Topic: Why am I getting 20,000 miles out of my 530 DID drive chain?

[Maraakate]

Drive chains are only supposed to last about 1000-2000 miles.  I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong here.  I've been doing what the owners manual says about checking it X amount of miles and actually I do it a bit more frequently (may be dangerous to do so??).  About every week or more if doing long rides I check the slack and adjust accordingly and I usually use some gear oil.

For some strange reason I got 20,000 miles on the same drive chain.  This can't be right.

Please tell me what I'm doing wrong.  Hondamans 750 book said most drive chains only get about 1000-2000 miles out of them.  Maybe it's a 750 thing?

[Don R]

 You obviously started with great parts and have superior techniques of maintaining your chain and sprockets. Let us know how long it lasts.

[Maraakate]

It lasted 20,000 miles boomer.  Hjalp?

[willbird]

Drive chains are only supposed to last about 1000-2000 miles.  I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong here.  I've been doing what the owners manual says about checking it X amount of miles and actually I do it a bit more frequently (may be dangerous to do so??).  About every week or more if doing long rides I check the slack and adjust accordingly and I usually use some gear oil.

For some strange reason I got 20,000 miles on the same drive chain.  This can't be right.

Please tell me what I'm doing wrong.  Hondamans 750 book said most drive chains only get about 1000-2000 miles out of them.  Maybe it's a 750 thing?

I think your tongue is firmly in your cheek as we say ?? I never had a chain wear out THAT quickly :-).

Bill

[Tracksnblades1]

I’ve had 1990 tech RK Oring chains easily go 12k with very spirited 750 riding..
My sons 2014 Honda CB1100 had 23,000 miles on the original RK chain
when he replaced it with another RK…He only rode it one way..🤫

Some “back in the day” used to use #50 Diamond chain originally designed for combines, hay balers, etc, on their CB750s. Those industrial type chains didn’t last long in the motorcycle applications. The lucky ones had to replace theirs because they were soon out of adjustment (out of pitch). The not so lucky ones were soon searching for the heli-arc welding shop..

Regina is another tough as can be motorcycle chain. Bought a CR250 years ago that had and still has the same 520 x ring Regina on it.. Maintenance..? It’s a CR usually mud, sand, dusty, water crossing, etc. Pressure wash it afterwards, blow it off dry and lube it before putting it up.. Got an 01 CR500 with a non oring 520 RK chain. It’s up to the task but it’s not a x ring Regina..

Besides the Regina I’ve always used what the manufacturer installed and warrantied their products with..

[Flyin900]

My 1983 CB1100F has 32K kilometers on the original O ring drive chain and sprockets so about 20K miles. All items are still in good serviceable condition. Yet I clean and lube with Chain Wax every 1000K kilometers.

Likely as previously noted, using quality parts to begin with and proper maintenance.

[Maraakate]

Dave, you mean using $30 kits and never lubing your chain might have something to do with only getting 1000-2000 miles out of it?  Say it isn't so!  I wonder why Mark claimed in his CB750 book that they only last that long.  Very strange.

[jaytee-nz]

Clearly, you have a problem with the opinions of other people.
If you are so right, why bother making these adversarial posts ?
You have nothing to prove because you are right, in your mind.

[Tracksnblades1]

Dave, you mean using $30 kits and never lubing your chain might have something to do with only getting 1000-2000 miles out of it?  Say it isn't so!  I wonder why Mark claimed in his CB750 book that they only last that long.  Very strange.

I’m playing catch up here. I don’t have any books except the ones published by Honda..

Surely he’s talking about the old Diamond #50 combine chains. These were generally used in-low speed
low horsepower agricultural applications. When used on a poorly tuned or tired 750 back in the 70’s they
didn’t last a 1000 miles. On a good running 750 they usually broke on the first clutch drop and wrapped up around the front sprocket and ventilated the cases..

[denward17]

He clearly has an axe to grind with this forum, or us "boomers" for some reason.

[willbird]

Dave, you mean using $30 kits and never lubing your chain might have something to do with only getting 1000-2000 miles out of it?  Say it isn't so!  I wonder why Mark claimed in his CB750 book that they only last that long.  Very strange.

I’m playing catch up here. I don’t have any books except the ones published by Honda..

Surely he’s talking about the old Diamond #50 combine chains. These were generally used in-low speed
low horsepower agricultural applications. When used on a poorly tuned or tired 750 back in the 70’s they
didn’t last a 1000 miles. On a good running 750 they usually broke on the first clutch drop and wrapped up around the front sprocket and ventilated the cases..

There was a fad for a bit of going to a large enough chain to be able to use the industrial chain. My CB750K2 had one of those on it when he passed away. It was worn out and I put new chain on used sprockets which did not last long either. When I took the bike down to bare frame and restored in in 1993 I put a proper O ring chain back on it then. Just recently put new chain and sprockets on it. Back in the day the #50 needed to be riveted at dealer. Chains have gotten a LOT stronger since then.

[Maraakate]

Clearly, you have a problem with the opinions of other people.
If you are so right, why bother making these adversarial posts ?
You have nothing prove because you are right, in your mind.

I'm just fed up with high count posters of a few select people perpetuating complete and total BS and having 20, 30, and 40 year olds believing their crap because they don't know any better.  It's wrong.

