Chain Advice Please...

During a rideout this weekend, I lost power on an A road, and it became apparent that my bike and chain had parted company.

Now that I have got the bike home, thanks to the AA, I need a new chain and sprockets. I've done a bit of a search on here, which has given some really useful advice, but was wondering if people could give their opinions on:

1) The bike is at home, so I am going to have to fit it myself. Am tempted with the OEM endless - so will have to remove the swingarm. Only problem is jacking the bike up - but I can figure out a way - how hard is it to do? Is it worth the hassle? Or should I:

2) Buy a chain that needs rivetting - from looking it seems that you get a soft link, which you then ride to your nearest bikeshop (20 miles for me) to get is permanently rivetted (or something like that)
How easy is it to fit the soft link? Do I need any special tools?

Im a little dubious of the above one, as the chain that snapped, looks like it went at the link - am sure was just a case of base luck or bad fitment, but its made me a bit weary of rivetted chains...

Also, what C & S do people recommend?

Thanks in advance for your help,

Billy.

[jambo]

A well fitted rivet link is no cause for worry, however, a badly fitted one can fail, so you should make sure it's done by someone with a good reputation. An endless chain is nice, and as you'll be popping the swing arm out gets you to check and grease all the linkage and swing arm bearings which can't be bad...

I have been told (but never tried) that one way forward is to lock the front brake lever on with a cable tie, put the side stand down and loosen all the bolts (linkage, shock, rear wheel, swing arm pivot) off just enough that they're easy to turn with normal sockets. Now use a car jack with some wood / cloth to protect the finish under the back right of the engine case, as you lift this up until the rear wheel is *just* off the ground. You should now be able to gently remove everything, do what you need to and put it back together.

I've not done this so see how comfy you feel with it.

Originally Posted by jambo

A well fitted rivet link is no cause for worry, however, a badly fitted one can fail, so you should make sure it's done by someone with a good reputation. An endless chain is nice, and as you'll be popping the swing arm out gets you to check and grease all the linkage and swing arm bearings which can't be bad...

I have been told (but never tried) that one way forward is to lock the front brake lever on with a cable tie, put the side stand down and loosen all the bolts (linkage, shock, rear wheel, swing arm pivot) off just enough that they're easy to turn with normal sockets. Now use a car jack with some wood / cloth to protect the finish under the back right of the engine case, as you lift this up until the rear wheel is *just* off the ground. You should now be able to gently remove everything, do what you need to and put it back together.

I've not done this so see how comfy you feel with it.

Thanks for the info Jambo - I'm leaning towards a rivetted chain because of its simplicity - and the bikeshop 20 miles away I trust. The only thing I'm not sure about is how I fit the C & S at home, then temporary rivet them till it can be permanently rivetted at the bike shop - or is my understanding of this utter tosh?

[jambo]

Depending on the chain you buy, some come with a split/spring link you can do with a pair of pliers, some only come with a rivet link. Some (like the OE DID item) come as a continuous chain with a separate rivet link so you can cut a link off with an angle grinder and fit the rivet link in it's place.

You sound like you want one with a split/spring link and a rivet link supplied, that does not come in endless form.

Shouldn't be hard to fit provided that's what you've got

The split link's fine to get you to the bike shop but you want it done properly before you give it any abuse.

Originally Posted by jambo

Depending on the chain you buy, some come with a split/spring link you can do with a pair of pliers, some only come with a rivet link. Some (like the OE DID item) come as a continuous chain with a separate rivet link so you can cut a link off with an angle grinder and fit the rivet link in it's place.

You sound like you want one with a split/spring link and a rivet link supplied, that does not come in endless form.

Shouldn't be hard to fit provided that's what you've got

The split link's fine to get you to the bike shop but you want it done properly before you give it any abuse.

Righty ho...thanks for the advice.

So I take it the rivet link I can fit myself without the need to go to a dealer then?

[northwind]

I use option b, soft link it then get it rivetted. Costs me a fiver at most, so it'd take years to pay for a rivetter tool. I've been tempted, mind, since it's easier.

As for chains... Loads of good ones, but for longevity I don't think you can beat the OE spec, which is DID all round. Certainly can't beat a quality steel sprocket, they're heavier than alloy but the worst lasts better than the best (if you must use alloy, Renthal's hard anodised sprockets are IMO the only choice)

At the end of the day, chain care is probably more important than chain choice, I've just had a renthal ally rear sprocket with a cheap-ish tsubaki o-ring chain last longer than some people would expect from steel.

[jambo]

Originally Posted by Biker_Billy

So I take it the rivet link I can fit myself without the need to go to a dealer then?

You can do the split/spring link yourself. The rivet link that replaces it needs a special tool and a little care so should be done by a trusted garage after a rather gentle ride there

Thanks guys, will goe with an OEM chain that I can fit without removing the swingarm then - ie not endless, and with a soft rivet.

On another note, just had a look at the bike to check for further damage, and the good news is there isn't any, apart from some scoring / scratching from the chain whipping about. However, when I took the front sprocket cover off, I noticed that there was some side to side play on the front sprocket - i.e. like it wasnt properly tightened.

Is this normal? Could it have contributed to my snapped chain?

The sprockets, both front and rear look in good condition, but will be replacing them anyway..

thanks,

Billy.