Scorch
0
Note: I searched for a general purpose chain thread but did not find anything newer than 2013.
Ok, I am not a chain expert I just have thoughts. Feel free to disagree with me I'm still trying to complete my understanding of chains and chain lubricants.
My personal MC history had me running a 1991 Suzook GS1100G and 1985 Madura 1200 all through the 90s and up until 2008, when I bought my V-Strom 650. So, I was really, really spoiled when it came to drivetrain maint. Both of those machines used a pain-free shaft drive.
The Strom was great, may fav bike of all time (until I got my 2018 V-Strom 1000). But I so hate messing with the chain and sprockets, it's annoying and expensive. Arghh, ok, alright... calming down....
My 650 accumulated 70,000 miles before I sold it, and I tried all kinds of chains and chain lubricants. I'll post my main log, faster than trying to explain.
Last chain was
FRONT SPROCKET SIZE 16 Tooth w/ Rubber Dampener - $2.00
REAR SPROCKET SIZE 47 Tooth - Stock Size
DID 525VX - NATURAL X'ring
I wish I had kept better notes on exactly what chain, and how I oiled it, how often, etc. But as I think back, I recall trying several approaches.
I usually kept the chain adjusted regularly...some guys have suggested keeping the chain too tight, at the specified min tension, could accelerate wear. Vs-Strom Tom swears he gets 50,000 miles on a chain by keeping it loose... anybody try that?
As for lubing the chain... that's like an oil thread, I can say I have to set views on what is best. Actually it would be more accurate to say I have gone through my life very fuzzy on what lubrication a chain should get, somewhere between superstition and voodoo black magic. All I know for sure is, my bike has 12,000 miles on the OEM chain and two tick marks left on the adjusters so something has to happen.
Ok, I am not a chain expert I just have thoughts. Feel free to disagree with me I'm still trying to complete my understanding of chains and chain lubricants.
My personal MC history had me running a 1991 Suzook GS1100G and 1985 Madura 1200 all through the 90s and up until 2008, when I bought my V-Strom 650. So, I was really, really spoiled when it came to drivetrain maint. Both of those machines used a pain-free shaft drive.
The Strom was great, may fav bike of all time (until I got my 2018 V-Strom 1000). But I so hate messing with the chain and sprockets, it's annoying and expensive. Arghh, ok, alright... calming down....
My 650 accumulated 70,000 miles before I sold it, and I tried all kinds of chains and chain lubricants. I'll post my main log, faster than trying to explain.
Last chain was
FRONT SPROCKET SIZE 16 Tooth w/ Rubber Dampener - $2.00
REAR SPROCKET SIZE 47 Tooth - Stock Size
DID 525VX - NATURAL X'ring
I wish I had kept better notes on exactly what chain, and how I oiled it, how often, etc. But as I think back, I recall trying several approaches.
- PJ1 lube every 500 miles
- No lube, after all it is an X ring chain and lube isn't going to do anything on the exterior ( a recent FortNine video reinforces that)
- Replacing the chain only when it reach the limits
- Replacing the sprockets and chain when the sprockets clearly needed replacing.
- Replacing the X-ring chain when it was reaching the limits with a non-X-ring cheap chain because the sprockets only had one chain session of wear, so pop on a short term chain to complete the sprocket life cycle...
I usually kept the chain adjusted regularly...some guys have suggested keeping the chain too tight, at the specified min tension, could accelerate wear. Vs-Strom Tom swears he gets 50,000 miles on a chain by keeping it loose... anybody try that?
As for lubing the chain... that's like an oil thread, I can say I have to set views on what is best. Actually it would be more accurate to say I have gone through my life very fuzzy on what lubrication a chain should get, somewhere between superstition and voodoo black magic. All I know for sure is, my bike has 12,000 miles on the OEM chain and two tick marks left on the adjusters so something has to happen.