nklr - dual sport news piece on chains

[Bill Watson]

I always prefer data over opinions, and I'm with Rick. After 120,000 dual sport miles and another 100,000 street-bike miles, I've never broken a master link either. As you might guess, by this point they don't scare me either. Bill Watson -------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Rick McCauley Subject: Re: Master link? I have heard all my life how weak a master link is compared to the rest of the chain. I am 46 years old, and have had 36 motorcycles of which 90% were chain drive. I have never had a master link break or come apart. As for me, I fear not the master link. --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail - now with 250MB free storage. Learn more. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Stanford Johnsey]

Since you prefer data over opinion you might want to check out the D.I.D. site . . . but hey, I'm sure those folks don't know anything about chains compared to all the data you have collected in 220,000 bike miles. It takes me less time to install one of their rivet style master links than it does to futz around with a clip. Why anyone would use a clip style just puzzles me. Bill Watson wrote: I always prefer data over opinions, and I'm with Rick. After 120,000 dual sport miles and another 100,000 street-bike miles, I've never broken a master link either. As you might guess, by this point they don't scare me either. Bill Watson -------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Rick McCauley Subject: Re: Master link? I have heard all my life how weak a master link is compared to the rest of the chain. I am 46 years old, and have had 36 motorcycles of which 90% were chain drive. I have never had a master link break or come apart. As for me, I fear not the master link. --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail - now with 250MB free storage. Learn more. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Archive Quicksearch at: http://www.angelfire.com/ut/moab/klr650_data_search.html List sponsored by Dual Sport News at: www.dualsportnews.com List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html Yahoo! Groups Links --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail - Easier than ever with enhanced search. Learn more. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Jim]

Yep, I too removed the OEM chain and sprockets at 23.5K and put on Kawi sprockets and an RK chain with a masterlink. No problems what so ever so far and am closing in on 10K with the new drive train. --Jim A-15

> A master linked chain is fine. I've run about 7 or 8 of them so far > on KLRs with no trouble. Never lost a link or a clip. > > Mark

[Edgar Hines]

Back when I was a teenager and riding on a budget, a new chain was too much of a luxury. It was not uncommon for me to have 6 or 7 masterlinks on a chain before I replaced it. Always kept a couple of masterlinks with me just in case a chain broke. I have never had a masterlink break. Jim wrote: Yep, I too removed the OEM chain and sprockets at 23.5K and put on Kawi sprockets and an RK chain with a masterlink. No problems what so ever so far and am closing in on 10K with the new drive train. --Jim A-15

> A master linked chain is fine. I've run about 7 or 8 of them so far > on KLRs with no trouble. Never lost a link or a clip. > > Mark

Archive Quicksearch at: http://www.angelfire.com/ut/moab/klr650_data_search.html List sponsored by Dual Sport News at: www.dualsportnews.com List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html Yahoo! Groups Links [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[kdxkawboy@aol.com]

In a message dated 2/26/2005 6:43:29 PM Pacific Standard Time, gcurve2000@... writes: I always prefer data over opinions, and I'm with Rick. After 120,000 dual sport miles and another 100,000 street-bike miles, I've never broken a master link either. As you might guess, by this point they don't scare me either. Bill Watson Add to that years of racing 500MX bikes, all with about 40% more power than a KLR, and have never lost a master link. In fact, in over 30 years of riding I've had one master link come off, I put the clip on backwards. Pat G'ville, NV [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Tengai Mark Van Horn]

I have never had trouble with RK chains. I'm on my third one and it looks like I average about 13,000-15,000 miles from just about any 'ringed' chain that I use. My problem with the article is that it wasn't scientific in the least. I was also surprised at the shit-poor mileage that they got from both of those chains. Mark At 11:27 AM -0500 2/27/05, Guy B. Young II wrote:

>Having recently received the latest issue of DSN (Feb. 05), one of >their articles (Two Longer Lasting X Ring Chains: D.I.D. vs RK) kept >bugging me, so I was 'compelled' to send them the following note: > >============================================================= >Gents: > >I know you don't have a "Letters from the Readers" section, but I >feel I had to comment on your recent article on chains (D.I.D. and >RK). > >Based on a bad experience I had with RK chains in the past, I will >never put another one of their products on any of my bikes. ... > >So, I look at any piece I see that mentions RK chains with a serious >doubt and with a very bad taste in my mouth. I will never be >convinced that their products have improved to the point of my using >them.

[Bill Watson]

Stanford Johnsey wrote:

>>Since you prefer data over opinion you might want to check out the >>D.I.D. site . . . but hey, I'm sure those folks don't know anything about >>chains compared to all the data you have collected in 220,000 bike >>miles.

We agree that a rivet-style link is stronger, I was just saying that the clip style has never been a problem for me, or many others who have written in with same experiences. I didn't say it was stronger, just that it works fine, based on experience. That was the data I was referring to.

>>It takes me less time to install one of their rivet style master links >>than it does to futz around with a clip. Why anyone would use a clip >>style just puzzles me.

Maybe because the clip style works fine on a KLR and is easily removable? It's easier to wash the bike with the chain off or install a new chain, as well as adding some links if a larger rear sprocket was added for a weekend tight-woods ride. Stuff like that could be viewed as a benefit to the clip style, even if it is weaker. Bill Watson --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Sports - Sign up for Fantasy Baseball. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]