Political...Chain versus Shaft...not really need new chain

[Anonymous]

The F650GS needs a new chain......cheap versus pricey?

O-ring versus cheapy?......master link w/clip or riveted?....

And do most sprockets have the same bolt circle and mount???

I went to a couple of sites and they literally price a combo without asking the application (just the sizes, # of teeth and chain size)

:?

[saaz]

My experince has been that a good non-oring looked after is better than a real cheap oring. The original oring on the bike (GS1000) lasted 70,oookms, I bought a cheap one and it was gone in 20,oookms, and this was with a full chain case. The current non-oring chain (yes, it was a matter of money while getting the rest of the bike ready for road duty again) has lasted 20,000kms already and is still ok. Get a reasonable oring chain and lube it a little to keep the sprockets in reasonable condition. If money is tight or you don't do many kms, a good non-oring is reasonably low maintenance.

The master link orings work fine.

Some bikes are harder on chains..some twins and perhaps singles...the power pulses seem a bit hard on chain life. A better quality oring may be worth it if chain life is a bit low normally.

Not all sprockets are the same size in terms of mounting, Suzukis vary in terms of how many bolts. Make sure it is for your bike pattern of bolts.

[mdole]

I personally have had very good luck with DID chains and have been running their O-ring chains for years.

I did have an X-ring chain on a Honda reflex that I ran on the street and in trials competition for 10 years before I had to change it. I think it was the most remarkable chain I ever ran on a bike. Usually the mud and water we ride in combined with the sand does in O-rings in a couple of years.

Mike

[mdole]

The last DID 630 chain I used broke the retaining clip on the master link and I broke a couple of others just trying to put them on.

I think this was an isolated problem, as I never had that problem in the past and may have just got some defective clips.

I cured the problem by riveting the chain.

Mike

[Anonymous]

The 630V clip I bought for my 1100 looks twisted and I was wondering if this is normal. The previous clip on the 1100 disappeared all on its own too so I'm not too trusting of these things. I had one fall off on a 530 DID as well.

Steve