I have a XR4 and am quite happy with this bike. I was wondering, what do you think of replacing the o'ring chain with a non o'ring chain. I like the idea of less weight, and less drag, not to mention that I can get a really good chain and sprockets for about the same cost of a good o'ring chain. Keep in mind where I live mud is a very rare thing and I'm not bothered by the extra maintenance. Honest feedback appreciated.

I run cheap non o'ring chains on my XR with steel sprockets. No problems, it saves a precious 1/2 hp and I replace the chain every year with another $15 chain.

Quite simply, you get what you pay for. If you like the (cheap, as described by another poster) non o-ring chains go for it. Keep in mind sand is a factor in chain wear as well. I personally use Krause Racing chains and sprockets for their long life.

I have to agree that you pay for what you get. I spend more on chains and sprockets and in return they last me a while. I replaced my chain and sprockets about 2 years ago and the chain hasn't stretched much, it's still on the 5th notch on the chain adjusters and the sprocket teeth are still very sharp. And I ride a lot. It's been through mud, dirt, dust, sand. The chain is still very strong and doesn't flex like a worn out chain. I just spray it down before every ride and after I clean it and that's all i've done for the past couple years and it's lasted for me.

Thanks for the response. I wasn't talking about cheap chains, as a matter of fact I was considering high end non o'ring. Any one with experience with Rocky Mountains Racing chain? Or another brand?

Not wanting to hijack the thread, but what is the difference in power consumption between o ring and non o ring?
Is it a pitiful 1/2 horse?
If so i will stick to the long life/less maintenance way, i was actually thinking about the very same thing as you Red Dog.

Red Dog said:

I look at it as cheap insurance. A non o-ring chain will not run as straight and true as an o-ring chain, and while modern bikes have excellent chain guide systems to feed the chain on to the rear sprocket, anything I can do to ensure reliability, I do. The last thing I want to do is be 100 miles from nowhere with a thrown chain.

Also, flat out, an o-ring chain lasts longer and stretches less. I rode my XR400 over 1200 miles in Mexico and only adjusted the chain one notch, and it probably didn't even need that. My non o-ring compadres were adjusting chains nearly every day.

The other thing I notice from the lack of stretch is that the chain and sprocket wear together as opposed to the chain stretching and wearing out the sprocket prematurely. you can tell this by the wear pattern in the sprocket teeth. Deep symetrical grooves in the teeth are good. Bad is when you see a hump or a wave in the pocket area of the teeth of the sprocket. Essentially, this happens because the chain has stretched and is essentially riding up on the upper portion of the teeth instead of in the pockets.

One thing...a chain does not really "stretch". The linkplates do not get longer, it is the wear between the pins an bushings in the chain, something that a non o-ring chain is suceptable to since grit gets past the plated and inot the pins and bushing, and hence, the riding up on the sprocket teeth.

Can someone recommend a good o-ring chain and a good place to buy one?

Thanks,

GP

im the same.i just use normal chains on my xr400.no probs

I would use a roller chain, and this makes em last forever I would thourghly clean with diesel let dry, I would then coil up the chain in a folgers can which I would then fill w/ 140wt gear oil and cook in the oven at about 450 degrees(it gets that super thick gear oil nice and thin) I would swirl it around for awhile pulling the chain in and out, let it cool, and wipe off the excess oil. Then I would go for a quick ride around the field bring the bike back and wipe down the rim and swing arm as it would fling off some, after that it was good to go. Doing this would make the cheapest chain available last forever.

1/2 horse is huge when you only dealing with 30+ hp.

i swapped my stock 48t and o-ring chain for a 50t and renthal r1 non o-ring chain on my 250 and it made the bike alot more responsive and the power is alot more usuable in the woods.

I'd definitely go with o-ring and a medium to good aluminum sprocket. Remember the chain wearing is what wears the sprockets.

I use to replace the cheap chains/sprockets yearly on XR200R.

Ran original XR250 setup (never replaced) on 98 up until a few years back. Ran until teeth were missing on sprocket. That longetevity convinced me on the o-rings.

Bought a DID o-ring, and haven't adjusted it since replacement (well maybe once).