Topic: can i run without a chain guard

[motomotard]

i dont have one on my bike, but you guys are scaring me into changing my mind. id like to have one like this, all sexy and stuff

[fuzzybutt]

All I know is I wouldn't get on the back of any bike that didn't have a chain guard on it, fo' sure.. . .because I kinda like the idea of being able to wear a skirt without scar marks all over my legs!    yikes..  .. 

scars look good on guys but not on gals

As do skirts!

as a scot i have to say that guys can wear a skirt as well, and look good

[mattcb350f]

You also run the risk of an uncontroled broken chain getting caught up in the back wheel.  The affects of that happening at speed would be rather dramatic, me thinks!

Quite dramatic indeed! The master link once broke on my Husky 400 enduro and tied itself in a knot around the swingarm and rear sprocket. Would the chainguard have helped . (It was removed at the time) I think so. I reinstalled it shortly there after.

[Geeto67]

buddy of mine is missing a pinky toe becauce the chain on his bike broke at the master link and lashed sideways. He was wearing a pair of converse sneakers at the time.

The only time I chucked a chain was doing a burnout with my h1 drag bike in my driveway. It spat straight out the back and cracked the wood door to my garage. I didn;t have a gard on at the time but I took the stock one, drilled the crap out of it and reinstalled it.

keep in mind early cb750s had cases warrantied because the chains broke and punched holes in them, that is a lot of force.

I am not 100% sure if it will fit but the F bikes have a much smaller chain guard than the k bikes.

That drilled one looks cool but you really want something with some lateral protection since your foot will be just inches from that spinning chain.

[kslrr]

Here is what I did to the guard on my 350f. Minimal yet keeps wheel clean. The need for shock clearance prompted me to do this.  Probably will not help if chain breaks.

[jonbuoy]

You don't hear many tales of 130Bhp+ modern superbikes spitting their chains off.  If its a modern decent quality riveted and well fitted I don't think the chain breaking will be an issue.  A foreign object or body part getting caught in it  and the fact it would be flinging crap all over you the bike and the tyre would be my concern

[Raul CB750K1]

With modern chains I don't think it's likely that a chain will break. But if I would be thinking about removing the chainguard, I would make sure that neither me nor the passenger would ever wear wide trouser legs, and that the shoelaces are always tucked in.


In any case, I like the looks of chainguards. I rather keep it than get rid of it, even if it is only for the looks factor. The same goes with front fenders. I rather have one, even if it's minimal, than getting rid of it.

[techy5025]

If you are a heavy chain oiler or have the stock 750 chain oiler still working, prepare to have a nice oil streak right up the back of your jacket. This is why Honda extended the chain guard on the K1 model as opposed to the short one on the K0 model....and why the K0 one sells for several hundred dollars. 

There's a reason bikes come with chain guards. I suspect the racer bikes remove them for weight savings. Also the chance of them getting something caught in the chain are a lot less than on the street. The thought of getting a pant cuff caught in a chain makes me cringe.

Jim

[HITMAN]

A week ago I made three passes on a dyno with my CBR1100XX with all things in perfect adjustment, when finished the chain was nearly touching the center stand(1.25" lash at the beginning to +3").  Pushing well over 140hp to the rear wheel and seeing the hard results to the chain, I will definitely NEVER leave my driveway without a guard.  I don't expect my 550 will ever have the HP to stretch the chain nearly as dramatic, but that was a rude awakening to what could progress into a bad day if it went unnoticed or ignored.

[xtalon]

A week ago I made three passes on a dyno with my CBR1100XX with all things in perfect adjustment, when finished the chain was nearly touching the center stand(1.25" lash at the beginning to +3").  Pushing well over 140hp to the rear wheel and seeing the hard results to the chain, I will definitely NEVER leave my driveway without a guard.  I don't expect my 550 will ever have the HP to stretch the chain nearly as dramatic, but that was a rude awakening to what could progress into a bad day if it went unnoticed or ignored.

Perhaps you had a kink some where that the dyno runs took care of.  I don't doubt your info, but I find it hard to believe that three dyno runs could stretch a chain that much when race bikes run all out for 45 minutes or more or even 24 hours in Endurance racing.

However, I could be wrong too.   

--xTalon

[Geeto67]

You don't hear many tales of 130Bhp+ modern superbikes spitting their chains off.  If its a modern decent quality riveted and well fitted I don't think the chain breaking will be an issue.  A foreign object or body part getting caught in it  and the fact it would be flinging crap all over you the bike and the tyre would be my concern

just cause you don't hear about it doesn't mean it doesn't happen. Go to one of those local stunt shows were you have guys doing high speed wheelies and stoppies and long routines and you will see quite a few chains spit, even new ones that were put on hours before.

I know plenty of local squids that spit chains because they thrash them during burnouts, brand new bikes too.

any kind of hard riding means abuse on the chain which in turn means a shorter chain life. Plus there are a whole host of quality control issues and possible manufacturing defects (not to mention ham fisted shop mechanics) that you can't control. 

[HITMAN]

erhaps you had a kink some where that the dyno runs took care of.  I don't doubt your info, but I find it hard to believe that three dyno runs could stretch a chain that much when race bikes run all out for 45 minutes or more or even 24 hours in Endurance racing.

However, I could be wrong too.   Wink

This was not your usual dyno run, http://www.easyriders.com/dynodrags/ Sept 14-16 and it's a blast.  I only have 6k miles on a stock O-ring chain, and I wasn't the only stretched chain.  The guy I raced was on a 1000cc? Kwackamasaki at a 100hp, and though his wasn't as excessive we were both in the parking lot with tools out re-adjusting.

If you get a chance to catch this truck anywhere, do it!!!  All bikes are welcome, hope I have the 550 done when they come back to town.

[Odge]

I don't know. The $500 dollar cb750 that I bought is missing its chainguard, but that was the least of my concerns. Now that I have my bike mostly sorted out, I am thinking about getting one. Anybody know about chrome aftermarket ones?

[Odge]

Oh yeah- There is another reason to have a chainguard. One time I was returning from kung fu class and my buck started bucking going down main street. I thoiught my transmission was failing or ignition was cutting in and out. It smoothed out and when I got home I looked at my bike.THere were tiny bits of red nylon weaved into the chain and sprayed all over my rim. Turns out my sash had started falling out of my bag and had been reeled into the chain! It had totally destroyed my nylon sash and chewed it into little bits. I'd hate to imagine what would happen if something that was attached securely (like a pant leg) got tangled up.

[xtalon]

erhaps you had a kink some where that the dyno runs took care of.  I don't doubt your info, but I find it hard to believe that three dyno runs could stretch a chain that much when race bikes run all out for 45 minutes or more or even 24 hours in Endurance racing.

However, I could be wrong too.   Wink

This was not your usual dyno run, http://www.easyriders.com/dynodrags/ Sept 14-16 and it's a blast.  I only have 6k miles on a stock O-ring chain, and I wasn't the only stretched chain.  The guy I raced was on a 1000cc? Kwackamasaki at a 100hp, and though his wasn't as excessive we were both in the parking lot with tools out re-adjusting.

If you get a chance to catch this truck anywhere, do it!!!  All bikes are welcome, hope I have the 550 done when they come back to town.

Hitman,

I've seen video of these.  Pretty neat!  So did you win?

At VIR this year, they had a bike on a trailer that you could practice wheelies on.  I'm never been much on wheelies, but it was still pretty neat.

--xTalon

PS Odge, your avatar is cracking me up.  Especially when I think about it doing kung fu.   

[HITMAN]

Hitman,

I've seen video of these.  Pretty neat!  So did you win?

Over all competition?  No, all the new 1400's (Zuki Busa and Kawi Ninja) can unfortunantly beat the ol' XX.  At the specific event, yes, I was impressed by some of the Chopper guys reaching 85ish HP   Although that will be the last time I do that, with the front wheel strapped down to prevent 'lift-off' it's pretty hard on the chain and everything else to drop that much HP (140hp and 90ftlb) without having some 'give'.