KDXRIDER.NET

Hey Guys,
am I glad I found this site (Through a link at DRN) even!

I had always believed that o ring chains sapped horsepower
and with my '03 KDX200 having one on it I was going to take it off
next time I needed a Sprocket chain set.
I talked to "The Man"
(No not Roger Decoster,The other Man Jeff Freddette)
and he said a Warmed up o ring chain has less friction then a standard chain.

Is keeping the Oring chain the Norm?

Tony

A good name X or O ring chain is just what the KDX needs. There aint no way anyone can say that one of these good chains, not a Chung Chow FooK Mi knock off brand, causes enough resistance to sap significant HP like some say, like .0245 HP. Take a good dump before you ride and loose that 12 lbs to make up for the .0245 HP loss.

Welcome!

I don't know that you will find anything other than 'always believed' here.

So.....an o-ring warms up?

**edit** My error. It wasn't stated that the o-rings warm up..but that an o-ring chain warms up. Certainly it does that.

Consider: The purpose of the o(or x or whatever)-ring is to seal the 'seam' of the roller and the side plate. It seals stuff in (grease/lubricants) and out (dirt/crud/water/AND junk).

A non-o-ring chain relies on the proximity/fit of the roller to the side plate.

I've seen lots of o-ring chains (mine for example) that are sort'a kinky, and that is when it's clean and the o-rings are lubricated. Do those kinks come from the links having a better slip than a non-o-ring chain? No.

So, which will show less resistance to movement?

The point of my drivel is to state some common sense reasons that show an o-ring chain indeed has greater resistance to link movement than does a non-o-ring chain.


Anecdotally speaking, I got only a couple (literally) rides out of my OEM KDX200 non-o-ring chain before it was toast. I generally get over a year's use out of a sealed chain.

I am familiar with chain maintenance methods/procedures and generally do it, too.

In the end, the 'always believed' is likely what you will get.

Some will swear by 'regular' chains, some by o-ring chains. Some (and most here know who) believe that a 'regular' chain that is 'taken care' of will last every bit as long/well as an o-ring chain.

For all I know, you're him and you're just looking for some fun by bringing up the subject!


How an o-ring chain (when warm of course) has less friction than a standard chain computes in no way to me.

Whatever...........

**edit**

Maybe these guys know something:

http://www.didchain.com/xring1.htm

Check the 'wear' graph. No..that's not friction. I'm talking about the advisability of using a ringed chain, 0/x/twistedx/t..you name it.

BTW...if o-ring chains have less friction than standard chains, howcome MX'rs don't use them?

From HERE!


Once you get beyond the question of length, you move into the age old debate between standard chain versus o-ring chain. Fasse commented, “At Speed Partz we supply both standard and o-ring chain, but almost all of our customers prefer standard chain. I believe if properly cared for, standard chain is the right choice. For one thing, it is significantly lighter and less expensive than o-ring chain.” There was a mass introduction of o-ring chain into the motorcycle industry in the mid eighties because of its relative ease of maintenance. O-ring chain uses tiny rubber seals between each plate to keep grease trapped inside the chains rollers, for longer life. Many people believe that the tiny seals used in o-ring chain create additional friction that keeps the chain from spinning as freely as a standard chain. However, there are manufacturers that claim as the greases in an o-ring chain thin out, they are capable of spinning as freely as non o-ring chain.



More importantly:

A worn, stretched chain puts uneven stresses on the motor and sprockets leading to additional friction and ultimately the loss of power. The bottom line on the dyno testing with a worn chain and a new chain—a worn chain can lead to a 5% loss of power.

(emphasi mine)

X ring it is then !

Thanks
Tony

Note that D.I.D.'s x-ring is supposedly different than 'the other' x-ring.

It's twisted as opposed to squeezed.

I've run an RK-Xring for a couple of sets. I wouldn't know .0245hp from diddle, though.

Consider the source!!

DID makes a new Enduro model T ring which is narrower

I've been using a D.I.D. ERT gold non O ring chain for the last couple years, O rings are just too kinky for me (Not that there's anything wrong with that)

canyncarvr wrote:
For all I know, you're him and you're just looking for some fun by bringing up the subject!

doG, I hope NOT!

[quote="Mr. Wibbens"]DID makes a new Enduro model T ring which is narrower

O rings are just too kinky for me (Not that there's anything wrong with that)

LOL

I bought a D.I.D. O-ring about 600 miles ago. Have not needed to adjust it yet. Very good chain!