Chain Longevity?

Just wondering how long chain life is ball park? I have 10k on my 06 and still seems to be ok. Wondering how much more I can get out of it.

Varies by chain manufacturer, riding habits, care, etc.. No firm answer I suppose. 5k - 20k is my guess? I had my OEM chain go out on my 6th gen at 5k miles, but I wouldn't say that's the norm. I would recommend searching past forum threads if you haven't already done so; this topic has been run across before.

With regular and careful maintenance, you will get good life out of a quality chain. My original chain lasted 18,000 miles. I cleaned and lubed it every 600 miles.

Chain life...I guess it could be grouped with which oil to use and whether lemon Pledge is good for your finish.

I have gotten 20+K from a chain...once. The next wore out at 10K. You get what you pay for. I know some would argue but I believe one important factor, beyond regular lubrication and adjustment, is the use of the Honda front sprocket with the rubber ring bumber. It cushions the chain as it wraps, reducing the shock to the links.

I have read some posts from people who use an oiler who claim to get 30+K miles from a chain...maybe.

I've got 23k on mine, but it's in need of replacing. So I'd say w/ proper care you should see 20k no problem.

I get about 12-15k out of DID XRing chains, but I am not always good about lubing them.

Mine (DID X ring) has over 30K mls on it and is still in very good condition. I did give at a bit more slack last year as per keny's advice.

I have 35K km (~22K mi) on my 2003 original chain. Bought the bike used in 2006 with 15k km ( 10K mi) on it.

I clean the chain once a year and try and lube it every 800km ( 500 mi ). It still has all its o rings and no stiff links or rollers. I just spend some time this past weekend with kerosene and a toothbrush while I wait for riding weather.

I'm going to keep using it but I too wonder how long it will last.

[image: View Post]johnmark101, on Mar 25 2009, 02:55 PM, said:

With regular and careful maintenance, you will get good life out of a quality chain. My original chain lasted 18,000 miles. I cleaned and lubed it every 600 miles.


Same here and the next 2 chain sets after that.

I keep my chain very clean and lubed.

I get 15-20K usually. Buy a good chain and take care of it as often as you can..that's it.

I'm on my original chain at 20K and it shows no signs of going out and has plenty of adjustment left. I do keep it clean and use Dupont Teflon lube on it. My chain gets plenty of power put to it too. FWIW.

45,000 kilometres on the stock chain with cleaning and lubing roughly every 600 kilometres or when it got wet. it was completely toast when i did replace it.

I clean and lube mine basically every month regardless of how many miles I ride. Its the anal retentive bicycle guy thing. I clean and lube my road bike chain every few weeks. I hate gritty drivetrains... Also comes from anal retentive bike shop owner :cool:

The Dupont Multi use teflon is a superb chain lube, moto or bicycle!

My definition of a worn out chain is when the grease fails to lube the
critical pin and roller junction and metal to metal occurs... I don't
call a chain serviceable that is griding metal... it's like saying
that a dry bearing that runs ruff is acceptable...

At about the 8K mark the factory grease thins out enough to begin
metal to metal wear... you may still claim the chain will last
longer... but you may not claim there is no the metal to metal wear
going on... everytime you adjust the chain you're in effect taking up
slack caused by wear at the critical pin and roller junction hidden
behind the X ring... keep riding far enough and the red oxides of
harden metal exploded pass the X ring... now you're guilty of chain
abuse...

Honda provides a handy guide to monitor chain wear... stay with in the
green and you'll be looking for a new chain and sprockets at the 8 to
10K mile mark...
http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/uploads/1214871742/gallery_3131_51_39609.jpg



This is what you don't see behind the X rings... metal to metal wear
every time you adjust the chain that eats into your engine's available
HP... 206.5 is new 205.5 is at the 8K mile mark... looks good but
multiply 1 thousand of an inch times 108 links and you have 108
thousands of an inch wear or about the range of the green marks
provided by Honda's wear gauge... 202.8 show the very visible wear at
the 12K mile mark... just think what those pins look like at 18K... so
you still don't think that is chain abuse???

http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/uploads/1214491269/gallery_3131_51_50064.jpg

It's one thing to speculate but another to have proof. That's our BLS. :fing02: