How long should a chain last on a 200 bhp superbike?
Discussion
Useful input. The standard chain has a couple of tight spots.
I didn't realise going to a smaller front sprocket would change (worsen) wear rate. I did it that way rather than going bigger at the back as my default setting is 'less is more' where weight is concerned and it seemed right to reduce the weight of the drive train rather than increase it.
The amount of miles the bike will do means i'll just get a new chain soon and forget about it. I use other vehicles mainly so i doubt it will do 4,000 miles a year.
I didn't realise going to a smaller front sprocket would change (worsen) wear rate. I did it that way rather than going bigger at the back as my default setting is 'less is more' where weight is concerned and it seemed right to reduce the weight of the drive train rather than increase it.
The amount of miles the bike will do means i'll just get a new chain soon and forget about it. I use other vehicles mainly so i doubt it will do 4,000 miles a year.
Abdul Abulbul Amir said:
Depends on the power of the bike, how you ride and how you look after it (plus I guess the quality of the chain and sprockets).
I sold my Sprint ST1050 on the original chain and sprockets at 41,000. Looked hardly worn.
41,000? Amazing.I sold my Sprint ST1050 on the original chain and sprockets at 41,000. Looked hardly worn.
I've yet to see 20,000 miles on any bike i've owned.
fastbikes76 said:
I’m on 3900 miles on original chain on my 2010 B-King, I’ve not touched it since buying the bike 8 months ago at 2200 miles. Chain hasn’t needed to be touched yet and is still correctly tensioned.
On the other hand the wife’s 2020 GSX-S 125 is on 3000 miles and the original chain is absolute toast !
Have you seen the chain on a King. You could hold a ship with it. It’s huge! It’s built for torque. Also, the King being a torquey bike does get ridden at low revs more than you think. Mine was on 32k miles and still had half its life left. Original chain and I did drag racing and track days on it On the other hand the wife’s 2020 GSX-S 125 is on 3000 miles and the original chain is absolute toast !
BroadsRS6 said:
Clean and lube yes, for sure. No i'm not the most attentive rider where mechanical sympathy is king. But the chain is done in 4,000 miles.
How do you clean it? This can make a vast difference to life - what gets it cleanest looking (washing with something like petrol) will also kill it quicker.BroadsRS6 said:
Useful input. The standard chain has a couple of tight spots.
I didn't realise going to a smaller front sprocket would change (worsen) wear rate. I did it that way rather than going bigger at the back as my default setting is 'less is more' where weight is concerned and it seemed right to reduce the weight of the drive train rather than increase it.
The amount of miles the bike will do means i'll just get a new chain soon and forget about it. I use other vehicles mainly so i doubt it will do 4,000 miles a year.
Plus is it cheaper and you can use your original chain. Going bigger on the back is a more pricey sprocket and often means the chain is not long enough. I didn't realise going to a smaller front sprocket would change (worsen) wear rate. I did it that way rather than going bigger at the back as my default setting is 'less is more' where weight is concerned and it seemed right to reduce the weight of the drive train rather than increase it.
The amount of miles the bike will do means i'll just get a new chain soon and forget about it. I use other vehicles mainly so i doubt it will do 4,000 miles a year.
With respect, I doubt the power of your bike, you’re riding style (which I am sure is God like) nor the tooth off the front sprocket is the reason you have a chain problem (if indeed you do), it’s 99.9% going to be down to poor cleaning / lubing/ maintaining it.
BroadsRS6 said:
NB.
The sprocket at the front is 1 tooth less than standard, which makes the whole riding experience way better. But could that increase chain wear?
Yes, a smaller sprocket will increase the chain wear. The chain is having to make a tighter turn and the load from the sprocket is spread over a smaller number of links.The sprocket at the front is 1 tooth less than standard, which makes the whole riding experience way better. But could that increase chain wear?
black-k1 said:
Yes, a smaller sprocket will increase the chain wear. The chain is having to make a tighter turn and the load from the sprocket is spread over a smaller number of links.
In addition to this, I remember hearing the number of front sprocket teeth should be considered with the number of rear sprocket teeth and chain links as the wrong combination can result in the same chain links meeting the same teeth resulting in premature wear (e.g. a worn or damaged tooth meeting the same link too frequently rather than spreading the wear across the whole chain) Might be worth looking into if you've changed your front sprocket.I'm not sure how true it is or not though. Maybe someone on here can confirm or deny it if its BS.
bluezedd said:
black-k1 said:
Yes, a smaller sprocket will increase the chain wear. The chain is having to make a tighter turn and the load from the sprocket is spread over a smaller number of links.
In addition to this, I remember hearing the number of front sprocket teeth should be considered with the number of rear sprocket teeth and chain links as the wrong combination can result in the same chain links meeting the same teeth resulting in premature wear (e.g. a worn or damaged tooth meeting the same link too frequently rather than spreading the wear across the whole chain) Might be worth looking into if you've changed your front sprocket.I'm not sure how true it is or not though. Maybe someone on here can confirm or deny it if its BS.
Tango13 said:
bluezedd said:
black-k1 said:
Yes, a smaller sprocket will increase the chain wear. The chain is having to make a tighter turn and the load from the sprocket is spread over a smaller number of links.
In addition to this, I remember hearing the number of front sprocket teeth should be considered with the number of rear sprocket teeth and chain links as the wrong combination can result in the same chain links meeting the same teeth resulting in premature wear (e.g. a worn or damaged tooth meeting the same link too frequently rather than spreading the wear across the whole chain) Might be worth looking into if you've changed your front sprocket.I'm not sure how true it is or not though. Maybe someone on here can confirm or deny it if its BS.
BroadsRS6 said:
Does anyone change chains way before the recommended time? It may be my less than kind riding style and inherent riding laziness, but i've devoured the 1299 chain very quickly.
I lubed the chain right after every ride/80 miles on my R1, K6 1000 and S1000RR. They were still all done by around 8k miles. A Ducati dealer told me the 1299 is one of the worst for eating rear tyres, perhaps it's the same on chains. We'll see.
Walter Sobchak said:
I remember being told that a modern chain will manage to last about 8000 miles without lube or maintenance, don’t know how much truth there is to that but I’d probably expect a chain to last anywhere in the region of 10-20k miles if adjusted when needed, lubed etc.
I reckon there’s some truth to that. Mileage sounds about right on lubed based on my last twoGassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff