We are taking two bikes on the western route to Dakar next month. It is going to be 3000-4000 km through fairly sandy conditions. For this purpose I have recently acquired second hand bikes: a KTM 640 Adv and a DR650SE which I believe are both pretty much in stock setup.

The chains look all-right on both but I have no clue what particular make they are, O or X or ... I believe the KTM has a steel sprocket and the DR an Alu one. I have read suggestions to change to steel sprockets and a custom X-ring chain otherwise they would wear out quickly in the sand. Is that a must do or nice to have?

How would you care for the chains in the desert? I would have thought that the more oil/lube you apply the more sand gets stuck to it? Is there a daily routine to wash/clean the chain? What does your experience say?

many thanks for your help!

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London to Bamako, Oct-Nov 2009, KTM 640 Adventure + DR650SE
Lagos to Libreville, Dec 2015, KTM 640 + DR650

Not sure what you mean by the western route- Do you mean the Atlantic Route? if so it's virtually tarmac all the way unless you are taking the beach route to NCK.

But if you are going to be in permanent sand, then I would consider this a must-change.
I would recommend DID X-ring 520 ( I use one on my F650 Dakar- sorry no idea for the KTM) or the 'Z' if you want the top/best/toughest
You care for chains in sand by NOT lubricating them at all - Keep the chain dry-
Steel sprockets is the way to go IMHO

Been worrying about this myself. Would a good squirt of WD40 each NIGHT be a good idea - clean the chain, keep the seals wet and being a very light oil it'll fling off soon as you start moving and not attract more sand?

I'd suggest a chain oiler. The difference to a normal lubricant is that the oiler uses - as the name suggests - oil, which get's thrown off the chain, taking most of the dirt with it.

The other way might be a teflon based spray. I think it's used for motocross bikes as well and keeps the chain completely dry.

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Projekt Balkan
www.buebo.de - Der tägliche Wahnsinn

Dave I would have to say that it is not a good idea. The chain needs be dry so nothing sticks to it all all.

WD40 contains about half it's volume of Stoddart solvent aka white spirit!
The roller in the chain is surrounded by a lubricant which is sealed in by the 'X' ring - a 4 point of contact seal.

If you spray on WD40 (which stands for Water Dispersant batch 40!) the solvent will dry out this seal and damage it, possibly after repeated use perishing it and that will lead to the inner lube leaking out damaging the chain & sprockets even more.

Chain lube of anykind will not 'fling everything off' in sand even if you increase the flow (even if it sprays your wheel) but offer a material that will combine with fine, almost dust like sand particles as well as large ones and form a grinding paste.
This damages the chain, front and rear sprockets increasing wear on all 3.

When you are finished with sand riding, then give your chain a good clean and turn on the Scot-oiler or the like for road running.

My 2 pence.

Get yourself a chain brush. The usual mail order places in south Wales do them, like a three sided bracket with bristles inside. A couple of strokes on each run of the chain each day/sandy leg and you physically remove the bulk of what's stuck to it.

Andy

definitely steel sprockets, definitely no lube.
cheers,
andy.

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www.outforaspin.blogspot.com

Here's a link that may add to your chain lube pondering...

Chain Lube

In Australia on my DR 650 fitted with a scott oiler and a good clean every 1000kms , gave me 20 000kms of trouble free outback riding....

Convert the 525 chain on the DR to 520 as you have a better choice of gearing, a good balance is 15/45 and use DID x ring chain...

I agree that chain oilers keep the chain 'clean' and in the sand i turn the flow up to aid cleaning.

I regularly get 30 000 kms out of a chain and sprocket....

Thanks to all for quick responses and the link - will be looking into steel sprockets and new chains. Probably cheaper to worry about now than in the middle of nowhere.

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London to Bamako, Oct-Nov 2009, KTM 640 Adventure + DR650SE
Lagos to Libreville, Dec 2015, KTM 640 + DR650

I'll grant you they don't look great!

Weight is a non issue what with carbon fibre these days. Even ABS would be light enough - especially if you compare it to carrying a Scottoiler and oil round the planet with you! (and yes I know it'd be unsprung weight...)

I don't think the flappy chain thing is that big a deal either, since it has to join the sprockets at both ends, so it wouldn't be too bad making the unit big enough to accomodate the bow in the lower run.

As for the shaft drive idea, it's a damn sight heavier than any chain and case! Works fine for my K1200RS, but not on an off roader thankyou.

I wonder if there's a product which could withstand the constant rubbing of a chain which could be made into a kinda 'tube' for the lower run. I'm thinking heavy duty canvas? Kevlar? Cordura? Something flexible which attached to the frame / swingarm at the front, and simply encased the lower run down as far as the rear sprocket.

Yes, I have mad ideas from time to time...

Dave.... I'll watch out for you on Dragons Den

Rib the ABS tube like a vacuum cleaner hose or plastic conduit. No need to be tough so long as it can get out of the way. A ribbed tube can be thinner and therefore lighter too, plus the ribs trap grease and add an additional barrier.

What you can't do is add it as an afterthought. The MZ one works because of the flanges on the back of the motor and the ribbed/bellows section at either end. Nothing gets in, the grease in there is as fresh as the stuff in the rest of the engines enclosed spaces. The Harley version and other add ons fail because they try and use gravity to hold the case up to a motor.

I'd need to look in detail, but I'd also bet you could make a lubed chain smaller. There will be a safety factor that assumes an open chain will be rusty and worn out. If you are sure the chain won't get to this state and will be enclosed if it does fail in steel wire running round the case you have two choices. Either use an industrial chain the same size (cheaper) or use a smaller motorcycle chain. The weight can come off if it's that vital at the design stage.

Shaft drive is fine on Moto Guzzi's, Urals and Honda's where they control the lubrication and think about how it will wear. The BMW spline thing is garbage, even if they fitted grease nipples.

Andy

Interesting idea, hadn't thought of that.

Surely anything is better than nothing in sandy conditions. Providing you keep it dry, then it won't be trapping grit?

Does anyone know what the actual tensile strengh of a chain is, and how much loading it is able to sustain? (ie, it would pull a two tonnne car and usually has 500kg of force applied when cruising)

Dave- info for you re: DID -X ring chains
Standard tensile strength T.S) of 7,200 lbs
V O Ring T.S of 9,600 lbs
VM X ring T.S of 8,050 lbs
Z VM X ring T.S 10,400 lbs

O.E chain on bm wobble 'U's are made of chocolate (aka really cheap and nasty ones IMHO) but their steel sprockets are very good- go figure!

Very happy with my DID X 520 VM chain on my F650 Dakar

and I have to disagree with "Surely anything is better than nothing in sandy conditions"
Keep it dry dry dry, and maybe a brushing to dislodge surface grains of sand is fine at the end of each day's riding but no lube, no chemicals- no nada!
A good chain roller also helps-