I have some legitimate knowledge want so hopefully this stays on topic past post three lol. It looks like it's getting about time for a new chain. If I adjust the tightest part of my chain to spec, the loosest part of my chain is like ???'s asshole after myself, BAMF, Kawie, and ZDA run a train on him in the Hess bathroom on the N. Run. AKA, it's like throwing a hot dog down a hallway.

I was looking around and seeing different things about what to expect from chainlife. This chain gave me about 13-14k miles (I'm still riding it) in a year...last January sometime was when I fixed (see: unstretched) the bike. BTW it's a 520 DID ERVIII.

Should I have expected more out of this chain? As most of you know I daily the bike, post office style, which included a summer of commuting between Clearwater and Gainesville in every sense of the saying, "it's raining sideways" 4-5 times a month.

I've never really neglected the chain or any of my maintenance. I'm sure there was a few times where I stretched it (pun not intended) on maintenance...like oooh I really should clean and lube that before heading down to Clearwater...but nothing bad, like I said I stay on top of my maintenance. But I'm seeing people say they get double that I got out of my chain.

And, if that's the end of the road for my chain, that goes for my sprockets too huh? These things are just fancy paper weights now huh? They still look perfectly fine to me. The internets are full of opinions on chain and sprocket symbiosis, how do you guys feel about it?

The final part of this question is lube. Some like a dry rub, some like it wet. What do you prefer? Personally I don't like friction burns...I've used like 3 different types of lube since I've been riding. One I don't remember, actually 4 the guy I bought the bike gave me like half a can. They were just generic motorcycle chain lubes. Then I started using Dupont's dry wax teflon lube which was awesome. Least messy I've used. Sometime last summer I switched to Black Label and hated it. What a fucking mess. Honestly it seemed like it flung 90% of it all over my tail, wheel, swingarm, kickstand and everything else in that region, including the back of my leg. And after only a month of using it I started noticing pieces of the o-rings sticking up, like little splinters. After that I switched back to the Dupont stuff. But I truly feel that the month of Black Label really saw the beginning of the decline of my chain. From there on out it was just slowly dying. So can anyone suggest a good lube that works well, and stays put?

Umm, I think that's it. I know this has been the first serious post we've had in a long time haha.

 

I think I got about 20k out of my last chain if not more and was riding in identical conditions. It was an RK chain, by the time I replaced it the adjusters wouldn't go any further and it had some sticking links. I'm using black label and loving it but I don't have a white bike with pretty rims. Belray and chain wax both worked for me as well, belray just looked funny because it was white. I'm assuming you're applying when it's fresh after a ride?

 

dont know shit about chains to be honest, ill replace the whole setup when the chain is shitty. +1 on the dupont dry lube, love it.

 

i cant really add any wisdom/knowledge to this post but i do use wd-40 to clean the grease out of the chain, then use that maxima wax ( i think thats the name its black and gold can). might need to switch to another brand and try the ones you guys recommend.

i do notice that my DID chains last longer than my EK chains though.

 

wth we can like posts on here now lol?

And yeah Will, I always warm the chain up before lubing it. I find the best way to do that is leave some kerosene on it and set it on fire for a second. Also, I still have a lotttt of room to adjust, but like I said the tightest part of the chain will be way too tight so I assume that means it's time for a new chain...this will be my first time replacing a chain out of necessity...unless you count unstretching the bike lol.

I use a grunge brush and kerosense on my chain once a week which is 300-500 miles or sooner depending on how wet the chain may get.

Joe the Dupont stuff is pretty awesome, and it's like 5 bucks a can at Lowe's.

 

My problem was never the chain but my old 2003 gsxr 750 used to eat back sprockets like crazy. I used chain wax on that bike for 5 years and only had to replace the chain twice so I love that stuff. As for the maintance grunge brush and pb-blaster works wonders. Then after thats done use a little dawn mixed in water and grunge brush it again before you lube it.

 

I use the white bel ray stuff. always had good luck with it. your milage sounds about right for what it goes thru and if something ate your o-rings. the tight in one spot and loose in others, is what I find weird. time for a new set for sure.


my 06 has the stock chain, I've only even had to adjust it once, just a little bit. I don't remember the milage but its atleast 10k I'd guess.

as for cleaning, I used the lube itself to clean the chain as I'm spraying on the new lube, rub a rag over it and the old stuff wipes right off. then I relube and let it ride. I've never done any of the warming up stuff. doesn't make sense to me.


I also like the white stuff because when it turns black you know it needs cleaned and lubed

rk vrs did is a toss up to me, but for your riding I'd make sure your rear gear is steel or atleast the steel toothed aluminium one the sell.


oh and make sure you are lubing the inside of the chain, the lube will be forced to the outside as you ride on its own. some of all parts did good by me last time I ordered a chain for my old bike.

 

I usually get 20k out of a chain also. I have had a chain that had a relly bad tight spot and the rest of the time it was loose. Trust change that chain now its only going to eat your sprockets to shit if you dont.

 

for the sake of specificity, which one is it here?

 

I think if you're staying on top of lubing your chain and you have tight spots, its time to change lubes