drive chain

[Guest]

need some input , looking to get a new drive chains have new sprockets, one bike is gsf1200 , second bike is be 83/gs 1100/ 1290 , what brand chain is best and who has best prices on them ,??

[bonanzadave]

I put a RK630SO Oring on my 1100E from Dennis Kirk. Seems to be working fine. Use a new master link clip !

[Big T]

RK
Tsubaka
DID
EK

These are all good brands
On a 1200cc bike, look to buy the best chain, not the cheapest

An X or Z ring chain are the best types
.
Your GS will have a 630 chain as stock, you may want to consider switching to a 530 conversion kit. Be sure to confirm the sprocket ratios when you do the conversion. you will find that 630 is not a common size anymore

[Big T]

As far as best prices, I trust you have heard of the Internet?

[mmattockx]

Any of the major brands of O or X ring chain will be just fine, none of them are vastly superior to the others. More important is that you keep the chain clean and don't run it too tight. I don't lube my chains at all (I clean with WD-40 and leave it), but I also live in a low humidity area and make sure to clean it right away if I get caught in the rain. For those living in coastal areas and places with lots of humidity I don't think chain lube is optional. Use as light a coat as possible and don't allow a build up of dirt and gunk to avoid premature wear.


Mark

[salty_monk]

I'm using a Bikemaster branded O ring chain & sprockets (which are actually JT) off an Ebay seller (Jawzys I think). They were pretty cheap at $100 / set and working fine...

[tbirdhd]

thanks found a EK ,

[bwringer]

Excellent. You generally want to stick to a name brand, unless you can get some good real-world info on a "house brand" chain. For example, I've used "Primary Drive" chain and sprockets from Rocky Mountain ATV/MC, and get amazing life and reliability under horrible conditions. There are unconfirmed rumors that the chain is made by DID, but no one knows for sure.

Over on the V-Strom forum, they're even cheaper than the folks here, if you can imagine such a thing. Anyway, a few folks have tried various Chinese cheapies sold under different computer-generated names through fleaBay and other retailers, and the results have been very poor. One guy was bound and determined that a "Volar" chain for something like $50 just had to be the bargain of the century... nope. Fortunately he and his bike escaped serious damage.

[derwood]

I bought an RK 120 link 630 o-ring chain on clearance at Canadian Tire for $5.00,

[bwringer]

I bought an RK 120 link 630 o-ring chain on clearance at Canadian Tire for $5.00,

Dang, you win! That's a score if you're one of the few folks left using 630.

[Cipher]

how thick was the layer of dust? My god CT was always a crappy place to get parts the guys have zero knowledge and some even refute your insistence that the part doesn't fit due to the supreme orthodoxy of the database they use.

come to think years ago i got a really high end chain dirt cheap there it lasted 20 k of abuse and misery.

[limeex2]

I have 2 sets of GS1100 chain and sprockets. 1 set is new but the chain has surface rust from leaving it outside, other is in vg cond. I'll trade you for a $35 turn signal from Dennis Kirk. If you need new, get a 530 set up. it makes a difference you can feel. 630 is very heavy and imo obsolete except for farm use.