Why do people complain about the stock chain?

[live_to_ride]

I just found out that our bikes (wr450) come stock with a DID premium 520-vm x-ring chain. I was talking to someone today who said the stock chain was junk. The mags say it is junk. I haven't had to adjust mine once yet in 416 miles. Is anyone having any problems with this chain? ?

[ddialogue]

I've never had a problem with the stock chain (on my WR426 OR my WR450.) I adjusted it twice in the first 300 miles and haven't messed with it since. I'm not sure why people say they're junk. I guess they have more money to burn than I do. ?

[Indy_WR450]

They are not junk. But I perfer not to worry about chain break out on a trail 30 miles from camp. I buy a heavy duty premium O-ring chain once a season with new sprockets. I do about 5000 miles a year in the dirt. Proper lube and tension are critical and I adjust my chain every 200 - 300 miles depending on how much mud riding I have been doing. Mud eats everything, bearings, chain, bushings etc. ?

[live_to_ride]

They are not junk. But I perfer not to worry about chain break out on a trail 30 miles from camp. I buy a heavy duty premium O-ring chain once a season with new sprockets.

Are you saying that they aren't strong enough for your tastes? It is supposed to have a rating of 8120 pounds average tensile strength. Do they get much stronger than that?

[Lowedog]

Magazines are great at creating hype to get people to buy the stuff that they advertize in them. That way they can keep selling ad space. I just bought the latest issue of Dirt Bike and they are saying how bad the suspension is on the WR450 and how they had to have some company revalve the suspension to make it work. Didn't they give the WR 450 top honors for suspension in the 450 shoot out an issue or two ago? ?

I have had no problems with my chain. It has stretched a little but not much. I am thinking of going with the survivor sytem by Sidewinder when it does come time to replace the cain and sprockets though.

Lowedog

[ralphfurley]

a hight quaility chain on a japanese bike is rare.

The wr450 is a surprise with the excell rims and

o-ring chain. All we need is the Protapers to keep up with KTM

[ddialogue]

All we need is the Protapers to keep up with KTM

...and a kick butt digital odometer/speedometer so I can ditch the stupid panoram computer! ?

[Rcsnowb]

My WR450 did not come with a D.I.D X-ring chain. ? Had some crappy O-ring that was almost shot after first 100 miles. I was having to stop to adjust it almost every 10 miles cause the banging on the swing arm was driving me crazy.

[Indy_WR450]

Live to ride,

I was saying that I was in the habit of running steel sprockets with high quality chain and did not fully trust the stock set up. If money was an object I would have run the stock chain and sprockets. I just prefer to go with my experience and I have heard good things on some of the WR450 chains being better. You should be able to get 2000 miles out of the stock set up. You need tool steel sprockets and a good chain to get 5000 miles. ?

[live_to_ride]

My WR450 did not come with a D.I.D X-ring chain. ? Had some crappy O-ring that was almost shot after first 100 miles. I was having to stop to adjust it almost every 10 miles cause the banging on the swing arm was driving me crazy.

Man, that's weird. I wonder why the factory used two different chains. Maybe you've pinpointed the reason some people think it's junk. That would be a really good explanation.

[lipskid]

Mine came with a DID also. Only had to adjust it when new. Keep an eye out though. When loose it eats away at the inside of the sub frame.

I here you about Dirt Bike mag. They're my favorite, because I like the humor in their race stories, but whats up? Hmmm, KTM is the best bike because it has aluminum bars and hydraulic clutch(which you pay for), even though Yamaha has the better motor and better suspension(according to them). And now it has to much hit, and a suspension that conspires against you to the point it's almost unrideable. ? I know they're in the business of selling stuff, but they could at least try to fake some credibility.

[live_to_ride]

Keep an eye out though. When loose it eats away at the inside of the sub frame.

Hey thanks! Mine has a few little dents so I made yet another gaurd. This one is to protect the sub frame from the chain. I don't want to worry about tightening it all of the time. Right now it has the amount of slack I've always run in all my chains and it was still hitting the frame a little bit. No more worries. ?

[tigerowner_ut]

Chris unless your chain is different from mine it is not an X-ring. Mine is an o-ring DID 520.

[Dan_Lorenze]

I think the stock chains are great.... I read that too in one of the magazines, and couldn't believe it....

[Jason_Moffitt]

...I do about 5000 miles a year in the dirt..

Note to self, never buy a used bike from Indy ?

J/K wish I had the opportunity to get that many miles in!

[adamwagar]

"Had some crappy O-ring that was almost shot after first 100 miles"

RCS, I think someone at the dealership swapped chains on you... ?

[Lowedog]

I was checking out the section in the manual on chain inspection and it gives a dimension for the distance between 10 links. I checked mine and it is about an 1\8 inch over what is given for a maximum. I was surprised because I have only had to adjust it once. I can't believe that it was ever under the maximum to start with.

Lowedog

[live_to_ride]

Chris unless your chain is different from mine it is not an X-ring. Mine is an o-ring DID 520.

Mine says 520VM right on the chain. That's the p/n for the x-ring chain. I always thought that it looked a little funny for an o-ring chain. The o-rings looked too thin. I know that chain was original because I took the bike out of the crate and assembled it with the dealer. Maybe there are 3 different assembly lines that all use different chains.

Lowedog- try pulling the chain out on the back of the sprocket. If it doesn't come out more than a 1/4", then it is probably fine. Mine is like new and if I push a pin tight against the sprocket, then pull it out as far as it will go, then the distance is about 1/8 to 3/16". The one on my old bike was about 5/16" before I replaced it. That's how I judge chain and sprocket wear. ?

[SEB416]

Hi Chris, I have 3 feet of extra chain to give you after 500 miles desert rally, Seriuosly I needed about 2 inches of extra swingarm to tighten the chain after the race. A friend of mine used a renthal one and no problem at all

[live_to_ride]

They must just use whatever chain they have laying around when the bikes come down the line.