de tour 2006 ** day three **

[Jud Jones]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Chris Norloff" wrote:

> I believe the most important thing is oiling the chain regularly to clean > and lube it. Scott's Oiler, Loobman, and others offer this capability. There > are automatic oilers and manual ones - but being able to put oil right on > the chain ... especially when it's dirty/muddy or rainy ... is good for the > chain. >

Oiling a dirty chain is a good way to trash a chain and sprocket set in 5,000 miles. If you want to put oil on a chain, put it on a clean chain. Cleaning the chain, BTW, will do a lot more for your chain life than oil, unless you can supply a continuous feed with something like a Scott Oiler. Using a Loobman for a squirt at every stop has no more effect than squirting it out of a can.

[Bill Watson]

Well, won't this generate discussion for quite a while. My .02: chain quality does matter, in the past I've purchased "cheap" $20 chains that needed adjustment every 2,000 miles, and on the other end of the spectrum, it appears the factory Kawasaki chain is the longest-lasting (and priciest at $140-ish, I might add). I went 12,000 miles before the first adjustment, and am still on the stock chain at 34K miles... did you see that Cary at Schnitz Racing is at 66K on his stock chain and sprockets? Amazing. Anyway, data for what it's worth. Bill Watson Phoenix, AZ Click on "The WD40 experiment" at www.xanga.com/watt_man [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Chris Norloff]

We must be talking about different Loobman chain oilers. The one I was referring to isn't something you squirt at a stop. You squirt it when rolling, and it oils the chain for the next 10 minutes or so, as the oil works its way down the tube. The Scott Oiler (and the Aerostich electric oiler) may be continuous, but I don't think they're worth the money. Anyway, my chain stays clean and oiled with just a Loobman http://www.chainoiler.co.uk/ best, Chris -----Original Message----- From: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com [mailto:DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Jud Jones Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2008 11:43 AM To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: Chain Question

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Chris Norloff" wrote: > I believe the most important thing is oiling the chain regularly to > clean and lube it. Scott's Oiler, Loobman, and others offer this > capability. There are automatic oilers and manual ones - but being > able to put oil right on the chain ... especially when it's > dirty/muddy or rainy ... is good for the chain. > Oiling a dirty chain is a good way to trash a chain and sprocket set in 5,000 miles. If you want to put oil on a chain, put it on a clean chain. Cleaning the chain, BTW, will do a lot more for your chain life than oil, unless you can supply a continuous feed with something like a Scott Oiler. Using a Loobman for a squirt at every stop has no more effect than squirting it out of a can.

[fasteddiecopeman]

Jeff, I'm on my ORIGINAL chain (46,000 kms - 28,520 miles), with only 5 or 6 adjustments, and I believe Bill Watson's OVER 30,000 miles on his! We 'lube' ours with WD40 only. As the 'lubing' is only to keep the side-plates from seizing to the O-rings, it works SUPER! Cheers, Ed

[LD]

Jeff, Curious, how many miles did you get out of the chain? I have the same chain and have about 12,000 miles on it. I changed both sprockets at the same time as the chain. A few of the links are getting sticky but the sprockets and chain still look to be in very good shape. I just spray some Bel-ray chain lube on it every 400-500 miles (my riding is 98% on road) In the fall, I clean it with WD-40 and then recoat with Bel-Ray before winter storage. Sorry I don't have any advice on a new chain for you. This is the first bike I've owned for this many miles... [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Jeff Saline]

On Tue, 15 Jul 2008 19:16:15 -0700 (PDT) LD writes:

> Jeff, > > Curious, how many miles did you get out of the chain? > I have the same chain and have about 12,000 miles on it. I changed > both sprockets at the same time as the chain. A few of the links are > getting sticky but the sprockets and chain still look to be in very > good shape. I just spray some Bel-ray chain lube on it every 400-500 > miles (my riding is 98% on road) In the fall, I clean it with WD-40 > and then recoat with Bel-Ray before winter storage. Sorry I don't > have any advice on a new chain for you. This is the first bike I've > owned for this many miles...

