motorcycle chain Archives

Chain Gang: The Basics of the Motorcycle Chain

The motorcycle chain is the most common type of final drive.
More specifically, it’s known as the “roller chain.”
There are also different sizes to consider.

The motorcycle chain is the most common type of final drive. More specifically, it’s known as the “roller chain.”

As with all motorcycle parts, there are plenty of misinformation and confusion about them, so let’s get down to the basics.

The parts

The roller chain is a series of interconnected pins (also called rivets). These pins are covered by cylindrical “rollers” that allow smoother running over sprockets. The rollers are held over both pins by “inner plates.” Next, unimaginatively called “outside plates” connect this one link to the adjacent link. These spaced connections leave holes for the teeth on sprockets to fill.

So far so good, right?

Grease or lubricant is usually filled under the rollers. This is why higher end chains have “O”- or “X”- or “XW”-rings to keep the lubricant inside.

The drivechain design has stayed the same since its invention because it operated on an elegantly simple principle. The only things that have changed are better metallurgy and sealing.

Sizes

What does it mean by a 520 chain? Or 525? Or 428?

The first number for example, “5” is from the pitch, which is the distance between the centre of the two pins. It’s a “5” in this case because it’s 5/8 of an inch. Yes, unfortunately chain sizes are stuck in in Imperial measurements.

Next, the 20 means the width of the roller.

Considerations

While both pitch and width are listed as ANSI standards, it’s best to buy chains according to the chain manufacturer’s recommendation for your bike, since the rollers may have different circumferences.

Panggilan Semula Suzuki GSX-R1000 2017-2018 Di Atas Kemungkinan Kerosakan Rantai

Suzuki Motors of America telah mengeluarkan satu panggilan semula untuk motosikal Suzuki GSX-R1000 2017 dan 2018 berkenaan dengan satu isu yang berkemungkinan akan menyebabkan kerosakan rantai.
3,097 buah unit telah dikenalpasti di Amerika Syarikat melalui NHTSA di mana rantainya mungkin putus sewaktu menukar dari gear satu ke gear dua pada RPM tinggi.
Engine Control Module (ECM), rantai, dan gegancu akan diperiksa dan digantikan bagi menyelesaikan masalah ini.

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2017-2018 Suzuki GSX-R1000 recall on possible chain breakage

Suzuki Motors of America has issued a recall on the 2017 to 2018 Suzuki GSX-R1000 regarding a possible issue which can lead to the chain breaking.

3,097 units have been identified in the US through the NHTSA where the chain may break when shifting from first to second at high RPM.

The Engine Control Module (ECM), chain and sprockets will be inspected and replaced to remedy the situation.

Suzuki Motors of America, Inc. has issued a recall on their latest 2017 to 2018 models of the Suzuki GSX-R1000 on an issue that may result in the chain breaking or snapping when shifting during high RPM. The recall report was released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) where they’ve identified 3,097 units affected in the US market. (more…)

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