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X-Ring Chains

DRugerH

Well travelled
Hello all. I was wondering if anyone here uses X-Ring chains on their bikes? I used to have a Yamaha TW200, and the chains on those bikes needed constant oiling, and would stretch like crazy, and would wear down the sprockets, so the "thing" to do was to replace the chain with a D.I.D. X-Ring chain. The chain had very minimal stretch, and needed almost no lubrication. The ride also seemed to be a little smoother on the TW200 with that new chain.

I have looked around this forum, and I was sort of surprised to not see mention of it, unless I missed it somewhere.

So, what is the general consensus on chains? Are the chains on the Himalayan really good? Has anyone switched their stock chains for something better? Something lower maintenance?

I'm thinking about upgrading my chain to an X-Ring in the Spring, but the fact that chains aren't the "talk of the town" on this forum makes me wonder if it truly would be an upgrade from the factory chain.

Thanks for the input,
Dan
 

Bluestrom13

Well travelled
Location
--'Coventry'....
Are the chains on the Himalayan really good? Has anyone switched their stock chains for something better? Something lower maintenance?
Lower maintenance? Fit a chain oiler. Mines now done 4K+ miles, never had to do a thing to it. I use Scottoiler oil in a cheapo device.
Tho' a genuine Scottoiler can be had for £100 or so. Original chain and sprockets on my (ex) V-Strom did 25000 miles without issue with Scottoiler fitted.
Adjusted once, 1/4 turn on screws.

Hitchcocks "upgrade" chain is cheaper than their OEM.
Hitchcocks X-Ring Chain.jpg
 

Robert

Well travelled
Location
Holland
At almost 15.000 km my Hima still uses the OEM chain, which has been adjusted once at 4.000 km. I lube the chain every 500-1000 km with 80W90 (gearbox)oil.
I replaced the front sprocket recently at 13.900 km because it started to show signs of wear. My theory being that the front sprocket has the hardest life as it is the smallest, and that a worn (front) sprocket will damage the chain which in turn will damage the rear (other) sprocket.
I have no idea how much longer I can get out of the chain. Right now it still looks pretty good, as does the rear sprocket.
Just to be on the safe side I bought a DID 525 X chain, a rear sprocket and two front sprockets (one of which has just been called on duty) and should the current chain and/or the rear sprocket suddenly deteriorate I have the replacement on the shelf.
 

Roy Gavin

Well travelled
Generally the advice is that DID VMX or VX x ring chains and JT sprockets have served folk well.
But most genuine brand name products should handle 24 HP.
In Oz DID have almost doubled in price and on the net counterfeits are the norm, so when I needed a chain to go with my Hitchcocks sprockets I bought a low price Unibear 0 ring chain for $A 55- , less than a third the price of a DID. They claimed a guaranteed life of 30,000 km.
33,000 km later chain and sprockets still look OK.
I give the chain a good soak with Synth ATF out of a squeeze bottle every 500 km which lubes the O rings well and flings off taking and dirt away from the vital areas, so I never clean the chain.
Had a Scottoiler on a 90 HP VFR and DID/VMX/JT were still good at 90,000 km. But the Veefer just purred along, valves hadn't needed adjusted in 120,000 km either.
Have a spare Scotty somewhere, but never got round to fitting it to the Hima.
Like Robert I have the replacement waiting, a 520 top line RK chain and sprocket kit from India, cheaper than the chain alone in Oz.
 
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