Going 2up RTW on a Honda CB500x next year, The bike will have about 5000km on the clock when leaving, My idea was to put a new chain on and carry the old one as a spare, My question is will it be ok to put a new chain on sprockets that have done 5000km?

Change the whole chainset to a new one before you leave - better to carry new sprockets and buy a new chain on route, but carry some master links. Chains can be bought in most places, but finding the correct sprockets can be difficult -especially on a newer bike like the 500x. Then put on old chainset when you get home.

If you have a good idea of where you will be when the chainset is worn out, ship a new chainset (and any other major service items) ahead and have them ready waiting for you to arrive - (or order some locally before hand) much better than carrying them, especially 2up. If you have to carry sprockets bolt them to the back of your panniers or to luggage rack or frame somewhere out of the way and make sure the teeth cannot injure you or your passenger if you dump the bike.

if its a 525 X or O ring DID you should get 25,000 - 30,000 kms out of it if you look after it.


Whats your route and expected total distance?

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Grif

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When asking tech question try to provide DETAILS. I had to look up the type and size chain your CB500X runs. Turns out it's a 520 O ring chain.

If you check the Honda forums I'm guessing owners are not going much beyond 18K kms on original chain. An X Ring (525 size) would go 3 times that distance on that bike.

But no worries.
To your question: 5000 kms is nothing. So both your chain and sprockets have lots of life in them. But not a bad idea to replace chain before your trip and carry your original chain with. But NOT what I would do.

But really ... sprockets are the thing. I would carry TWO spare, new front OEM sprockets with you. Small, easy to carry, not too expensive. Changing out JUST the front sprocket every 12K kms (or so) will add about 30% to your chain life overall.

The other MAJOR thing is to UP GRADE to an X Ring chain. Get the best one you can afford (I'm a big DID fan). It will go 40% more distance of your standard O ring chain. (which is probably a DID also but not X ring, which is a must for LD travel!

If you start with a NEW, top of the line DID X ring chain (read: most expensive DID chain offered in 520 size) then I'd estimate you going over 35K kms if you swap front sprockets as suggested above.

The drive line is something many new RTW riders neglect ... don't do it. Since you're on a new Honda, not much to worry about other than expendables: READ: Tires, Chain/sprockets/Battery. Everything else should go 60K kms before any attention required. Oh, and DO keep fresh oil and coolant in the motor!

Unless you plan to be FAR FAR away from civilization for a LONG LONG time, then I would just start with the NEW chain and sprockets and save your original chain for your return. If, at around 30 to 35K kms. you see your chain is wearing, you then can order new stuff ahead of your route and make a planned service stop well in time before things get desperate.

If really really going remote, then by all means DO carry your chain ... and toss a new rear sprocket in there too.
P-Twins are good on chains ... you may end up going further than my estimates.
But rain, mud and dirt shorten chain life as do heavy loads, very high speeds ... and Wheelies! Have Fun!

Thanks for the detailed responses, very much appreciated!

Ok what I will do is change the sprockets along with the new chain just before leaving. I will take the used front sprocket and maybe the chain, As the chain is heavy I will assess whether I take it just prior to leaving.

Do not take a used item as a spare.

Take a new one! Not an old one, the weight difference is minimal. The difference in cost is small compared to your trip costs.

The chain is heavy. I'd not carry it! A front sprocket is much easier - smaller and lighter. And cheaper. You may find a place to bolt it to the bike - saves luggage space. You'll be fairly full 2up, don't take stuff you can get along the way.

At 10,000km look at the chain ... if wearing .. organise a new chain and sprockets for the next service. Repeat this inspection every, say, 5,000km ... as soon as you see any signs of ware .. organise a new set. It does not have to be then and there .. but at the next service point, a major town where these things should be available. Don't skimp on the replacement ... replace it all. Try to get it organised before you arrive so you are not waiting on parts.

Carrying a chain and sprockets is a pain. They're HEAVY !!

I have many times and always regretted it. You end up changing them too early as you're fed up with the weight of the blasted things.


Get a scotoiler and make sure you keep your chain adjusted well and it should last over 10,000 miles EASY.

You will be able to buy a chain in almost any city in the world. Probably sprockets too if you know what size they are. Remember, sprockets are not made bike specific, especially rear ones.

I suggest you carry a front sprocket only as they can be the awkward ones to find sometimes and of course a couple of master links (split links will do on a 500cc bike)


Keep the ones you have now on the bike unless they're looking noticeably worn out. Why would you carry worn out spare parts ???

Have a look at your route and make a plan to change them in a major town or city.

Find out what the JT sprocket code is for the ones you need and jot it down. It will make life easier when looking for spares when on the road.