[bryanj]

1 I dont remember EVER commenting on chain lift

2 Life depends on
   A quality of chain
   B proper adjustment
   C quality and frequency of service
   D condition of sprockets

I have replaced chains that only went 1500 mile and others that lasted 10-15 000 miles(NOT KM)

I have also rebuilt 500 for new primary chain at 8000 miles where chain was toast and another at 80,000 miles where it was still usable

[Maraakate]

I said drive chain, not primary chain.

Yeah, crap $30 chain and sprocket sets will do that to ya.  I'm talking about real chains and decent sprockets.  For some reason Mark told everyone in his CB750 book they don't last long.  Which is wrong, of course.  But nobody challenges him on it?

[Rookster]

Wow!  I just did my daily check in to the forum and saw these posts.  Nice job Maraakate.  You already have 1 locked thread and your trending towards 2 others.  At least you are determined. 

Here is some advice that is worth what it cost: If you have an issue with something someone said then by all means address that person and your issue directly.  Posting sarcastic threads which may or may not allude to certain individuals is not effective. 

Scott

[Maraakate]

No that's a waste of time because these lies are perpetuated and everyone should know.  The lies won't change from these people and it will keep going and going and young people will continue to believe it and I feel that is wrong.  And it's why I left this forum years ago.  The only reason I am here now is because I needed a part and looked at the buy/sell and saw the same lies were still going on from the same people years later.  And that is wrong.

[seanbarney41]

Huh?, I have read Mark's book cover to cover, and referred back to it many times.  I don't remember anything about chains only lasting 1 or 2 k?  Are you sure you didn't miss a zero?  Or maybe Mark missed a zero?  Or the printer/editor missed a zero?  There are certainly such things as misprints.  Also, I don't agree with everything written in Mark's book, and I don't agree with everything in the Clymer manual.  FFS, the factory Honda manual is notoriously full of misleading translations and misprints and contradictions. 

Years ago, I found this clever but silly app on the internet somewhere...you would put in your age and pertinent life choices and habits and it would spit out your life expectancy.   Hmmm, smoker, alcoholic, little exercise except dangerous work place useing unhealthy materials, avid motorcyclist, poor diet, no family to speak of?...Well looky here I am 45 years old and I was supposed to be dead at 42.  Now I am 53 and drink a bit less. 

[seanbarney41]

lol. still alive, and I am PISSED      ...and to make matters worse, my chain STILL HASN'T WORN OUUUTTTT

[Don R]

It lasted 20,000 miles boomer.  Hjalp?

  You didn't say you were done with it, I had hoped you were going for the record.
  I'm not going to help drive up your YouTube numbers by taking the bait.
  Yes, I am a boomer, sorry but I'm not insulted by being called one.

   Please don't feed the Troll.

[spotty]

maybe it lasted 20,000 miles due to being left in its box and kept on the back seat of his enviro friendly hybrid ?

can i have my scathing reply now please

[Maraakate]

Based and sohc4-pilled.  Must have left it in the box, right?

I guess I have to livestream my life with every single ride and have a camera pointed in my garage at the bike at all times for years to prove I'm not a liar on it? lol.

Easily the worst motorcycle forum on the internet.

To you rizzlers and epic bacon guys and even future skibidi toilet kids out there: don't buy into this crap.

[Tracksnblades1]

Dave, you mean using $30 kits and never lubing your chain might have something to do with only getting 1000-2000 miles out of it?  Say it isn't so!  I wonder why Mark claimed in his CB750 book that they only last that long.  Very strange.

I’m playing catch up here. I don’t have any books except the ones published by Honda..

Surely he’s talking about the old Diamond #50 combine chains. These were generally used in-low speed
low horsepower agricultural applications. When used on a poorly tuned or tired 750 back in the 70’s they
didn’t last a 1000 miles. On a good running 750 they usually broke on the first clutch drop and wrapped up around the front sprocket and ventilated the cases..

There was a fad for a bit of going to a large enough chain to be able to use the industrial chain. My CB750K2 had one of those on it when he passed away. It was worn out and I put new chain on used sprockets which did not last long either. When I took the bike down to bare frame and restored in in 1993 I put a proper O ring chain back on it then. Just recently put new chain and sprockets on it. Back in the day the #50 needed to be riveted at dealer. Chains have gotten a LOT stronger since then.

I’m agreeing with you..
Remember the dual row chain conversions..Buddy tried one. It was so noisy he couldn’t stand it and finally ponied up the money for a RK Oring.. Lasted him over 10k, but he was a 836 and only ran it one way…

With today’s technology the only conversion I may try is the 520 conversions. Even daydreaming with all my
Big bore parts in the basement, I’ll never exceed the tensile strength of what a today’s 520 can take.. When that time comes I’ll see what “dragracer” is running… He’s actually doing it and drag racing tends to take a toll on substandard equipment fast..

Can you imagine swinging a 630 chain today on a 750 today… Horsepower to burn (lose)…

[scottly]

Easily the worst motorcycle forum on the internet.

To you rizzlers and epic bacon guys and even future skibidi toilet kids out there: don't buy into this crap.

Forum rule #5
5) Posts that are inflammatory in nature will be deleted.  If you have a problem with the forums, contact the moderators; if you have a problem with a member, send them a PM.  If your reason for coming here is to provoke argument, you will be asked to leave.