Which Motorcycle Chain Is Best?

[NastyEvilNinja]

I've tried all the chain types over the years, so here's what I thought of them, and what I'd recommend you buy!

This probably isn't my most riveting blog... or is it?

http://nastyevilninja.wordpress.com/2013/05/17/which-motorcycle-chain-is-best/

:mrgreen:

 

[thunderous71]

"riveting"
BOOM BOOM

Sigh

 

[Moody]

nice!

 

[TheCityRider]

Ill be needing a new chain soon, i was curious as well. stock one seemed pretty good llol

 

[Kevin1123]

Renthal R4, prestretched, last's a year or 1200 miles of heavy use, sorted.

 

[Marbro_za]

I never even thought about this

 

[Kevin1123]

Why? If you have a stretchy old lump of cheap chain, a steel sprocket, and rubbish tyres... it's like wearing heavy duty gloves whilst trying to open a can of beer. If your drive chain and tyres are right, you can feel the contact patch.... and that makes all the difference.

 

[Marbro_za]

Didnt think there were different types of chains,
I thought they were all the same, but made by different people.

 

[Kevin1123]

No, not at all ... A decent X ring chain, which is prestretched will give you better feedback, much better throttle control.... I use Renthal R4's, have done for the last 6 years, buy one, put it on a HA rear, then come back and tell me how much more 'feel' you get from your rear end.

 

[Marbro_za]

I have to learn how to swop my chain now


and buy a decent chain!

 

[Kevin1123]

Do it... you wont look back, trust me.

 

[CBRHoonigan]

Arnt chains mostly made by the same peopele then sold onto other companys

 

[Kevin1123]

Where on earth did you get that from? I've ridden on a few chains in my life, and no they are not all the same

Ask yourself, when you roll on the power mid corner... how smooth was the transition from neutral throttle to power flow.. are you feeling the chain take up the strain or are you in direct communication with your contact patch.

 

[Marbro_za]

I get where hoon comes from, Most stuff is made in a handful of regions. so one could assume the chains would also be

 

[O8ride]

Shaft drive instead - it's peachy.

 

[Marbro_za]

shaft would be nice..


is there a major difference between them? The only experience i have is with remote controlled cars, I preferred belt drive because it was smoother
this the same with bikes?

 

[CBRHoonigan]

Mate thats just the condition and correct tension of your chain and wether or not its x ring o ring or heavy duty, ive had a jt chain and a Renthal chain both identicle, Loads of things are mass produced then flogged off to different companys for different branding, performance bike looked it all about it a few years ago mate.

 

[Shirou]

I didn't know NastyEvilNinja was here.
I can't believe I'm not subscribed.

So basically what's the difference between stock and "designer" chains?
I prefer stock because I cannot get any good long-lasting replacement here. The chain on my bike is getting near 7900 miles without being replaced. And I know it's way beyond it's service life. It's the stock DID 520 chain.

 

[Marbro_za]

how often do you change them?

 

[CBRHoonigan]

The bigger the pitch of the chain the better, like my cbr125 goes through chains soo bad, had 5 in 1 year due to the stretch.