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The Truth about Motorcycle Chains!

Fact #1

Fact #2

Fact #3

Fact #4

Fact #5

Close-up of a X-Ring Seal

This is what a “Real” X-Ring looks like!

Fact #6

Fact #7

Did you know that any “Quality” motorcycle chain with a Tensile Strength of between 8,000lbs to 9,500lbs is more than strong enough to withstand the power output of almost any size bike made today!

Did you know that most Chain Manufacturers “Guidelines” are really set by the number of different models they offer & not what size the maximum engine size that chain should be used on!!! Examples: The Regina 530 ORS2 O-Ring Chain is recommended for bikes up to 750cc.....yet it only has a Tensile Strength of only 7,640lbs. The Tsubaki 530 OMEGA O-Ring chain is recommended for bikes up to 1,000cc, even though it has less than 7,800lbs Tensile Strength!

But the RK KS Series Performance Heavy-Duty Chain is only recommended for bikes up to 400cc, yet it has a Tensile Strength of 8,000 Lbs!!!!!!

The Truth is that Tensile Strength is Tensile Strength, just like 2 ft. is 2 ft.....the higher the number the stronger the chain. So why do some chain companies recommend a O-ring chain for bigger bikes & a “non-sealed” chain that is stronger is only recommended for bikes upto 400cc??? Because the OEM Suppliers of chains (RK & D.I.D) Make more profit selling a O-ring Chain & most bikes 500cc & up now come with a O-ring chain..The Truth is it’s just about making more Profit! & that’s the only reason!!!!!! The OEM Chain companies will always try to get you to buy a more expensive chain than what you REALLY Need!!

Listen....we use to sell other “Premium” chains like EK &  Tsubaki and occasionally still do...but even if they have a few more features or a slighty higher Tensile Strength

 ......they still don’t seem to last as long as a or Chains!  Reason why is that no other Motorcycle Chains are “machined” to as close of tolerances as these Chains! That’s why all of the major Motorcycle Manufacturers use them for their Drive Chains, Cam Chains & even make their “Wheel Assemblies” as well as other Parts!

Did you know that most bikes that are over 5 Years old regardless of its size that has a O.E.M supplied O-Ring Chain (made by D.I.D or RK) has less than 8,300lbs Tensile Strength, but you can’t find this chain listed because these chains are no longer made in a “Retail Boxed” version.....but are only supplied to the Motorcycle Companies to be sold as Genuine HONDA or KAWASAKI Parts Only!!! However. in most cases you’ll never see the Tensile Strength on the OEM supplied models, because the suppliers (RK & D.I.D) don’t want you to know what it is!

One of the biggest “Myths” when it comes to Motorcycle Chains is that a O-Ring chain will last longer than a “non-sealed (not O-ring) Chain! A non-sealed chain with the same Tensile Strength or slightly higher.....will last as long or longer in most cases if lubed about every 2 weeks of riding with a Premium Chain Lube!!!(but not X-Ring Type Chains) The “standard type” O-ring design allows dust, grit, & dirt to get between the inner & outer Side Plates. Sooo, in most cases the lubrication in the chain is gone after around 4,000 miles! Sure you can lube the chain as often as a “non-O-ring” chain & it will last longer, but that defeats the purpose & extra money of buying a O-ring Chain! In most cases, the O.E.M suppliers (RK & D.I.D) don’t even make a O-ring chain in a “Retail Box” anymore except to supply the Motorcycle Manufacturers to package-up as Genuine Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, or Suzuki parts!!!!!! Look at the picture on the left & you can see that dust, grit, & dirt can collect on the edges of the seal,,,,,which can eventually wear out the seal because of it’s design! Only one small “Sealing Surface”!

Is a X-Ring Type chain better than a “standard type” O-ring chain??? Much, much better because it’s seals are flat sided, which means the seals have a much greater “contact patch” with the Side Plates. Since the seals are flat, it allows for  multiple “sealing lips”......each one acting like a separate seal. As one “Lip” starts to leak the lubrication the 2nd lip seals it in....& because X-Rings are flat shaped on the top & bottom too, this does’nt allow any room for dust & grit to get lodged between the seals. (See Picture!) A vast improvement over “standard type” outdated O-rings!!!! What all this means is, that X-ring type seals have less than half the friction of a O-ring type because the seals don’t have to be pressed as tight, so the seals last much longer & the lubrication stays in the chain much longer too... which means your chain can last almost twice as long.. (up to 30,000 miles)!!!!!!

An excellent X-Ring chain that Lists for less than $115.00 is the RK XSO Series X-Ring Chain! Outperforms all other X-Ring type chains in its class, some costing up to $60.00 more & has a whopping 9,200lbs Tensile Strength!!! Strong enough to easily handle the power of any size bike made Today.....a “super tough” Chain! Even comes “Nickel-Plated” as standard.........Beats all other X-Ring Chains in its Price Range “Hands Down”!!!!

These are not Manufacturer’s Displays....but “Real” Pictures of our Inventory!

