Chain Lifespan & Noise

[Red01]

The clip style is probably OK on the B6... I used them on my GS750. Some even use them on B12's, but I'm not that trusting with that much power on tap.

[fake]

How much does a new chain cost?

[Red01]

~$100 to $150 for a quality X-ring chain depending on where you buy it.

[tbot]

My chain is done. One adjustment tick mark left, as someone wrote, "some wont follow the others."  It is noisy and I can hear the sticky spot at low speed despite plenty of lubrication. I can also feel it when I put the bike on the center stand.

Which chain do I get?

1. D.I.D. CHAINS 530 ZVM X-RING GENUINE SPECIALTY CHAIN
2. D.I.D. CHAINS 530 VM GOLD PREMIUM X-RING CHAIN

You guys seem to be hooked on D.I.D. chains, what about EK or Regina?
Do I replace the sprockets too? The rear looks OK, not great.

How long will this project take?

I'd rather avoid this whole project. Aw well.

[Red01]

I squeezed 15K miles out of the stock chain, but it should have been replaced sooner. I replaced it with a DID VM. I replaced it 21K later. I probably could have left on longer, but I was getting ready for a 4-day trip and didn't want to chance any chain problems away from any metro area. I replaced it with a ZVM, but that one's only been on for a couple thou, so it's too early to tell if it will outlast the VM or not.

If you use a chain luber, you will get more miles out of a chain than any of the spray-on lubes or waxes.

Unless the sprockets look GREAT, replace them both.

I can't speak good or bad about other brands since I don't have any experience with them. DID's came recommended to me years ago and I've always stuck with them. I've seen on other sites that DID is the brand with the most "highly recommended" comments, so I've never had a reason to risk using something else.

[tbot]

Paul,

The DID website says nothing about a VM for a B12, just the VZM. The site also said that a VM is for bikes up to 1000cc. I only bring this up because I want to try the VM, $40 bucks cheaper and the 20K miles you got is just fine with me.

Also, is 110 links the right length?

There are quite a few 520 conversion kits out there, but I have yet to find the b12 sprockets listed, including the vortex site.

[Red01]

110 is right for stock gearing, or +/-1T up front.

Yes, I have a rivet tool. Mine is simpler than that one, but that one is fine - and that looks like a good price.

One thing I don't like about the DID charts is how they rate in engine size, not power. A 1000cc sportbike needs a stronger chain than a 1000cc cruiser and the B12 is somewhere in between those two - and closer to what a 600 sportbike puts out in HP (more torque though).

Without question, the ZVM is stronger than the VM, but the VM is still stronger than most other companies premium chain (or at least was a few years ago when I compared the VM to other brands) and is more than up to the task of handling what the average B12 is gonna throw at it. FWIW, the VM has the same wear rating and a higher strength rating as DID's ERV racing chain that top pro road racers use.

[tbot]

Bought the tool and a VM chain. Gonna wait and until I get a bit deeper into this project before I decide on sprockets. Upon closer inspection the rear looks fine. I think the chain is the stock original at 24K...Yikes! It has nothing left to give.

[RA Bandit]

Just replaced my OEM chain which lasted 21,000 miles before starting to clunk out... no damage to sprockets but replaced anyway with JT front and rear since they're relatively inexpensive -- and my style of riding didn't appear to tax them as much as the chain, which is the far spendier proposition.

Got the DID ZVM 530 110 link cain from Chaparral for $128.70, which included USPS Priority Mail shipping.

[Daytona]

What a great thing this Forum is.... But i can't believe what big differences there are for the same bike and most times, the same year's!! I know we aren't fits all, as far as size weight etc, some ride hills, i ride flat straight FL stuff... But some get 15k out of a tire (rear) I'm bragin when i  got 7500 on my longest lasting of any, stinko rear tire, which i was puckering on the last 200 miles!!! Brake pads! some got 35 & 50k from a stock set! i got to change my rears every other tire change and they are sintered!!! Chains which i'm reading on this post! some got 25k and used nothing but WD40!! I lube and clean mine too much i guess and thought i did great to get 22k on a top of the line DID zvm'x that makes me sick to see what they fetch on ebay now! I also get about 35 to 38 mpg and i geared my 1g b12 16f/43r so it turns 4200 and that's @ 80mph... Others ride the rear wheel only and get 50mpg $$$ Can some one please help me!!!    

[Red01]

You must ride harder than some of us, daytona.
16/43? Maybe your mpg sucks because you're below the engine's sweet spot?

[Daytona]

Yep maybe! The rpm/mph is just rite i think. I do 20 miles ea way to work and back on the super slab, and I'm still trying to find that 6th gear! Front wheel will still come up in second if you get a hand full and twist it!! All the other stuff?? A few mpg/mph/miles on tires,chains/b-pads can be explained!!! Some vary by over 150% from one to another.. The prob is I'm on the sh*t end of the spectrum !!!    

[Daytona]

Man can this stuff get confusing! http://www.canyonchasers.net/shop/generic/chain.php   The chain thing is deep... http://www.quality-cycle.com/truth_about_motorcycle_chains.htm  Could it be we want the piece of mind of bigger is better. It seems like I'm cleaning and lubeing the x or o ring as much as the non's of old... I don't do any long trips which i think the sealed chain was made for, allowing extended lubrication intervals... Anyone know for sure why its taboo to use the non sealed when one came on the bike?

[Red01]

It's not taboo. Racers do it all the time because non-sealed chains are lighter.

Unless you like changing chains though, a street bike is better off using an X-ring chain for maximum life.

[Vlad]

For the 600's I read you measure 21 pins on the chain and if it is over 319.4 mm replace your chain.   Measure several places on the length of your chain.

Exactly the same for 1200 of any year, according to the haynes manual.