520 chains: O-ring, X-ring or NON O-ring

[bacardi23]

Hey guys!

I'm looking into getting a new chain for my 1990 XT600E...

Right now, on ebay there is a very short list of sellers with some absurd prices!


What are the main differences between NON O-ring, O-ring and X-ring?

-lubrication
-cleaning
-strength
-wear life

And, are those no brand X-ring chains as good as brands such as DID, RK, etc?
Will a NON O-ring chain last as long as the other types if taken really good care of?




Vando

[bacardi23]

Also, there are some HD 520 X-Ringchains with 38000 N (about 8500lbs)... any info on that?

[Huan]

DID XW x- rings are the best for longevity, the RK x-rings don't seem to last as long.
Same with the O-ring chains
Don't bother with a non-sealed chain on your XT, the torque and power pulses on a thumper make short work of non sealed chains, they are mainly used for racing purposes where drag is lost HP.
There is a few good sellers try MOT-TEI Motorradteile
He seems to have good prices on chains

[Jens Eskildsen]

What he said.


Buy this: DID VX2! Kettensatz Kettenkit Yamaha XT600 XT 600 E K Z - eBay (item 350456693813 end time Jun-17-11 13:10:52 PDT)

[bacardi23]

Thanks!

Huan: I guess you're right on the non sealed ones.

I know nothing about those other chains lol. this is the very first kit I'm going to buy for my XT.
I've never changed sprockets nor chain before and the bike now has about 40k km...


Jens: Thanks for the ebay item. I just sent the guy a question about the shipping costs to my island


Now it's just a question of time...Dunno if I'll ride the bike with the current chain and sprockets so I can buy the Continental TrailAttacks first or not..

I'm heading back home on Sunday and I'ma start taking pictures of the spare parts I got for sale at home in hope I can sell it all and buy the chain kit, tires, braided brake lines and the waved brake rotors...

Anyone interested in some YZ-WR stuff such as swingarm, rear shock, rear shock dogbones, rear wheel hub and disc brake rotor, rear brake caliper??


BTW Jens, how are you waved discs behaving?


Vando

[bacardi23]

Well, the ebay guy says he doesn't ship to the Azores...

I've asked if can ship to mainland Portugal instead and he still hasn't answered...


I've just done something I might regret a bit.
I've bid on this item:

X-Ring Kette SFR 520 118 Glieder black YZ/CR/KX/RMZ/KTM - eBay (item 370514550317 end time Jun-05-11 11:12:27 PDT)

It's for an X-ring chain but by the item description it looks like a very weak chain unless the seller might've misspelled.. it's either 3400kg or 34000N hopefully... and not the 3400N he has listed...

He is listing another item like this one but it's a complete kit for an KTM LC2 and the EXC... so if it can handle those bikes, it can surely take on the XT lol

Anyway, I'll see what happens and hopefully I WON'T get the chain!


Vando

[bacardi23]

Well, I've been reading quite a lot these past few days about chains...

About half an hour ago I stumbled across this website:

Facts you should no about Motorcycle Chains!

Well, to sum up, the BEST chain out there ( in it's price range ) is the RK XSO series, namely, the RK 520 XSO for the XT600E.
It costs about 50USD in the US!

So, If you're in the US, GET ONE! lol

I just wished I had the money right now to get it...


Vando

[-ralph-]

Bacardi

This is the chain and sprockets I have on mine

1 x Afam 21504-14 Steel front sprocket - 14t (this is one tooth less than standard)
for Yamaha XT600 (2002)
at £15.25

1 x Afam 12505-45 Steel rear sprocket - 45t
for Yamaha XT600 (2002)
at £25.49

1 x Renthal 520R3-106 520 Renthal R3 O ring chain - 106 links
at £52.49

DELIVERY = £ 4.99 (to United Kingdom)

ORDER TOTAL = £98.22

The link to the chain is here

Renthal 520 R3-2 Chain

The XT only has 43bhp, though it does power pulse a lot. Any O ring chain from a reputable manufacturer will be fine, so long as it is the right size. Renthal, DID, Tsubaki and AFAM are all decent brands. You can put an X-ring on, but it's just extra money for no benefit on an XT IMO. Consider whether your sprockets need changed as worn sprockets will reduce the life of a new chain. I always change the full chain and sprocket set, but then I only do 3-4000 miles per year on the bike, so it costs me an extra 40 pounds every 4 years or so, 10 pounds per year is nothing! If you are using the bike off-road consider an off-road chain like the one I have posted above.

If you are struggling to get stuff shipped to the Azores, and you can send to the Azores though the post office in the UK, I would be happy to let you use my UK address as a shipping address, and take the stuff to the post office for you and send it. You'd just need to paypal the shipping cost to me.

[bacardi23]

Ahoy!

Sorry, been away for a few days!
So, I'm back at the island and hadn't had any time to come here yet! :|

It seems like a managed to dodge a bullet with that ebay bid lol

I'm still thinking whether I should buy the chain kit right now or the tires or anything as I'm running low on €€€ lol


Ralph: I just might do that when I get to buy the Venhill front brake line for my 2002 YZ250 front end as the ebay seller won't ship it anywhere else besides the UK..


As far as the chain from the link Jens gave... the seller wants 18.5€ for shipping to MAINLAND Portugal and only by DHL Premium and it should be something like an extra 15 to 20€ to have it shipped here to the island (Portuguese post office are "thieves" I tell ya)...

So either I take Ralph's offer and ship it to him so he can reship it to me is about the same (money wise)...

Thing is, I can get both my tires shipped to mainland Portugal for about 126€ total which is almost the same price as the chainkit..


Either good chainkit and completely "slick" (about to see the wires) rear tire that I have now lol
OR
Good tires and a bad chain (sprockets are actually not that bad)...


I'm gonna take a few more days to think about it..

Thanks guys!


Vando

[oldbmw]

I just wish I had the space to fit O ring chain to my Enfield. It craps out an Indian made chain in 4,000 miles and the better european ones barely manage 6k

[bacardi23]

convert yourself to XT fan?? :P

how come there isn't no space to fit an o-ring chain? that's weird... :S

[Socks]

Here is my personal take on the chain and sprockets.

Value of good chain on old sprockets is nil.

A new chain that should be run in as they start wearing and stretching from day one, will by the very nature of the forces involved wear into what ever it runs across ie, old worn sprockets will force the new chain to comply to the teeth as they are, what ever state that might be. This will half the life of what was a good chain (even the very best of chains). I always go the whole way and purchase all three items every time. I learnt the hard way! and the hard way, I now understand cost me more in the long run.

I hope you can wait just that little longer and save the $.

Best of luck.

Socks

[Trichelia]

Originally Posted by -ralph-

Bacardi

This is the chain and sprockets I have on mine

1 x Afam 21504-14 Steel front sprocket - 14t (this is one tooth less than standard)
for Yamaha XT600 (2002)
at £15.25

1 x Afam 12505-45 Steel rear sprocket - 45t
for Yamaha XT600 (2002)
at £25.49

1 x Renthal 520R3-106 520 Renthal R3 O ring chain - 106 links
at £52.49

Guys Im also in the market for a set, I think.

Ive got the Xt600E, 2002, it has done 4,000 miles on tarmac, to and from the office, sensible riding, no hammering from light to light. The sprockets arent worn, however the chain is probably not in great shape due to rubbish weather and the bike being parked up outside under a bikecover.

I was planning on replacing before my africa trip.

By the way, I have the original yamaha bits on the bike.

- Should both sprockets and the chain be replaced, or just the chain ? (Socks)
- Should I buy sprockets with the same number of teeth as the originals ?
- Suggestions on good durable sprockets ?

Vando, hope Im not stepping on you toes here.

Thanks

[bacardi23]

Don't worry, I know. It's cool!

This is why I created this thread!

Actually the other guy from the brake lines should've done the same on that other thread I made...


Anyway, 4000 miles on tarmac, unless you've never cleaned and lubed you're chain it should still be MINT!

My chainkit has only started stretching in the last 1000km and now it has about 40 000 km on it and only now it needs replacing as some chainlinks don't even move at all without applying quite some force on'em...
Bare in mind that I don't ride gently! lol


Still, you can get the new chainkit for your trip and swap it back after your trip is done just to be on the safe side...


I'll be getting the RK XSO with 15-47 JT sprockets and probably have my grandparents bring them with them when they come for the summer vacations...


Vando

[Socks]

Hi Steve,

-Should both sprockets and the chain be replaced, or just the chain ?

Personally, the trip you are planning I would go for new chain and sprockets (always)

- Should I buy sprockets with the same number of teeth as the originals ?

Yep stick with the original (again my point of view) Yamaha kind of know what they are doing when fitting these bits on. Plus one might concider the stress on the well know gearbox problems Although I do'nt know which xt you ride. Along with the wieght I assume you will be carrying.

- Suggestions on good durable sprockets ?

Several sound recommendations can be seen in posts above.

I would go with Vando's surgestion of new now and store old chain in a tin of oil for you return! Is it an o-ring chain?

I was going to work on my xt Saturday, but as I have no garage, and with the weather forecast, perhaps not!
Steve, I'm just east of the City if you want pm me, I'm not a mechanic qaulified, but a few years of experiance, might be fun to chat.

Socks