If you can’t afford a X-Ring chain, or don’t want to spend the extra money (Truth is, you can usually buy a X-ring for less than your “so-called Genuine O.E.M Parts O-Ring chain!) it’s best to just buy a very good strong non-sealed chain like the RK KS Series Performance Heavy-Duty Chain.....The strongest & longest lasting chain in it’s price range!!!!! Highly Recommended for almost any size Bike & just keep it lubed with the “Worlds Best Chain Lube......PJ1 Blue Label chain lube!!! Won’t fly-off & is actually stronger than the “factory grease” that they use when they assemble the chain.....that’s why PJ1 is still the largest selling chain lube for over 25 years! Until a few years ago, chain companies would even have stickers on the their “chain boxes” stating ....”Please Use PJ1 Chain Lube on this Chain”! Now they all sell their own Chain Lube. In a recent test of the Top 10 Chain Lubricants.....PJ1 Chain Lube still came in No.1 !

If you can’t afford a X-Ring Chain & feel you have to have a “sealed-type” chain, just start saving your money because you’ll pay almost as much for a “standard type” O-Ring chain that will at best only last 65% as long as the X-Ring type for a few dollars more!

If your bike came with a O-Ring Chain, then I have to replace it with a O-Ring chain like my “Owner’s Manual” says??? Absolutely Not!!!!!  That’s “B.S.” by the Motorcycle Manufacturers, working with their OEM Chain suppliers (D.I.D & RK) to get you to purchase your “over-priced” OEM outdated O-Ring Chain! You can use any chain you won’t to as long as it’s the right size & meets a certain minimum Tensile Strength. Fact is.....there’s a few bikes that’s made for 2004 that have changed very little in 15 years & when they were first sold did’nt come with a O-Ring Chain. It does’nt take a “Rocket Scientist” to no what’s Really going on!!!!

Regina Chains

D.I.D

Professional V-Series O-Ring

RK

XW X-Ring

If you have a “older” bike or your bike is smaller than 500cc.......you’ll get almost as much mileage out of the D.I.D Standard Heavy-Duty No.530 Chain as a OEM type O-Ring Chain & save a lot of money. This chain is more than strong enough for most bikes in this size range with a 7,200 Lbs Tensile Strength..........just make sure you lube it regularly with a “Premium Motorcycle Chain Lube” like PJ1........

Tired of paying Hi Prices for your Motorcycle Chain & Sprockets?? Well, click here for the best prices you’ll find!!

Some Tips

Always use a little “Common Sense” when reading Motorcycle Chain Guidelines! No chain is going to last 80,000 to 100,000 miles as suggested in some “Chain Wear” indexes. Using the 100 rating on a “so-called” Standard Chain, then the 1,000 rating that there most expensive chain has....Well 10X 8,000 miles =80,000 miles! The difference between the least expensive chain by a “Quality Manufacturer” like RK & D.I.D and the most expensive chain is around 3 an a half times longer in the Real world. No chain will last long if your Sprockets are worn and just because you purchase a “Sealed-Type” chain does’nt mean you still don’t have to lube it on a regular basis. Try to pick the best chain in it’s Price Range that fits your riding needs that has a little more than your minimum required Tensile Strength & keep it lubed with a Hi-Quality “Brand Name” Motorcycle chain lube......No Walmart Stuff!!! Use a little “Common Sense” when comparing Chain Tensile Strength. If one chain has a rating of only 7,400lbs & they recommend it for bikes up to 750cc in size & another Chain “Brand” has a chain that has a higher number.......well, that chain can safely be use on a larger bike!      Simply put....the O.E.M’s (RK & D.I.D) will always “down-play” their less expensive chains because they offer so many more expensive chains to choose fro m......but some other chain companies will “overstate” what size Bikes their chains should be used on, because they may only have 5 different models for you to select from!!!! Remember that the higher theTensile Strength...the stronger the chain & that “recommended size bike” in some cases is just to get you to purchase a more expensive chain which they make more profit on!!!!!!

To See our Low Motorcycle Chain Pricing

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Some Motorcycle Chain Suggestions

We can’t recommend any of the Regina Brand of Motorcycle Chains! Made in Italy & just not up to the same “Quality Control” of Japanese made chains. Overpriced for what you get & don’t have the proper Tensile Strength for the size bikes that they recommend their chains to be used on!!! Bad buy for your money with only a 7,644  lbs.Tensile Strength for the No.530 ORS2 which Lists for over a $100.00, plus it’s just a “outdated” O-Ring design. Very poor Tensile Strength for a chain in this Price Range! Would’nt recommend it for any 600cc Sportsbike & up, & just not strong enough considering the Type & Price!!!!!!  Remember, just because a chain is the right size & length for your Bike.......does’nt mean it’s the right Chain for your Bike!

Although D.I.D makes some of the best Motorcycle Chains you can buy.......& is a O.E.M supplier , and are made to very “precision standards”, some of their models have been out for almost 10 years without being changed or improved! We can not recommend the Professional V Series O-Ring Chain. This chain was a good chain 10 years ago, but time has passed it by. Retains the “Outdated” O-Ring design. Badly needs to be replaced by another model!! Although it’s a good chain, there are other makes that are stronger & has X-Rings for about the same Price!

The RK XW X-Ring is a very good Chain. However, it’s just “Overkill” & is only a little stronger and will only last in the “real world”......about 10% longer than the XSO Series. Nothing wrong with this chain.....just not worth the extra $40.00-$60.00 over the XSO Series that RK makes......which is by far the Strongest & Longest Lasting X-Ring Chain in it’s Price Range! Seems like the XW X-Ring was just made to increase RK’s “Profit Margin” & that’s it!!! If you can buy a XW for the same price as a XSO....great. Otherwise I’d pass this chain by!!!!