Chain ratings

[moodylane]

I'm chain shopping again and after seeing many different tensile strength ratings I wondered what is the minimum rating for a heavy katana. Obviously bigger is better but when does it become unnecessary overkill?

[Kreylyn]

I'm chain shopping again and after seeing many different tensile strength ratings I wondered what is the minimum rating for a heavy katana. Obviously bigger is better but when does it become unnecessary overkill?

There isn't a published one in the way your thinking.


Additionally tensile strength is not a wear indicator, and that's the larger issue.


You could theoretically put a very thin but high tensile str. chain on the kat. It would not break from initial use, but due to the very thin width it would wear very fast.


Wear and neglect are what breaks most chains.


That said... Any O-ring chain made by RK, EK, or DID in the 530 series is going to be more than enough. If you go 520 series by them, then I would suggest a higher tensile rating to slightly counter the faster wear rate your going to see somewhat due to the thinner chain.


What bike, how do you ride, and what is more important to you out of a chain? Price? Durability?


Krey

[moodylane]

Durability is more of an issue to me. I've had chains slip off or break and cause a lock-up. I've never dumped a bike because of it yet but it makes me leary. So much that when im cruising down the road, the chain is always on my mind. (And tires among other things.) im running a 530 and have found a few rated at 9850#, but i think it was a volant maybe? Havent heard a lot about them.

[Kreylyn]

Durability is more of an issue to me. I've had chains slip off or break and cause a lock-up. I've never dumped a bike because of it yet but it makes me leary. So much that when im cruising down the road, the chain is always on my mind. (And tires among other things.) im running a 530 and have found a few rated at 9850#, but i think it was a volant maybe? Havent heard a lot about them.

Yeah, avoid those like the plague... volar or what ever. Several have already posted here that they suck, badly.

I would strongly recomend DID X ring for you. It's worth every penny, and will last.

Krey

[moodylane]

After doing some research on the X-ring VX series, it looks like thats what im looking for. Im finding them for around $109 on ebay. Is that a good price?

[Kreylyn]

After doing some research on the X-ring VX series, it looks like thats what im looking for. Im finding them for around $109 on ebay. Is that a good price?

Yes, that's a very reasonable price.


Krey

[moodylane]

[cintidude04]

Durability is more of an issue to me. I've had chains slip off or break and cause a lock-up.

Durability means nothing without proper chain maintenance. You should never have a chain just pop or slip off.
Yes 109 is a good price on a 530 D.I.D.

[moodylane]

To clarify, i was test riding the bike before i bought it and the owner had not tightened the axle nut. I'm well aware of the maintenance involved in cleaning and lubricating a chain, but I do not want a chain that will have a mechnical failure even after proper care.

[scottynoface]

To clarify, i was test riding the bike before i bought it and the owner had not tightened the axle nut. I'm well aware of the maintenance involved in cleaning and lubricating a chain, but I do not want a chain that will have a mechnical failure even after proper care.

Correct spec chain will never fail if maintained properly...get a quality 530 chin and call it done, this is not an area to really save money.