Do you run without a chain guard?

[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-C...#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!

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.

.

[gsgeezer]

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-C...#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-Tech-Chain-Lube-500ml-/350120461105?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.

[sedelen]

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.

[Steven Conlan]

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-C...#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!!!

[chedd]

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

what helmet? trenchcoat and gaunlets was all ya needed back then

[Allie]

Can't believe no one's said it yet so.....

The most I ever do without a chain guard is a slow jog.

[dr_fosg8]

Just an FYI to the posters that commented that the guard won't do you much good should the chain come apart at speed.

Well, you are correct in that assessment, but I imagine it would slow, redirect the pieces away from your leg.

However the guard is mainly there to protect from loose items getting drawn into or caught in the chain and to keep lube from getting all over the place.

[Allie]

Yeah my chain guard is caked with gooey chain lube that is next to impossible to get off, seems like a good thing to have in place to me.

[jpaul]

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...

I have thought about this on & off over the years, and I think it would be great. I would basically have a chain guard that fully covers the chain & sprocket from where it leaves the engine case. It doesn't need to be sealed & the chain doesn't need to be in an oil bath. It would basically be a large dust cover. You could make a section that removes with one screw on the lower part to allow for checking chain slack; you could even put marks on the side of the opening to use as a ruler to set the slack properly. With some type of remote lube system and modern chains, I would bet the increase in chain life would be significant.