<><><><><><><><><><><> <><><><><><><><><><><> LD, The short answer is today I have 11,248 smiles on this chain. I replaced it before De Tour in 2006 and it's seen some very tough times. Full touring loads. Running most of it's life on a 14/46 sprocket combo which is 14.6% lower than the stock 15/43 combo. Lots of off pavement running. Used with a reversed rear sprocket that previously had about 12,000 miles on it. This year it's been buried in heavy mud twice which was very tough on it. Today doing 200 miles of spirited twisties, gravel, dirt, multiple water crossings and lots of hard acceleration and closed throttle deceleration it gained about 1" of slack. Looking at the rear sprocket, I think, but didn't pay enough attention last week, that the sprocket wear has increased quite a bit. The front 14 tooth sprocket although ready for replacement isn't nearly as worn as the rear. I spent a few minutes this evening doing some research on DID chains since tomorrow I will probably be ordering something. The 520V is an O ring chain with a tensile strength of 6,630 lbs. DID also has a 520VM X ring chain with a tensile strength of 8,050 lbs. and a 520ZVM2 X2 ring chain with a tensile strength of 8,550 lbs. I'm leaning towards a 520VM but won't make a decision until I learn about price and availability. I'll maybe measure the chain just to make sure it's really shot and it's not the sprocket wearing very quickly now. The chain has had lots of tight links in the past and it still seems to have a lot of tight links. It is in no way even close to the chain I had on my Suzuki TS-185 back in 1974-75. I was a poverty rider and that chain got so loose I didn't have any adjustment left. I could put that chain on or take it off without tools. This chain is giving me some very jerky feedback on closed throttle deceleration in the twisties. When it's adjusted correctly it still responds well but there was a very noticeable difference between this morning and this afternoon on pavement. On the dirt and gravel in between it wasn't noticeable. Best, Jeff Saline ABC # 4412 South Dakota Airmarshal Airheads Beemer Club www.airheads.org The Beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota 75 R90/6, 03 KLR650, 79 R100RT ____________________________________________________________ Smart Girls Secret Weapon Read Unbiased Beauty Product Reviews, Get Helpful Tips, Tricks and Sam http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/JKFkuJi7U3xpL5r5kKD4KWtkLMEJNUAYeoABPbK8wvYx3tr5GCICRe/

[Reverend]

I've found that if I lube my chains (this is ZX9R stuff, sportbikes) I'd get about 18K miles out of them. If I don't lubricate them at all, I'd get about 18K miles out of them.

[LDHunter]

Rev, Yep... I have a ZX10R and expect chain life to be a bit shorter than on my KLR... Might have something to do with the extra horsepower and torque it has. I don't know if I'll ever get used to the throttle response on that beast... YEOW!!! I jump on it every once in awhile when I need to know that I'm still alive for sure... It usually doesn't take long even for this old 57yr old body to wake up and feel the rush... $bob$ I've found that if I lube my chains (this is ZX9R stuff, sportbikes) I'd get about 18K miles out of them. If I don't lubricate them at all, I'd get about 18K miles out of them. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Greg May]

Hi Jeff, the longest lived o-ring chains that I've used both on my street bikes and on my KDX200 have been made by EK, the first one I got by accident I thought was an RK which I had already used before and also had good srevice with. I believe I read somewhere that EK was used as OEM on some of the Big Four bikes. Because of the mud I used to run the KDX through on a regular basis it definitely got a work out and I found on the KDX the EK brand seemed to live a half season or so longer. I would go through a lot of front sprokets maybe 6 or so but one good quality rear sprocket would last the life of the chain, I cleaned the chain on ocasion with WD40 but found the river crossings and sand kept ot pretty shiny and lubed with Blue Bel-Ray. Chain life was if I remember right about 2 seasons or probably on the average 2 runs a week of maybe 80 kms each from May till the mid part of November. The EK on my streetbike has about 30,000 kms on it the last time I looked, still loos like new and i believe is in the second front sprocket, I replace them when I notice any amount of wear and find that greatly increases chain and rear sprocket life....Have a great day.....Greg

