Topic: X-ring chain

[tlbranth]

I know there are lots of you who adhere to the notion that standard Diamond chain is the way it ought to be. I know Hondaman does and I'm really surprised. I switched to RK x-ring a few months ago and it's one of the best moves I've made. It now has about 1800 miles on it and has not been adjusted. No sign of wear at all. I squirt chain wax on every 200 miles or so and that's it. When I used the Diamond, I had to adjust every 100 miles or so and I lubed it often. I love the old bikes but not stuck in the 70's on chain.

[bjatwood]

+1
PM sent

[jessezm]

Well that's good feedback to have--I have a new gold 520 x-ring chain left over from a botched job on my friends' speed triple (I cut out one too many links--Oops, sorry bud!).  Since he couldn't use it he gave it to me and I just finally got a set of sprockets to match.   Between the chain and sprockets it feels like I'm shedding a good bit of weight to an already light bike (heavily modded cb400f).  I'm really looking forward to trying these out once I get my motor buttoned back up!

[lucky]

I will say it again.
You do NOT need "O" ring chain people.

[jessezm]

haha, not trying to get involved in a hot topic!  But I did want to try the chain because it was free, and looks great (admittedly not the best standards to use on essential safety-related bike parts...)

[tlbranth]

Be careful though. The x-ring chain is about 3/16" (if I remember correctly) wider than standard so you need to check clearance with your gearbox. I think 750's are OK (mine is) but I think the smaller engines have inadequate clearance. Funjimmy has a 500 or 550 and did a writeup here on machining the drive sprocket to accommodate the wider chain.
Lucky, I don't understand why you're so persistent. Daimond - adjust every 100 miles. RK x-ring - no adjustment in 1800 miles. It's a no-brainer. Every time you have to adjust, the chain is out of spec a little more. Well anyway, I'm sold. It's like having a drive-shaft. You can almost forget you have a chain.

[ofreen]

It now has about 1800 miles on it and has not been adjusted. No sign of wear at all. I squirt chain wax on every 200 miles or so and that's it.

Typically I've found I'll make an adjustment on the RK chain after the first 200 miles, then it will go at least 8000 miles before needing adjustment again ('75 CB750F).  Then it will go 1000's more before needing adjustment again.  I've always gotten at least 20,000 miles out the RK's.  And I've had similar or better results with Tsubaki chains on other bikes.

When the O and X rings chains begin to give out they go fast.  But they will warn you by depositing red rust on everything on the bike around the chain.  Once that begins, don't plan any long trips with that chain.

[trueblue]

650's came standard with an o-ring chain, I put a RK x-ring on my 650, I lube it and check it once a week and haven't had to adjust it yet, and it has done 3500km so far and still not even looking like needing adjusting

[70CB750]

It now has about 1800 miles on it and has not been adjusted. No sign of wear at all. I squirt chain wax on every 200 miles or so and that's it.

Typically I've found I'll make an adjustment on the RK chain after the first 200 miles, then it will go at least 8000 miles before needing adjustment again ('75 CB750F).  Then it will go 1000's more before needing adjustment again.  I've always gotten at least 20,000 miles out the RK's.  And I've had similar or better results with Tsubaki chains on other bikes.

When the O and X rings chains begin to give out they go fast.  But they will warn you by depositing red rust on everything on the bike around the chain.  Once that begins, don't plan any long trips with that chain.

I will need new chain sooner than later, what RK do you buy?  This is for 70 CB750 btw.

[tlbranth]

Mine's a '70. I got this one with standard press-on master-link.

http://www.z1enterprises.com/530-Chain--RK-100-link-X-Ring-376.aspx

[ofreen]

I will need new chain sooner than later, what RK do you buy?  This is for 70 CB750 btw.

I believe the box says 530XSO, or something like that.

[70CB750]

Thank you, guys.

[Johnie]

Have to agree...I have the o-ring on my 750's and will be putting another on my just acquired K3. Easy maintenance and quiet. I understand what lucky is saying, but it is a preference thing. Ride on guys....

[Danno]

if you are having to adjust the diamond chain that often after the first few then I would make sure your axle is lined up correctly measure from the center of the swing arm bolts to the center of the axle both sides the stamps can often be wrong I know mine are for sure wrong

[754]

 In my experience, I am guessing he is NOT running Diamond mc chain.. or he is lubing it with water..
 I am trying my first O or X ring chain, a lightly used that was a gift from a buddy..
 It has marked up the case on the 750, and I find I am oiling it quite a bit. I run aluminum reat sprocket, and cant watch that running dry.
 Because I am noticing that, I am surmising that while O-ring chains give better chain life, I am thinking that they atre having worse sprocket life.. than a well maintained regular chain..

[ofreen]

and cant watch that running dry.
 Because I am noticing that, I am surmising that while O-ring chains give better chain life, I am thinking that they atre having worse sprocket life.. than a well maintained regular chain..

You have to lube them for the sprocket's sake.  Sprocket life won't be any different than with a regular chain if you do that.

It is lost in the mists of time no doubt, but a few years ago I posted the results of an ongoing experiment I did with two different bikes using WD40 on o-ring chains.  One was a RK chain, the other a Tsubaki.  Both manufacturers recommend a "water displacing" spray to be used as a lube on their o-ring chains, plus a lot of people were doing that and reporting good results.  So I gave it a try with two new chains on my 750 and on my CBR1000F.  I discovered that the chains did OK with only WD40, but the counter sprockets in particular showed increased wear.  The rear sprockets didn't seem to be affected as much.  So I went back to Maxima chain wax with the next chains and sprocket wear decreased back to what I considered normal. 

[bjatwood]

Nice research "ofreen"