Need Chain for Tiger800XC in Guatemala
 

The connecting link on my chain broke the other day just outside Rabinal, Guatemala. I was taking the route less traveled with an overloaded bike. I had an extra repair link with me and with the help of some locals was moving again in two hours.

I am now in Antigua, Gua. and I speak little useful Spanish. What I am looking for is someone one in the area who would have a new chain. The Specs section of the owner's manual, it says:

DID O-ring, 122 link (Tiger 800 XC).

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Johnny Hubbard
jjhubbard51@gmail.com
jjhubbard51laa.blogspot.com

you have a 525 chain, try suzuki or Yamaha, nobody else has it, aint gonna be cheap. try ebay or amazon first.

cheers

Taz

Moto Mundo

and

Moto Punto

are both SSE of the ciudad de Guatemala guestimating 100 to 120kms from you.

Triumph dealer in Guate City
Triumph Guatemala


Suzuki dealer in GC
http://www.amarillasinternet.com/suzukiguatemala/


There are also a few bike shops next to the bus terminal right here in Antigua.

Hola Gentelmen,

I have taken the bike to Taz at Motomundo here in Antigua. I will keep you posted on this experience.

Johnny

Should be available chain of your size in Guatemala City
where there are scores of bike shops ,mostly the smaller and Chinese models,
but there are dealers for European and Japanese brands too.
Look in Zona4 Zona 1 boundary , find the big tower over Av 6 and you are
in the heart of bike shop district.
When getting the new O ring chain have it fitted with a RIVET MASTERLINK
and you will not loose it ever.

Your chain is a 525, right? Available almost anywhere, anytime? No problem finding one for delivery to you in Antigua within a day, or wherever else you're headed.

Arguments about rivets vs. clips can go on for months without resolving anything. Just make sure you get a major brand x-ring or o-ring and a good mechanic. Watch carefully and you'll see that you could have done it yourself without stress if you carried a chain tool. Think about that if you'll still be on the road for a bit. I usually buy a replacement chain when the time grows near, carry it for a while, then install as needed.

Mark

I'm surprised the Triumph came with a clip masterlink. Haven't seen one of those since my XR days.

Maybe you haven't but I have. I use them consistently on several bikes, and they don't fail (if installed correctly). But I'm guessing that probably the clip link was on a replacement chain, not the original Triumph part.

The fact of many prior discussions (i.e., arguments) on the subject indicates that lots of riders out there use lots of clip links. They're not at all unusual.

I hope the OP came out of this happy with whatever the solution. More to the point, I hope he's planning to carry a chain tool from this point on. I've never thrown a motorbike chain, but I once dropped a chain on my mountain bike, and that experience convinced me to always carry a breaker and link install tool for whatever chained vehicle I was using.

Mark

Hi Mark, I too, have never had one fail, it's just that on bigger bikes these days you literally don't see a clip type. I much prefer the clip type, but those masterlinks are getting harder to find around here. All are the press type soft rivet variety. Wonder how Mr. Hubbard is doing??

Suzuki, Yamaha, and Honda dont have 1, Triumph does not even have 1 spare part for their bikes. Motopolis has a chain but only 120 link, but were very helpful. I will order in 525 chains, so in the future we will have them here.
Cheers

Taz

tools
 

Riding in the countryside between Tarija and Yacuiba, in southern Bolivia, my chain broke. No spare and more importantly, no chain breaker tool. Miles and miles from anything like a village... After some time two young guys fix the broken chain with a Philips head screw driver, a hammer and a box wrench. We used a rock to tap the pin most of the way out of the broken link, while the box wrench held the link above the rock... Later with the chain positioned on the gears, I found a log, placed it against the chain and the pin was tapped back in. I am still riding on the same chain, ~10,000 miles later, but it is due to be replaced.

Two days later, in Tarija, I bought a chain breaker tool and a spare chain a couple of weeks later on a visit to the US.

You can fix a rivet chain with the most basic tools, but I suggest having a chain tool in your kit. It makes life a lot easier.

The discussion between clip on the one hand and rivet on the other hand became obsolete when the endless chain came to the market some half century ago. It does not take a rocket scientist to remove the swingarm for installation and the swingarm bearings will love to be cleaned and greased at that rare opportunity, which is neglected otherwise only to cause premature wear and tear.
Cheers
Chris

With clip links make sure the two sharp ends are pointing towards the rear........
This stops rocks or branches opening the clip as you ride along :thumbup1:

maybe that's because the dealerships generally sign agreements regarding what parts they are allowed to install on branded bikes. importing parts into the 3rd world is bloody expensive. and spending a boatload of money on parts, shipping and duties doesn't make financial sense just so the random adv guy/gal can buy a part or two every six months.