X-Ring Versus O-Ring Chain

ToSlow

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Anyone have a particular preference?.

I really hate chain maintenance and am looking for a chain for my KLR that will stand the test of time without having to carry anything other than chain lube with me.

Any info is appreciated on this topic
 
Anyone have a particular preference?.

I really hate chain maintenance and am looking for a chain for my KLR that will stand the test of time without having to carry anything other than chain lube with me.

Any info is appreciated on this topic
IIRC, @MacDoc tried one of the fancy lifetime lube chains. If you really hate maintenance, they are interesting.

For me, I don't care about x or o (and don't mind carrying a small bottle of lube).
 
IIRC, @MacDoc tried one of the fancy lifetime lube chains. If you really hate maintenance, they are interesting.

For me, I don't care about x or o (and don't mind carrying a small bottle of lube).
Also forgot to add, any certain manufacturer
 
FWIW - I did not have to replace the chain on the CB300F that was wearing it when I sold the bike but don't think worth the extra $$.
Screen Shot 2025-03-06 at Mar, 6    2025    12.57.16 AM.jpg
$529 Aus.
Was $320 when I did the CB300 but might have been lighter chain.
Early on I went with zero maintenance and later just with lubing...never cleaning.
The hype on line over it has muted down.
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RevZilla
https://www.revzilla.com › common-tread › bmws-mai...


bmw low maintenance chain from www.revzilla.com
6 Sept 2021 — We put BMW's "no maintenance" M Endurance chain to the test and wear it out in just 12000 miles.
 
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Anyone have a particular preference?.

I really hate chain maintenance and am looking for a chain for my KLR that will stand the test of time without having to carry anything other than chain lube with me.

Any info is appreciated on this topic
I haven't seen any difference between X and O ring chains on my KLR. Just buy a good quality chain from one of the major brands, set the tension properly and ride.

I used to lube chains, then I decided to try not lubing after I installed a fresh one. I got about 19,000km on the lubed chains and about 18,000km on the last 2 chains that I did nothing to. It's a no-brainer to me. Forget the lube and just ride.

If you think about it, a new chain for the KLR costs about $120. If I lose about 5% of the chains lifespan by not lubing it, that equates to about $6. A can of cheapo lube costs more than that, and if I'm lubing after every ride (say about every 500km), then I'd be lubing about 40 times over the life of the chain. I'd be spending waaay more than $6 on lube.

Of course, this is KLR math and may not apply to other bikes.
 
19,000km??
I get at least 50,000km's out of my chains just with basic cleaning and lubing after a rainy ride. I don't cheap out, a quality DID chain with oem sprockets.
 
Never noticed a difference between x and o rims or RK and DID for that matter.Any manual I’ve ever seen in the last 50 years says to use good old 90 weight gear oil on your chain.Anything else is a waste of money.That’s what I have always used. Your just really protecting your chain from corrosion and wear at the point the chain rollers make contact with the sprocket teeth. Whatever your putting on your chain never really gets past the o ring seals. I’ve also come to the conclusion that as soon as you start seeing red dust on your chain your o rings are toast and it’s time to replace your chain, all the lube in the world won’t fix that once it starts.I generally get 20,000km on my street bike chains before that happens. I use to get my chains and sprockets from “Sprocket Center”, or “The Sprocket Specialist “. Not sure if either are still in business. I also picked up a nice RK Chain tool from one of those guys too that works beautifully.I hear the D.I.D tool is really nice but twice the price of the RK tool. Either will last a lifetime. Stay away from the Motion Pro stuff, they tend to break easily.
 
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