Are chains becoming too thin?

[sickpup]

I've just had too fit a new engine to my 08 plate ER6F after the chain snapped and damaged the crank cases and so today I was ordering the required extra parts from the wholesalers and mentioned this.

Now the chain that was snapped was the heaviest duty chain DID do in a 520 and was well maintained yet still snapped with only 20k of use and I can't explain why.

Talking to the wholesalers they took a look through their application lists and the pitch of chain recommended for the ER6 is only a 520 pitch. To put this into perspective the ER6 has 71BHP yet an ER5 which has only 50ish BHP also uses a 520 pitch chain yet a BROS650 which is <60BHP uses a 525 chain. As a further example a CB500 uses a 525 chain and a normal modification is to change it to a 530 chain and sprockets. The wholesaler was actually surprised that a 70BHP Parallel twin commuter bike was being specced with such a small chain especially as it wasn't a race conversion so have manufacturers gone to far on this issue?

[Frost]

Surely wheel and sprocket sizes are a factor in how much force goes through a chain too?

[Rowey]

A 520 is fine for a 600. I can only think it's them trying to improve the handling by reducing unsprung weight. It's not going to save them much money really.

Stock on my 600, putting out a little over 100bhp, is a 525 chain. Although it's a common mod to convert it to a 520 chain.

I looked into the 520 conversion as it also improves acceleration and throttle response. And from peoples experience the 520 chain wore no differently than the 525. The biggest factor was the quality of the chain.

I'm sure I've heard you say you have a chain oiler of some sorts, so I can only guess it's not oiling the chain uniformly or sufficiently or you unluckily bought a chain with some sort of manufacturing weakness in it.
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ZX6R C6F.
Never argue with an idiot. They'll only bring you down to their level, and beat you with experience.

[stinkwheel]

I was always of the oppinion that my GPZs and KLE had far to small a chain for their power output (again, 520 pitch). I've broken them on both. Seems to be a "feature" of middleweight kawasakis.

Hell, even the Enfield has a 530 chain (15bhp).
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[stinkwheel]

[rac3r]

I think my ZX6 uses 520 as well
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Bikes : 2006 CBR125R - 2004 Monster 620ie - 2004 ZX-6R B1H - 2005 Monster S2R 800 - 2011 Street Triple - 2009 Streetfighter 1098 - 2014 ZX-6R 636

[tatters]

My KLR650 also uses a 520 chain which snapped last week lucky for me it only took out the pulse genrator wiring, alot of KLR owners in the states upgrade to 530. Quite suprised a 70bhp bike such as the ER6 is being sold with only a 520.


Its got to be down to money as 520 chains are cheap?
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[sickpup]

[yen_powell]

My Africa twins run a 525 chain and I've had no bother with them, regularly getting 30,000 plus miles from them.

However, I was a bit concerned when I saw that my new (to me)Varadero runs the same sized chain. I'm riding with my feet up high from now on.
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Blackmail is a nasty word........but not as nasty as phlegm!
XT1200Z and a DR350 in bits

[HD]

I take it the 3 digit number is how wide the chain is?
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Rusty '02 Vito Camper + CBR600F3

[Rowey]

[0ddball]

A lot of people convert the zxr750's from 530 to 520 but i'd rather stick with 530. The "supposed" acceleration/weight benefit isn't even close to worth it imo.

[sickpup]

[Rowey]

I've been told a 520, on my bike, will get over 20k if you look after it. My bike does have more power but it also has a smoother delivery (IL4) though. So it may be about right for yours

I did see a chart detailing the tensile strength of different chains when I was looking at the 520 conversion, but can't find it now.

But the tensile strength of a cheap 525 was about 25kn and the tensile strength of the best quality 520 was around 35kn.

EDIT: Forgot to add, the best 525 chain had a tensile strength of 37kn
____________________
ZX6R C6F.
Never argue with an idiot. They'll only bring you down to their level, and beat you with experience.

[Rogerborg]

It's all weird stuff. My 125 has a 428, the 250 came with a 530 even though it was cloned from a bike with a 520 and just about everything else is copied straight over.

The GPZ305 has a belt.
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GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[Frost]

[chris-red]

How many miles had the bike done?
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[sickpup]

[stinkwheel]

For what it's worth. I totally fell out with DiD chains on my 500 twins and started using EK ones. Never had one of them let go.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Biker100]

A freind of mine had a er6 with around 20k on it, well maintained, and hers snapped too, took crank case out on hers too funnily enough......

[27cows]

The standard of DID chains isn't what it once was. I always use Regina for biggers bikes, RK for small ones. Never had a problem. The two chains I've had snap in the past were both DID. Nowt to do with the pitch/power they have to withstand - everything to do with DID's quality control being shite.

Have to say that 20K miles is a lot for a chain on a biggish big, irrespective of apparent wear and amount of adjustment remaining. Would personally never leave a chain on the Bandit 12 past the 10,000 mark (even if it was possible to make a chain last that long on it ) or any other middle or heavyweight bike. Even on tiddlers like the RXS I ditch a chain around 15K.
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The RXS100: vehicle of choice for Chuck Norris

[sickpup]

Just going to resurrect this thread.

Just had to replace a DID X ring chain today as it was about to fail after only 15k.

Am I expecting too much from a chain?

[swiftb]

[Marmalade]

[Pete.]