If you're really worried, have a full set at home with friends or family in a jiffy bag which can be sent out somewhere before you get there.



If you do plan to carry spare sprockets, zip tie them under your rear subframe..

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Molly

I'm going to take your advice about changing out the front sprocket. Right now my Tornado has a full-OEM setup, both sprockets and Honda O-ring chain. I changed the whole unit before I left so it's almost new.

Looking at JT sprockets online now I'm back in the UK, I see the prices are wayyyy cheaper than the OEM available in Chile. I'm tempted to buy a JT front sprocket now (15 USD) instead of sourcing out another Honda OEM in Chile (more like 50-60 USD).

Do you think this is a good idea or should I stick with the OEM given that what's been on the start?

Cheers
Ross

JT Sprockets are fine. Made in Thailand, were many OEM sprockets are made as well. JT quality is generally as good or nearly as good as OEM items.

The reason I suggested OEM is that many buy some cheap Chinese sprocket or an Alu one. (steel only!!) Carry an extra front along, change it out at around 6K miles or so. Will ADD to your chain life. The front sprocket is the first to wear.
Once it's worn, it begins to wear out your chain. A new front sprocket is a cheap way to "save" your chain from early death.

If you buy another chain, try to buy a DID X ring chain. Should go about 20 to 30% further than O ring chain. YES ... there is a difference!

Hi Molly!

I've seen those X rings. They sound great. If it wasn't so heavy I'd buy a set out here in the UK and carry it round, but I think my current set should get me to Colombia easily, so I'll worry about it later. As a sidenote - are all sprocket teeth and chains made to fit each other as standard?

When I was getting mine changed last time in Puerto Montt in Chile a German guy said I should get the whole OEM set, as the sprockets should match perfectly the chain, and vice versa. But you reckon it won't make much difference whether I replace the front OEM with a JT at 6,000k?

Thanks again!
Ross

AS an Enfield rider I have to use the old fashioned non o or x ring chains, which is a pity, it wouldn't have taken much for it not to be so.

But why are x ring chains better than o ring, I can't see why.

Also, would it make any sense for the OP to carry an old fashioned chain as a get you to a garage spare? Because they use a split link it only takes 2-3 minutes to fit using no more than something screwdriver shaped. Just in case some nasty rock or something breaks the original?

Usually on a long trip I start with a new chain and carry a spare as my get me home chain. (buy both the same time from same place) Sprockets last a lot longer than chains on an Enfield

The X ring design has two points of rubber contact to retain the oil of the chain rollers, compared with the single point of compression of the O ring arrangement.

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Dave

As much sense as carrying a spare stator, rear shock absorber with spring, bearings, gears, sprockets, valves, tyres, clutch cover, clutch housing, clutch disks, brake and clutch leavers with perches and switch gear, handle bar etc etc.

The failure is remote possibility. If you want to carry spares .. then ok .... but I'd not carry a complete chain ... a few links and some old fashioned joining links should be enough to kludge together something to get to the next place with some kind of delivery service. It has been a long long time since I had a chain failure. Probably the last one was with an old fashioned chain! Now I replace them long before any failure.. other than a rock or big stick could do.

Where can you get a few links and old fashioned joining links? Industrial people still use them? Try an industrial supply place. Will be cheap, rough .. but good enough to get you a few miles. I used to get my chain at such a place.

Never thought I'd find myself writing something like this as when I read similar stuff years ago I'd always think the doddering old codger should get a life, but all the alphabetti spaghetti chain types are just desperate attempts to overcome the basic problem that the chain is hanging down there in the rain and dirt.

Considering all the aftermarket parts that are pushed at us endlessly you'd have thought that someone would be doing something about chain protection but there doesn't seem to be much at all available. My Touratech catalogue, for example, is 55mm thick with nearly 1700 pages and has 0 items on chain protection. Maybe something to stop getting dirt on your chain is a hard sell next to microprocessor controlled overhead underhangers or key fobs laser sculpted in titanium but for long distance chain driven travel it would (IMHO) rate right up there with big tanks, trick tyres, rack tech etc - if it was available.

Rubber ring chains do work, in the sense that they last longer than non sealed ones, but in my experience they do sap power - something more noticeable on lower powered bikes. I wonder how much more fuel gets used over the life of an X ring chain vs the same chain without sealing rings - and whether it would go some way towards paying for an aftermarket chain case.

The problem is of course that just about any chain case I've ever seen makes sin look attractive and instantly adds about 25yrs to the age of the rider, but they do work. My 125 Suzuki (ok, not something known for shredding chains + tyres) is still using its original 1976 non rubber chain and in the 5000 miles I've done on it has needed neither oiling or adjusting. I can't say that about any of my other bikes.