Hitchcocks Forum

How long would you normally expect out of a rear chain (mileage-wise)? I got around 13000 miles (and 3 years) out of my first, factory fitted o-ring chain - although I should have changed it eralier as it ended up taking a few sprocket teeth with it! I have currently racked up around 7000 miles ( and 2 and a half years) from my second (elite) chain - not sure if that is o-ring?




My second chain is now very stretched and probably only has 1 more adjustment in it before it has to go, and I am a little surprised that the mileage lifetime is so much smaller for my second chain?!




So how long would you expect one to last - am I getting good lifetime from these, or is this another salt related wear problem? And YES, I use a decent chain lube

Brought new sprockets rear & front & a Renolds chain from Hitchcocks about 8 years ago when I got my work bullet it only had about 4000 miles on the clock and the original chain & sprockets were well worn. Now with over 20,000 miles on the clock or 16.000 + miles later there is still plenty of life left in them. I've hardly had to adjust the chain just give it a spray with chain lube regularly and it seems to last forever its hardly worn at all. Remember this sort of width chain is used on multi cylinder jap bikes with much grater HP so it should last ages on low power bikes like this. It comes down to quality of chain in first place and how well you keep it lubed and adjusted make sure its not too tight I see far too many with chains too tight so when I sit on the bike there is no free play left in the chain..

I should add that our hosts recommended a 101 link chain for this bike as standard (plus split link), but that simply wouldn't fit when I replaced it a while back - it just wasn't quite long enough by about 1/4 or a link with everything back to minimum tolerances. So I had to get a 102 link chain which did fit, but was obvously about 1/2 a link or so too long. Probably one reason why this one hasn't lasted so long in terms of stretch, but still - only 7000 miles?




I don' even pull wheelies!!

I only got 7000 out of the original chain,and I was constantly adjusting it. The Renolds replacement, apart from regular spraying with grease, hasn't been touched in nearly 4000 miles. I do run it a bit slacker than the original perhaps.

I have n't needed to change a chain in many years and have n't touched the (Reynolds)one on my Tiger 90 in 2500 miles. But then it is constantly well lubed by the oil leaking from the rear pushrod tube. The days of my Honda CBX6 trashing a chain every 1500 miles and a rear tyre every 1000 (if I was careful!)are long gone. Thankfully. I would expect a kept clean and lubed Reynolds on a relatively low powered Enfield to last donkeys years and many thousands of miles.

So does Reynolds trumps Elite every time then?

I speak only with the experience of Renolds, but so far all looks promising. Renolds is a name from my youth with a reputation behind it, that's what sold it to me and I haven't been disappointed... So far

The chain on my 2001 Bullet 500 was changed at 24500 kms, still has the original sprockets at 34000kms. Only needed adjusting twice in that milage.
It is a Japanese Daido DID (530)- 114L. I spray it with chain lube every 500kms, as recommended by manufacturers. Still showing no signs of wear.

42000 miles on original chain! , ok its a tmax 500 with a totally enclosed drive chain assy on the swinging arm (ep90)