.
Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.
Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!
What others say about HU...
"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia
"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK
"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia
"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA
"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada
"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa
"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia
"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany
Lots more comments here!
Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook
"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.
Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!
New to Horizons Unlimited?
New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!
Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.
Read more about Grant & Susan's story
Membership - help keep us going!
Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.
You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.
|
|
|
helps answer the question - Why Go? Inspirational stories by veteran travellers Greg Frazier (5 times RTW), Peter and Kay Forwood (193 countries), Tiffany Coates (Mongolia Mayhem) and Rene Cormier (University of Gravel Roads).
Get Ready! covers planning, paperwork, medical and many other topics! "Inspirational and Awesome!" See the trailer here!
What stuff do I need - riding gear, clothing, camping gear, first aid kit, tires, maps and GPS? What don't I need? How do I pack it all in? Lots of opinions from over 150 travellers!
break down language barriers, overcome culture shock, ship the bike and deal with breakdowns and emergencies."Just makes me want to pack up and go!" See the trailer here!
Grant demystifies the black art of Tire Changing and Repair to help you STAY on the road! "Very informative and practical." See the trailer here!
Ladies on the Loose! For the first time ever, a motorcycle travel DVD made for women, by women! These intrepid women share their tips to help you plan your own motorcycle adventure. They also answer the women-only questions, and entertain you with amazing tales from the road! Presented by Lois Pryce, veteran solo traveller through South America and Africa and author of 'Lois on the Loose', and 'Red Tape and White Knuckles.'
Cotton or synth sweat-wicking t-shirts with the cool Horizons Unlimited graphic on the front and a snappy slogan (changing every year) on the back.
Show your route on your panniers. Great conversation starter when you meet people on the road!
Motorcycle and travel books to inspire and inform you!
The definitive guide to planning your motorcycle adventure! This insanely ambitious 2-year project has produced an informative and entertaining 5-part, 18 hour video series. "The ultimate round the world rider's how-to!" MCN UK.
Linear Mode