--- On Wed, 7/16/08, Jeff Saline wrote: From: Jeff Saline Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] Re:Chain Question To: loudicks@... Cc: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Received: Wednesday, July 16, 2008, 12:01 AM On Tue, 15 Jul 2008 19:16:15 -0700 (PDT) LD writes: > Jeff, > > Curious, how many miles did you get out of the chain? > I have the same chain and have about 12,000 miles on it. I changed > both sprockets at the same time as the chain. A few of the links are > getting sticky but the sprockets and chain still look to be in very > good shape. I just spray some Bel-ray chain lube on it every 400-500 > miles (my riding is 98% on road) In the fall, I clean it with WD-40 > and then recoat with Bel-Ray before winter storage. Sorry I don't > have any advice on a new chain for you. This is the first bike I've > owned for this many miles... <><><><><><> <><><><>< > <><><><><><> <><><><>< > LD, The short answer is today I have 11,248 smiles on this chain. I replaced it before De Tour in 2006 and it's seen some very tough times. Full touring loads. Running most of it's life on a 14/46 sprocket combo which is 14.6% lower than the stock 15/43 combo. Lots of off pavement running. Used with a reversed rear sprocket that previously had about 12,000 miles on it. This year it's been buried in heavy mud twice which was very tough on it. Today doing 200 miles of spirited twisties, gravel, dirt, multiple water crossings and lots of hard acceleration and closed throttle deceleration it gained about 1" of slack. Looking at the rear sprocket, I think, but didn't pay enough attention last week, that the sprocket wear has increased quite a bit. The front 14 tooth sprocket although ready for replacement isn't nearly as worn as the rear. I spent a few minutes this evening doing some research on DID chains since tomorrow I will probably be ordering something. The 520V is an O ring chain with a tensile strength of 6,630 lbs. DID also has a 520VM X ring chain with a tensile strength of 8,050 lbs. and a 520ZVM2 X2 ring chain with a tensile strength of 8,550 lbs. I'm leaning towards a 520VM but won't make a decision until I learn about price and availability. I'll maybe measure the chain just to make sure it's really shot and it's not the sprocket wearing very quickly now. The chain has had lots of tight links in the past and it still seems to have a lot of tight links. It is in no way even close to the chain I had on my Suzuki TS-185 back in 1974-75. I was a poverty rider and that chain got so loose I didn't have any adjustment left. I could put that chain on or take it off without tools. This chain is giving me some very jerky feedback on closed throttle deceleration in the twisties. When it's adjusted correctly it still responds well but there was a very noticeable difference between this morning and this afternoon on pavement. On the dirt and gravel in between it wasn't noticeable. Best, Jeff Saline ABC # 4412 South Dakota Airmarshal Airheads Beemer Club www.airheads. org The Beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota 75 R90/6, 03 KLR650, 79 R100RT ____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _ Smart Girls Secret Weapon Read Unbiased Beauty Product Reviews, Get Helpful Tips, Tricks and Sam http://thirdpartyof fers.juno. com/TGL2141/ fc/JKFkuJi7U3xpL 5r5kKD4KWtkLMEJN UAYeoABPbK8wvYx3 tr5GCICRe/ __________________________________________________________________ Yahoo! Canada Toolbar: Search from anywhere on the web, and bookmark your favourite sites. Download it now at http://ca.toolbar.yahoo.com. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[roncriswell@sbcglobal.net]

I like my driveshaft Conourse. No WD, no Chain Wax, no nada. Just check the oil very occasionally. 100 ponies ain't bad either. Criswell

On Jul 16, 2008, at 2:46 AM, LDHunter wrote: > Rev, > > Yep... I have a ZX10R and expect chain life to be a bit shorter > than on my > KLR... > > Might have something to do with the extra horsepower and torque it > has. > > I don't know if I'll ever get used to the throttle response on that > beast... > YEOW!!! > > I jump on it every once in awhile when I need to know that I'm > still alive > for sure... It usually doesn't take long even for this old 57yr old > body to > wake up and feel the rush... > > $bob$ > > I've found that if I lube my chains (this is ZX9R stuff, > sportbikes) I'd get > about 18K miles out of them. If I don't lubricate them at all, I'd get > about 18K miles out of them. > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]