Speaking of maintenance and longevity, I just took my chain off after 42,000Km of hard riding. I expected it to be pretty much at the end of life (have a new one ready), but after I washed it I found out that it's still well under what Haynes manual prescribes as the "stretch limit" (31.9cm in 21). Not only that, but it's visually indistinguishable from the piece of the same chain I cut off to make it the right length before installation. The pin from the master link (the one you need to push out to remove the chain) is not worn or pitted at all - it's barely polished on one side. The O rings are in perfect shape too. The only component of the entire system that shows any signs of wear is the front sprocket, but even it would be fine if I just turned it around. If I didn't know, I would swear that this chain has no more than 10,000Km on it, and if I didn't already have a new one I'd put it right back in for at least another 10,000Km.
Chain: 530 D.I.D. ZVM2
Sprockets: steel AFAM
Maintenance: Lubed exclusively with Dupont Teflon multi-use lubricant. Cleaned only once in 42,000Km. Adjusted only at rear tire change (10-15,000Km).
Damn, I must be doing something (very) right! :)