Adv drive chains?

[cooneyr]

Oil threads seem to be a bunch of fun, the tyre thread seems to be pretty civil, so what will drive chain thread be like?

Simply I need a new chain/sprocket set (current alloy rear has little lumps where teeth use to be) and surprisingly in a guesstimated 40k km of adv riding I've only ever bought one chain. I'm getting genuine KTM steel sprockets.

So what chain, why, cost and where to purchase please. While I'm after parts for my 450 EXC I'm sure the chain recommendation will work for pretty much any thumper so hopefully this thread will become useful resource.

Starters for 10
DID VM Xring $190 at T7.
EK SRX Xring $120 at T7. Interestingly supposedly higher tensile strength than the DID VM Xring, so why so much cheaper?

Cheers R

[pete376403]

Are the gold coloured side plates of the DID chain worth an extra $70 to you?

I'd go with the EK and spend the diff on sprockets.

What brand is on there now? If that (and the OEM chain) lasted 40K between them it is a pretty good recommendation

[dino3310]

i've been useing EK

Why?
A/ because there cheap and im a tight arse ($79)
B/ there actually pretty darn good i've got no complaints about them, good bang for buck

Brought from this trader http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-506075297.htm (real name Central Suzuki) every now and then they do a weekly special with $1 reserve so i just bid for spare chains.
i've got a couple of him now, ones still in the box in the shed waiting for the one on the bike to give up but it wont die just yet even with abuse.


But like pete said "What brand is on there now? If that (and the OEM chain) lasted 40K between them it is a pretty good recommendation "

[Waipukbiker]

Gday, I can vouch for Central Suzuki, They are in Waipukurau which is where I am and have dealt with them for a few years now and never had any problems, they only stock good quality stuff and are just good people to deal with.

[CrazyFrog]

+1 for the EK chain from me too. Always on sale somewhere, and supposedly high tensile strength.
I use the EK SRX chain on the KTM, I've got one from Central Suzuki on TradeMe and one from Torp7. Buy 'em when they're on sale.
I would rather replace chain more often than try and eeek extra life out of a $180 DID chain. Cos I'd rather spend that money on good oil, but lets not go there.......

I found the OEM RK O-ring chain on the KTM's not vey good, they tend to stretch early in their life and just don't last, even using them on alloy sprockets. I even had a RK chain break riding in sand at Anatori, and no it wasn't the joining link letting go, it was a weak side plate let go from the pin mid-chain.

Just to liven up this thread, we should start a worn sprocket hall of shame, then let the flaming begin

[cooneyr]

Just to clarify I ain't done 40k km of adv riding on one chain. I've a very efficient way of dealing with not having to choose which chain to buy - I change bikes LOL

No idea what is on there at the moment and to be honest don't really care. I didn't own the bike for the first half of its life so can really tell much about the chain other than it has needed a fair bit of adjustment ever since I started riding it and that clip links worry me (I'll be riveting new one on thanks to the T7 tool).

......Just to liven up this thread, we should start a worn sprocket hall of shame, then let the flaming begin

I'll show you mine if you shown me yours Got lots of worn fronts in the shed and only two rears with the latest being the most interesting.

Cheers R

[ktm84mxc]

If you want a dear chain go buy a Renthal race chain ouch. Got 100 + hours outta the standard chain I fitted a twin ring rear sprocket from new and it's still going strong, most riders either run the chains to tight or loose to start with causing excessive wear. When riding in mud run the chain a little slack as it soon packs with mud causing it to tighten on the sprockets.

[clint640]

I've had just as good a run out of the $100-$120 EK SRX as I have out of the $180 RK X-rings the bike shop was selling me before.

Chain life is influenced a lot by lube & sprockets so it can be hard to compare. Best chain life I've ever had was 24K out of an RK ATV chain on a Chain Gang rear sprocket, swapped a couple of fronts in that time. Usually I only get about 12K, but the trouble is, the above combo costs a good bit more than twice as much as an EK SRX & a generic steel rear sprocket.

Cheers
Clint

[TINA RAY]

Just to clarify I ain't done 40k km of adv riding on one chain.

Cheers R

THAT'S what I thort u was saying !!!.....I was in awe

I have an X-ring I have run for 32,000 Km....and it is still going strong.... can't remember the brand, but NOT Gold.

Only cost $89 on special, but many years ago.

Real oil, is the ANSWER to longevity.

[cooneyr]

THAT'S what I thort u was saying !!!.....I was in awe

I have an X-ring I have run for 32,000 Km....and it is still going strong.... can't remember the brand, but NOT Gold.

Only cost $89 on special, but many years ago.

Real oil, is the ANSWER to longevity.

LOL. My mum always said I should be a politician! Good at say something that people completely miss-interpret!

I'm a believer in oil when nothing in the environment to to become grinding past and no oil when there is. Seal = oil chain, everything else = no oil.

Cheers R

[TINA RAY]

LOL.

I'm a believer in oil when nothing in the environment to to become grinding pastE

Cheers R

THIS IS A TOTALLY INCORRECT, ERRONEOUS, OLD-WIVES TALE .......and is just one of the many which perpetuate Forums and booze talk.

It becomes a LUBRICATING PASTE!

AS the Chain Manufacturer STATES on the packaging....''USE 80W OIL ''

My chain is an ongoing testament to that advice...........THIS IS AN IRREFUTABLE FACT !

I expect at least another 10,00Km at this rate.

[Night Falcon]

Just to liven up this thread, we should start a worn sprocket hall of shame, then let the flaming begin

OK I'll put my hand up....I found this on the 690 after snapping a chain, but have no idea who the culprit was that swaped out my good one plus it looks like its giving me the finger I like RK chains cos they gave me a free one after my brand new one shattered into peices

[TINA RAY]

OK I'll put my hand up....I found this on the 690 after snapping a chain, but have no idea who the culprit was that swaped out my good one plus it looks like its giving me the finger I like RK chains cos they gave me a free one after my brand new one shattered into peices

IT'S A KTM..seems to happen to them a bit ?????

[CrazyFrog]

OK I'll put my hand up....I found this on the 690 after snapping a chain, but have no idea who the culprit was that swaped out my good one plus it looks like its giving me the finger I like RK chains cos they gave me a free one after my brand new one shattered into peices

I gotta say, that one will take a lot of beating (and it has taken a beating).

I pulled a similar looking one off a BMW F650 I had a few years back while back, a worn chain accelerated the wear real fast and as it was hidden behind a sprocket cover, it was overlooked ..... nek minute, chain jumping on the sprocket. WTF is that noise? Oh rooted countershaft sprocket.
No photos, but you get the idea. Shame.........

[JATZ]

THIS IS A TOTALLY INCORRECT, ERRONEOUS, OLD-WIVES TALE .......and is just one of the many which perpetuate Forums and booze talk.

It becomes a LUBRICATING PASTE!

AS the Chain Manufacturer STATES on the packaging....''USE 80W OIL ''

My chain is an ongoing testament to that advice...........THIS IS AN IRREFUTABLE FACT !

I expect at least another 10,00Km at this rate.

You do know how to liven up a thread doncha....
That's the first time I've heard about 80w oil being recomended, I'm pretty sure the scottoiler oil ain't 80w, I could be wrong though

OK I'll put my hand up....I found this on the 690 after snapping a chain, but have no idea who the culprit was that swaped out my good one plus it looks like its giving me the finger I like RK chains cos they gave me a free one after my brand new one shattered into peices

That's not bad going... I don't have pics of my used sprokets, but I've had some beauties

Waiting for Padmie/Shrek poke their noses in and start bangin on about shaft drive