Tank Slap - Motorcycle Forum

What do people get on average from their chains?

I'm being told my some knowitall on the SX forum that getting 15,000 from a chain on a 1 liter bike I ride in winter is evidence I don't ride my bike correctly.

I give it 3 days before I'm banned.

no mechanical sympathy for your ride eh I'm surprised (NOT! :008:) as that explains why you don't get many miles out of your chain & sprockets!

When I was younger and before my BIG off, I was the same. Didn't care and only rode for the smile it put on my face, with no thought of consequence to/for anything, for either me, or the bike!

Coming back to biking in 2012, I took the IAM test and learned allot. MOSTLY about me!

I ride motorbikes because I like riding motorbikes.

I don't ride motorbikes so I can patronise or be patronised.

Can we have a link to the thread please?

http://z1000sx.co.uk/index.php/topic,6741.0.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I changed min at my service at around 18 or 20,000. I can't remember which now.

I had never once cleaned or lubed it. It was only done at services by the dealer.

And I only changed it as it was looking a bit tatty and I get the chain and sprocket kits cheap. To save me having to clean and lube it.

On 25,000 miles now. And not cleaned or lubed it since it was fitted. lol

This one has got some life left in it but I'm doing 350 miles a week so I need to plan ahead. There's a service at 15,000 and I'm currently at 13,000 miles so I'm looking to see if it's cheaper to get new chain and sprockets at the service or separate.

Kwacky wrote:This one has got some life left in it but I'm doing 350 miles a week so I need to plan ahead. There's a service at 15,000 and I'm currently at 13,000 miles so I'm looking to see if it's cheaper to get new chain and sprockets at the service or separate.

If I wasn't such a prick I would have changed it sooner. It was by no means the right thing to do.

I am surprised it lasted as well as it did. However, I couldn't say if it was actually ok still by that time. I doubt it.

The chain doesn't look too great now after around 4000miles. BUt it has been sat in this cold weather all shitty for about 3+ weeks which wont have helped.

I've done 10,000 on my current one and it's proper fooked! Aftermarket one though.... It's stretched so much that it's on it's last adjuster on the swingarm, although the teeth look not too bad. Few dry links in it now and a few tight spots too, so its going.

Last one lasted me nearly 20k miles (OEM) and was still ok....just wanted to change to a black and gold one to match the bike.

I will go back to OEM or one of those Afam jobbies.... in black and gold, natch.

Afam are very good.

I replaced the chain on the 748 two years ago. In all my years of riding bikes that's the first bike i ever had to replace the chain on.

I put a Afam on my bike based on Kwackys recommendation but DID are very good as long as you get one of the made in Japan chains as some are sub contracted out.

I replace chains cause ..... i like the look of shiny things and why would riding through winter make you crap at riding I would think it did the opposite.

What a nob re: ZX forum.

I'm with you Kwacky, when I ride I don't worry if the way I accelerate wears the chain or sprockets faster, that's just the cost of doing business. Correct tension and maintenance have far more effect in my opinion.

You have to replace chains?

I can't see the thread on zx forum for some reason. But, I also agree with you guys. I see brake pads, chains, sprockets, and tyres as consumables, therefore don't worry about how they wear.

I also think rocket is spot on about winter riding. It gives you much better throttle and brake control, as well as making you look and think further down the road as there are so many exe hazards.

There are some miserable old gits on that site, no wonder it's quiet. The moment someone asks a question you're sure to get a "have you tried the search option?" reply.

But back on topic. I'm at Kwak Birmingham on Friday so I'll ask them how much an OEM set is then compare prices. The bike needs a service so I might get them to do it all at the same time.

My ER6 did 16k before I changed them. The R1 was done at 9,500 (but it was 5.5 years old at the time). I think the VFR800 was at about 13.5 when it was done. And the Varadero had one last year at 17.5.

I wasn't aware that there was any hard and fast rules, tbh. It depends on a ton of factors like conditions and riding style/bike usage. Those guys on that site appear to be your standard internet know-its, though...

dogbot wrote:
I wasn't aware that there was any hard and fast rules, tbh. It depends on a ton of factors like conditions and riding style/bike usage. Those guys on that site appear to be your standard internet know-its, though...

I've never been one to worry about the mechanical side of things. It's not me. Fair enough if other want to know the workings of their machines but I'm happy if it's working and if it's not I'll get someone to fix it.

Too many people seem to go out of their way to find things to worry about.

Not sure on what mileage I normally get with mine, I just tend to change them when the gear changes start to feel a bit clunky. i.e when you let the clutch out.

The only one I didn't feel like I got much mileage out off was an alloy sprocket, the rear sprocket teeth hooked in a few thousand miles. To be fair to it I was commuting around London in all weathers, not really what it's designed for.

some bell-end wrote:

Coming back to biking in 2012, I took the IAM test and learned allot. MOSTLY about me!

Did he learn he's a **** dick?