CHAIN REPLACEMENT

I have a 1993 VFR and I am wondering how many miles it usually is before the chain and sprockets need to be replaced?

On my 4th gen, I changed every 22k miles
but it really depends on how you take care of your chain (tension/lube) and riding (smooth or hammering it, including wheelies)

if you do all the wrong things, I guess 6k miles can destroy a chain.....

This seems to vary widely. I've heard of chains and sprockets lasting 50,000 miles with regular cleaning and lube but that is on the higher end of what's possible. 25,000 miles might be a reasonable average.  It is my belief that highway miles are easier on the chain whereas a lot of stop and go seems to wear them faster. But regular cleaning is thesingle  biggest factor affecting life.

here is one done yesterday   :tour:

[image: Posted Image]

About 25-30k is normal for me.  If you aren't planning on changing the sprockets the easiest way to put the new chain on is to grind the rivets off one of the links of the old chain somewhere near the rear sprocket and remove the pin that holds the individual links links together. Separate the chain and then use the same pin you removed to connect one end of the new chain to one end of the old chain.  You can then move the wheel by hand to move the chain forward and around the front sprocket.  Once you have it around the sprocket and under the swingarm you can pull the pin out and get ride of the old chain.  Then just connect the two ends of the new chain with your new masterlink and pin.  If you plan on changing out the sprockets too I highly recommend steel sprockets over aluminum.

Rollin

[image: View Post]Dutchy, on 06 September 2012 - 03:15 PM, said:

here is one done yesterday   :tour:

[image: Posted Image]

Is that an aluminum rear sprocket, Dutchy??
Tell us yes and we'll give you a hard time about it! :tongue:

Beck
95 VFR

C49 high carbon steel..... Aparently.  Make is JT

Trust it to be good. ;-)

Thanks to everyone who replied to my question I have about 17,000 km (10,500 mi)on mine and it looks good that is why I asked.

I've done the chain twice.  Both at about 20K-25K miles and I am fairly gentle on the chain but not religious at cleaning and lubing it.  Keep checking the sprocket and chain adjustments.  When mine needed replacement the sprockets looked OK and the chain adjustment was well within spec but I developed a "knocking" noise at low speed that I attributed to a frozen or stiff link.