Chain broke at low speed... please advise !!!

Originally Posted by BAG

I had the chain on my GPX600 snap on me about 9-10 years ago. As it turned out the swingarm bearings were knackered and this produced a little side to side movement which most likely put stress on the sideplates of the chain which was where it snapped. I was very lucky as I had been hammering along quite quickly just beforehand, slowed to turn into the village where i lived and when I went to power on, the engine revved to buggery but I went nowhere. It was then that I noticed my chain laying on the ground a few feet behind me. Could have been a lot worse!!!!!

I'd still be willing to bet it came apart at the master link rather than a random link....... you couldn't feel the flex in your bike with sloppy swing arm bearings?

Randyo wrote

Originally Posted by RandyO

I'd still be willing to bet it came apart at the master link rather than a random link....... you couldn't feel the flex in your bike with sloppy swing arm bearings?

That particular chain was riveted rather than using a connector link, so I couldn't say if it was at the connection.

As for movement, yes there was a little noticable movement/flex in the swingarm and I knew about it the week or so before the chain snapped. I was actually on my way home from picking up the new bearings from the nearest bike shop which was a little over 100km away.