Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Technical, Bike forums > Equipping the Bike - what's the best gear?
Equipping the Bike - what's the best gear? Anything to do with the bikes equipment, saddlebags, etc. Questions on repairs and maintenance of the bike itself belong in the Brand Specific Tech Forums.
Photo by Daniel Rintz, Himba children, Namibia

The only impossible journey
is the one
you never begin

Photo by Daniel Rintz,
Himba children, Namibia



Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 28 Nov 2006
Shells's Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Travelling in Australia
Posts: 175
Chain splitter - do I need one?

Having searched previous threads (and been involved in some), I know that when it comes to chains, views differ.

I am doing a short trip (2,5 weeks) to Morocco and Mauritania, not planning to do much riding in the sand. Also, not riding all the way down from London, rather am vanning the bike to Malaga and riding from there and back.

I am not taking a spare chain with me, and am deciding on spares.
A chain splitter has been mentioned, but I'm not convinced
(doesn't a flat head screw driver and a pair of pliers do the job? Or is that only relevant for bicycles?)
Is it worth taking one?

And, controversially, is carrying a bag full of extra chain links worth while?

I was actually just planning to make sure the chain was tensioned properly and was well lubed... but now everyone's getting excited about spares and special tools and... you know how it goes
__________________
If you don't have bugs in your teeth, you haven't been grinning enough!
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 28 Nov 2006
Shells's Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Travelling in Australia
Posts: 175
Chain splitter

Yay for Paddy! Thank you!

Tyres new(ish)
Battery reliable
Chain and sproket replaced under 1K miles ago

Think I'll pack the master link, clip and a small length of spare chain and be done with it.

So, will WD40 be sufficient then?

Thanks for chain adjustment tips - noted!
__________________
If you don't have bugs in your teeth, you haven't been grinning enough!
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 29 Nov 2006
Mr. Ron's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Vancouver, BC, for now...
Posts: 792
Talking

+1 WD-40. I'm a huge fan! Don't forget to replace the retaining clip for your master link in the proper direction, or you will loose it!
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 29 Nov 2006
maria41's Avatar
The franglais-riders
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: UK
Posts: 1,175
Smile funny i asked similar questions on monday ...

Had my motorcycle mechanics course last monday evening and was chatting to our instructor about my chain.
Advice from teachers: don't use WD40, only to clean the chain. Maintain the chain clean. Take a small tooth brush. Take a mixture of graphite (or any multi purpose) grease, mix with EP80 oil (Extreme pressure) until the mixture is runny but not too liquid. Apply to the chain with the toth brush. Remove excess mixture from the chain with a rag as the excess will spread to you back wheal etc once you start riding.
Apply often and maintain the chain. Apparently your chain will last well. Don't bother with special purpose spray chain pots. Expensive and no better.
Check the sprocket / chain contact where it is at the most tense(back of the bike). Try to pull the chain back. If you can, the chain is starting to go and will need replacement.
If you don't have EP80 oil just apply the grease.

I agree with what was said above, once yor chain start to go it will go very quickly and will eat up both sprockets! It happened to me last september on my way to Portugal. So don't make same mistake. Check your chain every time you plan a longish day ride. It takes 2 seconds and save you lots of hassle!
__________________
Maria

www.franglais-riders.com
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 29 Nov 2006
Shells's Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Travelling in Australia
Posts: 175
Mechanics course

Hi Maria,
Thanks for your thoughts.
I was wondering about your mechanics course. I have looked into a few, but they all seem to extend over months (going once a week). Is yours a shorter one?
Ideally I would like to find one that runs over a fw weekends and just get it sorted.
__________________
If you don't have bugs in your teeth, you haven't been grinning enough!
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 29 Nov 2006
maria41's Avatar
The franglais-riders
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: UK
Posts: 1,175
Smile Merton college

Hi Shells!

My current course (advanced Motorcycle mechanics) lasts about 2 terms (around 20 weeks). The one I did last year was 3 terms (around 30 weeks) . BUT the college organises lots of 1-term (10 weeks) evening classes. Check their website (http://www.merton.ac.uk) for details.

I certainly recommend it. ALthough courses are much more expensive than they used to be, but I believe it is general as the govt has reduced contributions to Adult education so all adult courses a ££££ now!

Are you coming tomorrow at the pub meet in Marble arch? We can discuss there.


See u!
__________________
Maria

www.franglais-riders.com
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 30 Nov 2006
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia
Posts: 1,362
Even new chains and sprockets can get damaged by rocks and logs. Picked up and run between the sprocket and chain can do a fair amount of damage..

A chain breaker, some master links and a short section of chain will get you out of most problems. But if you’re confident you would pick up any thing then .. It does not happen often. You have to judge the weight/size against the probability / inconvenience..

And a motorcycle chain will break your screw driver and damage your pair of pliers if you try. Could be worth the sacrifice?
__________________
---
Regards Frank Warner
motorcycles BMW R80 G/S 1981, BMW K11LT 1993, BMW K75 G/S
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 30 Nov 2006
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Idaho, USA
Posts: 212
Based on my experience during a rtw ride last year, I have a different take on chain breakers than the opinions above, and certainly different than I had before that ride. In about 35 years of riding I had never previously experienced a broken chain and debated with myself about taking a chain breaker on the ride. Based on the length of the ride and the remoteness of some of the area I would be in, I decided to do so, and am enormously glad that I did. The chain breaker turned out to be one of the few tools I actually needed - the only other ones were tools to change or repair a tube, a couple of medium sized (12 - 13 mm) wrenches because of damage to a pannier mount in a crash, and pliers to install chain master link clips. I didn't take a spare chain, but rather several master links and a length (about 6 links) of spare chain.

