I have one. Available on Amazon, but I think cheaper on Walmart. Around $40 I think for a 122 link chain. Is that the stock length? Works fine. However, the DID spare masterlinks won't fit.
Niche Gold 428 X-Ring Chain 122 Links With Master Link Motorcycle - Walmart.com

 

Im running one. Its got about 1200 miles on it now. Havent had to adjust it since install. Just a little cleaning and lube every couple hundred miles. Time will tell but so far its looking like it will last and perform like any other o-ring chain.
And for around 40 bucks delivered from wally world I dont think you can loose. It even come with a small tube of lube.

 

Where is it made?

 

China!

As ski mentioned, if the DID master link doesn't fit, I'm inclined to believe that the pins may be smaller. I ordered a DID xring.

 

No idea where its made. One review says Canada. At a third the price of DID I dont think its a USA union made product.
It does get good reviews and the tensile strength is close to other comparable chains. And it has the nifty brass plating on the side plates.

 

It may have been with a corresponding Niche O-ring chain that I had an inexplicable derailment and lost master link issue this May while riding at Gold Note ( suposedly now burnt up in first days of Caldor fire).
Indeed my spare DID X-ring master link I carry had larger diameter pins.
Real issue was that after disengaging chain from entanglement behind rear sprocket it was actually too twisted to re-use. I had never seen that before in a 528 chain. Fortunately my vanbulance could once again make it to recover the poor crippled patient, Betty Boop.
Whether this was a one off fluke, due to my negligence &/or abuse, or a sign that you get what you pay for who knows, you decide.
Starting to think I need more reliability than a bargain... getting too old to walk out of the woods.

 

Doesn't the TDUB use a 428 chain?

 

I'm very cheap and I have run chains and sprockets to their last limit. I would buy a good quality chain. As I have learned a high tensile strength chain with an o-ring or x-ring is the best. Hardly any adjustments at all and if the chain is rated for a 600cc it will last a long time on a TW. You can find very good chains at reasonalble prices. Their was recently a post of a chain with a really high tensile strength and o or x-ring at a really good price. Use the search function unless someone remembers. I have had good results with Bike Master.

I just spotted an SRT o-ring chain 5100 lb tensile strenth for around $55.00. It seems like Bke Master only has the straight chains in 428 now.

 

Ooops, I could blame the 528 on a keystroke error but was just a senior moment. Thanks Ken.

 

When a chain fails, it can go bad a few ways. It can lock the rear wheel & toss you, or, it can bunch up between the counter sprocket & the engine case, as happened to Fred.

At higher speeds, (TW capable), the chain can actually hit the aluminum case forward of the counter sprocket with enough force to crack or puncture the engine case.

(I’ve seen this happen, 1st hand, though not on a TW)

This could have you shopping for an engine swap, or a 225/6-spd transplant…

Sometimes saving $30 isn’t saving $30. I tend not to cut corners on things that keep me upright (tires), things that help me stop (brakes), or drivetrain components (chains/sprockets). YMMV.

 

100% dude exactly what I came here to post. You don't go cheap with life or death components. Chain failures can be fatal, or worse yet, mutilating which would scare anybody.

I always buy DID. Why? "Made in Japan" Need I say more? There's no way in hell I'd trust china to make something as important as a chain. It only takes 1 link to have a defect and you could be in trouble. I know nothing is 100% infallible and a DID could break too, but you can bet your ass it's many times less likely to break than some cheap chinese bullshit.

Will you more than likely be fine with the cheap chain? Of course. I wouldn't personally buy one though.

 

On SanDue's last pumpkin puncturing party Dan had a derailment resulting in chain folding in upon itself several times beneath the sprocket cover. Seemed inextricable. We ended up having to remove the side cover and pound the chain's jammed links off with Dan's ball peen hammer. Fortunately Dan had about 10 pounds of tools on board including the needed 8mm socket and hammer, something most of us do not carry.
Earlier this year I had a similar bunched up chain back-of-beyond without those tools and I though I was truly in trouble.
However after I exhausted my swear word vocabulary careful calm patient manipulating finally freed up chain before I would otherwise have done fairly long walk of shame. So be prepared, and if not, be creative. Never give in too early.

 

What brand chains? If these are the respected DID branded chains, I'd like to know.
Spending more money than needed for anything doesn't assure you got better quality. It just means they have a brand name recognition.

Something I'd like to point out on DID chains I've had in the past and the reason I now migrated to the Niche is that the X-rings themselves deteriorate after a few years and fall off. They crack and disintegrate and one day you go riding and tossing rubber rings all over the place. I've experienced that on almost every DID chain I've had over the past decades.

 

The Niche chain will be a big upgrade over the stock chain.

 

Chain derailments are more due to inadequate adjustment than brand name of manufacture. Indeed, the O-rings seem to have a lifespan, which is likely also a function of use environment and maintenance.

 

IMO a good chain will last a long time. Spend the money once and buy quality.

 

I've always went with DID and I've never been let down. I went with the trusty DID oring again.

It'll be the 3rd one for the TW, 1st one for this TW. I've also had two on my KLX. Even thought KLX has less than 8k on her, I am an advocate for replacing the chain for ANY sprocket changes, along with both front and rear. It's nice to know it's all fresh and wearing in together.

My best experience with a DID oring was on my '06 TW. I rode it from 4k miles all the way up to 21kmiles. ONly then did I replace it, along with a fresh set of sprockets prior to selling it. Amazing product.

I needed to ask others opinions, as I saw the Niche on Amazon and Ive never actually heard of it.

Thank you for the opinions and responses.

 

I put a Niche on my TW this spring.it has been great lube it every couple months an i have not had to adjust it since I installed it.would highly recommend it great price and durable it the ideal mix for me.

 

Has anyone had experience with JT Sprockets 428 X1R X-Ring chain? It's considerably less than the DID VX also.

 

I have had one on for almost 2000 miles , had to make one adjustment shortly after installation , hasn't moved since.

 

I didn't know Pro Taper makes a chain as well:
Amazon.com: Pro Taper 428 MX Chain (134 Links) (Gold) : Automotive

 

Right on the box: "Designed for UP TO 125 cc applications" That would be a flag for me...

...and it isn't O-ring or X-ring

 

The negative reviews on amazon.ca are pretty damning. Complete with photos. So many things to go wrong. Side plate hardness, roller hardness, x-ring material. I worked long enough in QA/QC in industry to be burnt by low cost offshore alternatives.

I'll stick with DID. Or any other Japanese, North American, or European part.

Great book to read. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poorly_Made_in_China?wprov=sfla1

As far as DID x rings flying out per Ski's post, I would reexamine what one uses as a chain cleaner or where they are stored.

Acetone would eat them right up.

So does ozone.

And UV.