[Delboy]

I put a new DID O ring on my bike, yes, Qwerty, with new sprockets, 1200 Miles ago.

I keep checking and it does not need any adjustment! What gives? I was adjusting the other one pretty much after every ride.

As well, my bike was getting a little hard to start and would not take gas untill warmed up. I adjusted the valves, they were tight, and she now starts immediately and will take gas right away.

 

[Larry]

I read into your post because I thought maybe you were commenting on the stock chain.



I have 3500 now on my TW and the stock chain has only been adjusted 2 times and its on setting 4. I expected it to be dust by now. But it keeps going.



Anyone else have an experience similar to mine with the stock chain?

I put a new DID O ring on my bike, yes, Qwerty, with new sprockets, 1200 Miles ago.

I keep checking and it does not need any adjustment! What gives? I was adjusting the other one pretty much after every ride.

As well, my bike was getting a little hard to start and would not take gas untill warmed up. I adjusted the valves, they were tight, and she now starts immediately and will take gas right away.

 

[peter]

I read into your post because I thought maybe you were commenting on the stock chain.



I have 3500 now on my TW and the stock chain has only been adjusted 2 times and its on setting 4. I expected it to be dust by now. But it keeps going.



Anyone else have an experience similar to mine with the stock chain?

I put over 7500 on my stock chain before I changed it to a O-ring. Was also only on setting 4. But the chain started to stretch "unevenly".

 

[FortPayne]

Wow...my stock chain has/had 3500 miles on it and got to where it was stretched after every ride. I was on setting 8 and it needed adjustment again, so the O-ring chain deal came along at the perfect time!

 

[peruano]

Forgive me folks, but chains don't stretch. But they do eventually manage to settle in to grooves worn into sprockets, pivot on smaller radius pens, and develop slack that cause the need for adjustment. How fast all this occurs depends on how much you use the twisty thingy, how hard you pop that lever in your left hand, and whether or not you even use that left lever when you are raising or stomping on that lever under or over your left foot, and or flexing your right wrist. You can baby these things for many thousands of miles or trash them in pocos kilometros - everything is in your style. If the oem chains were as bad as most people depict them, Yamaha would not use them. If everyone rode their bike like the most conservative rider, no upgrade chains would be sold. Ride on but do pay attention to whether your chain needs adjustment or not. Cheers, Tom

 

[FortPayne]

So Peruano what exactly are you tryin' to say? Im a clutch-poppin, shifter-stompin, throttle-stranglin' mad man?



You've seen me ride huh?!

J.K. Of coarse, but is my riding style really that different from others? I use the clutch to shift and not before my foot is back off the shifter, I've never popped a wheelie, I lubed that sucker after every ride or two... I do give the throttle some love though...

naaaaaah.

 

[PalmStateCrawler]

I put a new DID O ring on my bike, yes, Qwerty, with new sprockets, 1200 Miles ago.

I keep checking and it does not need any adjustment! What gives? I was adjusting the other one pretty much after every ride.

As well, my bike was getting a little hard to start and would not take gas untill warmed up. I adjusted the valves, they were tight, and she now starts immediately and will take gas right away.

Is this a complaint?!

 

[Delboy]

Is this a complaint?!

No, I anticipated that it would stretch, err, I mean, "settle into grooves worn into sprockets, pivot on smaller radius pens, and develop slack that cause the need for adjustment" over the first few hundred miles. Then it would be several thousand more miles before any adjustment would be necessary.

 

[PalmStateCrawler]

Since you put new sprockets on there are no "grooves" to settle in to. This is the reasoning for applying new sprockets when installing a new chain. Good job on doing it the right way! Your chain thanks you.

 

[Eyesell]

Forgive me folks, but chains don't stretch. But they do eventually manage to settle in to grooves worn into sprockets, pivot on smaller radius pens, and develop slack that cause the need for adjustment. How fast all this occurs depends on how much you use the twisty thingy, how hard you pop that lever in your left hand, and whether or not you even use that left lever when you are raising or stomping on that lever under or over your left foot, and or flexing your right wrist. You can baby these things for many thousands of miles or trash them in pocos kilometros - everything is in your style. If the oem chains were as bad as most people depict them, Yamaha would not use them. If everyone rode their bike like the most conservative rider, no upgrade chains would be sold. Ride on but do pay attention to whether your chain needs adjustment or not. Cheers, Tom

I'm glad Tom said this as my 94 still has all the OEM stuff on it, I'm changing the sprockets and chain this weekend cause the rear sprocket is really worn. The thing just turned 4K, but asked the advice from my local dealership and they said the OEM product is just fine. These guys have not steered me wrong as of yet, my WR450 is full of mods bought from them so I'm assuming they know what there talking about when it comes to the TW.



Just my .02 cents worth

 

[TW_in_BC]

FWIW, the stock chain IS crap...and most non O-ring chains aren't much better IMHO. I know there are some who will say that a standard chain will last thousands of miles IF YOU MAINTAIN IT. But I'd rather ride than spend my "spare time" removing, cleaning and re-lubing my chain every 100 miles! With a standard chain, I found myself "adjusting" it every week or two...and replacing it at least twice a year!

I put on an O-ring chain several thousand miles ago and adjusted it ONCE...it hasn't needed adjusting since then, except for when I pulled my rear wheel to replace brake shoes. You will get more life from an O-ring chain than you would ever get from a standard-type and the supposed power loss isn't even noticeable.



Do it...you won't regret it!

 

[RockyTFS]

FWIW, the stock chain IS crap...and most non O-ring chains aren't much better IMHO. I know there are some who will say that a standard chain will last thousands of miles IF YOU MAINTAIN IT. But I'd rather ride than spend my "spare time" removing, cleaning and re-lubing my chain every 100 miles! With a standard chain, I found myself "adjusting" it every week or two...and replacing it at least twice a year!

I put on an O-ring chain several thousand miles ago and adjusted it ONCE...it hasn't needed adjusting since then, except for when I pulled my rear wheel to replace brake shoes. You will get more life from an O-ring chain than you would ever get from a standard-type and the supposed power loss isn't even noticeable.



Do it...you won't regret it!

Yup, I did the same, I put on a DID O-ring chain at 25 miles, adjusted it once, and clean it about every 300 miles in dusty conditions, 500 if not. So far, at 3200 miles, no stretch, no sprocket wear, no problems....

 

[Larry]

I had read here about an o-ring chain before I purchased my bike new in 08. But just couldn't see spending the money on an o-ring chain when there were so many other mods I needed that cash for.

I'm glad I went with the stock chain to start. Because at 3500 miles and setting number 4 I should get at least 8000 miles out of it.



Seems like some people have different experiences with the stock than others.



How can I tell if possibly the dealer put an oring chain on my bike when new? Is there a way to tell? Or is this not possible to have been mixed up because the chain is installed at the factory? Just curious.

 

[elime]

How can I tell if possibly the dealer put an oring chain on my bike when new?

Red arrow points to an o-ring. Green arrow points to a non o-ring which is also a master link.



The original point of this picture was if you haven't got an o-ring master link a non o-ring master link is useable.

 

[rm_hm]

I threw a heavy duty non o-ring chain and a 47t sprocket on my 2009 when it had 50 miles on it. Now almost 5000 miles later there is hardly any wear and I think I have only adjusted it twice....



I keep it well cleaned an oiled.

 

[turborob]

On the TW, I haven't adjusted my o-ring chain in about 5000 kilometres. As peruano said, they don't really 'stretch'.



My KLR650's chain hasn't been adjusted in 20,000ks of moderate neglect.



Non o-rings aren't worth it!