During this trip my chain broke three times, despite being new when I set out (as were the sprockets). The first break was only about 1/3 of the way into the ride (which was 12,665 miles total). Each time the master link broke, two of the three times the side plates being sheared in half. The first time there was so much distortion of the remaining pieces that I couldn't simply push the master link pins out and had to use the chain breaker to do it. The second time, in addition to the same damage, the chain got run over by a truck before I could run back and retrieve it from the road, and I also had to use the chain breaker to remove the links damaged from this. With the third break I didn't need the breaker.

This experience changed my perspecive on chains and chain breakers and I now carry one when on a trip of any significant length. They don't have to be large and very heavy - I use a small one made by Motion Pro. These problems may all have been due to a defective chain which began kinking before it first broke. It was a Krause Sidewinder with an advertised, very high, 14,000 lb tensile strength, which is why I chose it. I won't use one of these again - once burned is enough for me. So FWIW, that's my experience and opinion.

Mike
Idaho
www.rtwrider.net
__________________
Mike
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 30 Nov 2006
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: USA
Posts: 992
Mike,

Was it the master link that was giving way on your bike? If not, what was it? Do you know?
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 30 Nov 2006
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: montana usa
Posts: 547
Chasing after a dead chain in the road

LiketoRide I had to laugh at your description of trying to run back and rescue your chain in the road. I had something similar happen many years ago. My advice to people taking off on a trip is to run your same brand of chain for a while before you take off and see how it wears in. Where I work I have seen some really bad brand new chains that came with new bikes. When I run in mud and sloppy weather I lube the heck out of my chains. Maybe I am just a bit cheap but I got tired of ruining a chain in 10K km. I have run a chain as far as 50,000 miles and the last one I rode up the dempster and other fun roads is still working 3 years later(sold the bike) mainly because I had a drip oiler that was a bit messy but kept the chain alive. I would leave some other things home and take a complete spare chain for out of the way travel.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 30 Nov 2006
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia
Posts: 1,362
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill Ryder
I would leave some other things home and take a complete spare chain for out of the way travel.
That is a fair bit of weigh to carry. But I know some who do that. Or a spare dirve shaft on a bm.

Agree on the chain breaker size thing - it does not have to be a workshop sized tool, one I had was about 1 inch square and 1/2 an inch deep. Use spanners on it to get the leverage.

Even if you don't take a chain breaker - take some spare links ... seen one brazed together on a Sunday in a remote location - survived back to the city.
__________________
---
Regards Frank Warner
motorcycles BMW R80 G/S 1981, BMW K11LT 1993, BMW K75 G/S
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 30 Nov 2006
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: the netherlands
Posts: 266
Leave the chainbraker at home, just bring a small hacksaw instead...and a master-link and some chain links (same brand!) of course. With patience this can be used and has other purposes too! If you are a lightweight, just the blade...


While travelling in SA my chain broke too, i started doing the just-blade-hacksaw-thing when i noticed a roadcrew doing maintenance.. Not long after the good old grinder came out and due to lack of masterlink the chain got welded into place, not sure what this did to the o-rings but aye I was driving again.....


I always use a spot of superglue or nail polish on the retaining clip to help keeping it in place, facing the correct direction also helps BTW.


Leave home with a new set of STEEL sprockets and quality chain (like DID) and you will have no worries!
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 1 Dec 2006
Shells's Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Travelling in Australia
Posts: 175
Ha! Love this! Leave it/take it/leave it...

So, Gozell,
...what you are recommending is that I pack:
a hacksaw blade,
a master link,
new chain links (of course),
a grinder,
a welder (oxyacetaline?)
and some nail polish?

__________________
If you don't have bugs in your teeth, you haven't been grinning enough!
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 1 Dec 2006
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: USA
Posts: 992
Start with a fresh quality chain and sprockets...and then just ride the doo-doo outta it for that 2 1/2 weeks.
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 1 Dec 2006
Mr. Ron's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Vancouver, BC, for now...
Posts: 792
Talking

Quote:
Originally Posted by mollydog
High pressure water WILL damage your chain. Never, ever spray your chain at an Auto Wash place.
This is the best piece of info provided yet! NEVER wash your chain, or the rest of your bike with high preassure water. Water gets driven past the seals into the bearings, and they will fail prematurely. It only takes a minute amount to contaminate the lubricant, then its f**ked!
I will aslo stand up for WD-40. All the chains on my dirtbikes easily outlasted my buddies chains. They all used wax, oil, etc.... In the dirt, this is all useless! You grind out the o-rings with grit and water enters the rollers= premature failure. Keep it kleen, strait and properly tensioned and all will be okay. Personally, i've gone to shaftdrive. I'd rather tear down the BMW every 10k and lube it than scrub a chain every day
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Africa twin Chain Life mattpope Honda Tech 15 3 May 2019 19:54
Should I bother with spare chain/sprockets? ianbaker Equipping the Bike - what's the best gear? 31 20 Jan 2008 04:05
Chain luber Bill Ryder Equipping the Bike - what's the best gear? 0 1 Aug 2004 22:28
Dominator chain in Dakar KenKeller North Africa 2 24 Jul 2002 02:23
Chain Adjustment sjbarrow Yamaha Tech 2 16 May 2001 14:06

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now
, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

HU Event and other updates on the HUBB Forum "Traveller's Advisories" thread.
ALL Dates subject to change.

2024:

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

HUBBUK: info

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.




All times are GMT +1. The time now is 10:11.