Mediocrely maintained chain life?

Just a quick query, I've done almost 11k on my original chain, I'm not the best at maintaining it and I still haven't got around to getting a scottoiler, it was making a lot of noise last week but I tightened it and oiled it at the weekend and its a lot better today, just wondering how it is doing in line with wear expectation, I suspect it's past it but wanted to get some other opinions.

11k sounds really good for a chain with no scotoiler. Keep it oiled and adjusted correct and should last you a good amount of time. I would expact 11k from a cheap o ring chain.

You can check whether your chain is worn by measuring the distance between a certain amount of pins.

Exactly how many pins and what the maximum distance is I've no idea! I'll check my manual and get back to you. A quick check is to pull the chain away from the rear sprocket and see if it lifts more than half a tooth height.

My bike has about 12000 miles on it, and I think the original chain, but then I do make a point of cleaning, lubing and keeping it adjusted.

[Biker Biggles]

With it properly adjusted try to pull it away from the rear sprocket at three o clock.Not at 1500 hrs I mean horizontally towards the rear.If it lifts significantly away from the cogs it is worn.

I use my bike all year round and the original Suzuki chain is now getting definitely worn at 24k miles. I would expect to get more with dry miles only, after a ride in the wet the rear of the bike is covered in a fine grit.
The local gravel pits perhaps.

The chain is oiled with engine oil from a washing up liquid bottle. I just lube the exposed section of chain round the sprocket before leaving home.

I did try one of the sticky chain lubes, PJ1 but I think the grit off the road sticks to it to form a nice grinding paste.
Have recently extended the chain guard to stop the road crap from the tyre hitting the chain.

Ah interesting points of view, thanks for those, most threads I have read are about people meticulously maintaining their chains etc but mine is usually covered in grime and I don't adjust it as often as I should, hopefully that will improve now I've ordered a paddock stand too.

mine is used all year round in any weather and it gets cleaned in the summer a few times but rarely in the winter, protective dirt theory and all that heh.
will check the wear with the pulling from the sprocket when I next get chance, thanks for all the feedback.

[yorkie_chris]

Protective dirt theory falls on its rse when attempted on a chain! Only proper solution is a flow of oil from any of the automatic ones on the market. Loobman, scottoiler, lubetronic etc etc. This also cleans the chain for you.

I'm still on my original chain and have done over 18k. I think it will need changing in the not too distant future as the difference between the tighest and slackest spots is fairly significant.
I think I have only got to this mileage as I clean and lube (Wurth high perf dry lube) on a regular basis.

Originally Posted by sparkymarky

I think it will need changing in the not too distant future as the difference between the tighest and slackest spots is fairly significant.

I have noticed the same thing. And you have to rotate the rear wheel more than one turn to find the tightest and slackest spots.