Do you run without a chain guard?

[Guest]

I had a guy fab one for me that looks better than the stock one.
As mentioned, if you use the waxy lube that helps with "fling".
Many people over lube their chains, though, with much of
the extra lube being deposited elswhere.

 

[Sojourner]

Harley did that with their dressers at one time. It was totally enclosed and ran in grease, didn't work all that well and then they went to the belt.

I didn't envision a closed system. What I was thinking was sort of a three-sided box (like a letter C). Top and bottom covered, as well as the side facing out towards the left side of the bike so no laces, feet, etc. get sucked in. The right side would remain open so you could get to the master link and wipe down/maintain the chain. I was also thinking about the attachment points. Make a simple disconnect (cotter pin? not sure) so you don't have to unbolt a bunch of stuff in order to get the cover all the way off.

The thought being is that the three sides would protect the chain better than the stock guard. Might not be advisable given chain slack though. The cover would have to be pretty wide to accommodate...

 

[MisterCinders]

I don't have one on any of my seven road-ready bikes, and have NO problem at all.





Of course, thay are all shaft-driven, but ... :-\\\

.

That is a lie. You have two plastic ones to protect the engine and the tensioner.

 

[chuck hahn]

Someone posted about the NO FLING being a lie...so my question is this. When do you lube your chain...right before you ride or just when you return? If you answer is just before you ride, then your doing it wrong. You lube a hot chain..IE just after you come back from a ride. This allows the heated chain to draw lube into the rollers better AND to evaporate the carriers used so it will spray. And another function of the guard is to keep the passengers pant leg from flapping into the rear sprocket...that wouldnt be a good day for anyone on that bike.

 

[MisterCinders]

I don't like the chain guard, but removing it seems sketchy for the reasons mentioned.

Has anyone tried modding or replacing the stock chainguard for something a bit leaner and/or sexier looking?

 

[chuck hahn]

OH and another tip...after it has sat for whatever length of time between the sparying and the next time your gonna ride, take a rag and roll the chain thru it and wipe the excess off before you ride.

 

[whiterabbitt]

+1^ learned this all by myself, running without a guard. got tired of cleaning lube off of everything near the chain.
The chain guard doesnt help keep anything clean that is below or between the chain, you will still get goo on your swingarm, exhaust (if stock), centerstand, hub, wheel, and anything else in the area.

 

[salty_monk]

OH and another tip...after it has sat for whatever length of time between the sparying and the next time your gonna ride, take a rag and roll the chain thru it and wipe the excess off before you ride.

You can't do this with PJ1 (which is the one I posted was a lie)....

That stuff is so sticky you physically can't get a rag to wipe smoothly across the chain once it has dried & you get all sorts of fluff etc stuck on the chain in the process.... & it still flings.

I'm currently using a Motorex one which is better but I might go the cheap teflon wax way next time... http://www.bikebandit.com/motorex-off-road-chain-care-kit?gclid=CIb2zs_C_LICFcKDQgod5H0AmA

 

[Agemax]

does anyone remember the pots of chain wax you had to boil up on the stove and boil your chain in it? then hang it up to dry, was like a real thick wax. i used to use it many many years ago........
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Putoline-...cycle_Parts&hash=item5182d1efbd#ht_593wt_1037

 

[Allie]

I don't have one on any of my seven road-ready bikes, and have NO problem at all.





Of course, thay are all shaft-driven, but ... :-\\\

.

TROLL! :lol:

 

[GSequoia]

does anyone remember the pots of chain wax you had to boil up on the stove and boil your chain in it? then hang it up to dry, was like a real thick wax. i used to use it many many years ago........
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Putoline-...cycle_Parts&hash=item5182d1efbd#ht_593wt_1037

This was before you put your leather helmet and goggles on and kick started the bike to life, eh?

 

[Steve]

I don't have one on any of my seven road-ready bikes, and have NO problem at all.

Of course, thay are all shaft-driven, but ... :-\\\

.

TROLL! :lol:

Sorry, young lady, just stating fact.

Hopefully, within another year or so, I might get the eighth bike going, THEN I will be able to join in on the "which chain", "what sprockets" and "what chain lube" wars.

.

 

[Guest]

I didn't envision a closed system.

If you wanted one, though, here is a Dream of a chain guard:

 

[tatu]

does anyone remember the pots of chain wax you had to boil up on the stove and boil your chain in it? then hang it up to dry, was like a real thick wax. i used to use it many many years ago........
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Putoline-...cycle_Parts&hash=item5182d1efbd#ht_593wt_1037

Last time I used that stuff was '79 Made by Duckhams or Castrol, always a dodgy thing to do, I did mine outside on a camping stove as it used to stink the house out and if any was spilt the mess it made, to say nothing if you got any hot grease on yourself. Super fire hazard. I'm surprised to see you can still get summat similar.
Then O' ring chains arrived.
I use this, give the chain a squirt after riding it and put it away allows it to dry off nicely and fling is minimal.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Putoline-...05?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item5184ce4331

 

[1_v8_merc]

Those old chain guards are disposable.
There's no doubt that sucker will blow apart the second your chain snaps apart.

 

[Guest]

I run stock chain guards on both my bikes.
I'm familiar with the encased chain guards as my first motocycle had one on it. A little '69 Honda 65 Supersport, even had a inspection hole where you could pop off the the cap and adjust your chain for proper tension.
Lubricating the chain was no problem, just start up the bike on the centerstand, which was the only stand it had, take off the inspection cap and spray on the chain, whatever overspray there was stayed in the case.

 

[Guest]

Years ago I had a Norton with no guard.
All my shirts had a dirt stripe up one side on the back.
Used to really **** off the girl friends. Bought a few girls shirts and jackets I remember.

 

[MK3Brent]

Yes, I ride my bike without a chain guard.

 

[Greenbraes]

I use 'wurth dry chain lube' or any other dry lub I find. Once you clean the chain of all sticky lub you spray this on and it drys in, it is a solvent based spray that draws in teflon (or something similar) particles to the moving parts then the solvent evaporates. The chain is dry and not sticky so nothing sticks to or flies off it (great for coloured chains). I have used it for years with no issues what so ever, and more often than not run with no chain guard...I think if the chain comes apart a chain guard won't protect much



RB

 

[chedd]

does anyone remember the pots of chain wax you had to boil up on the stove and boil your chain in it? then hang it up to dry, was like a real thick wax. i used to use it many many years ago........
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Putoline-...cycle_Parts&hash=item5182d1efbd#ht_593wt_1037

yeah,i remember that stuff,i used to boil mine up on an old primus stove!lost count of the number of times i tipped it over and ended up with chainlube all over the garage floor!!!