Chain Life by Richard Moore
Some of you may know of my interest (some call it an obsession) in running my bike as cheaply as possible. I have always thought that I have never compromised my safety by doing this. I never run my tyres to the point where they are dangerous, I always check my brakes and maintain my bike well. It is just bloody scruffy.
I have tried all sorts of chains and they all last 10,000 mile whether an expensive O-ring or a dirt cheap standard one, so I run a dead cheap standard one. I therefore felt safe on my way back from Stafford the other day. I was a little fed up that I hadn’t been able to find a cheap chain and would have to buy one for a massive £17 from M&P but thought "what the hell". I had just got to Derby on the A50, cruising at about 75 when there was a bang and the rear wheel locked up. This was followed by another bang and it freed and locked again. It freed once again and I freewheeled to a very nervous stop. It was obvious that I could do nothing there and phoned the RAC.
During my 1 hour wait for the RAC many bikes sailed past, one or two even waving, but most just cruising past on their nice shiny sports bikes. I was also passed by a van proudly claiming to carry racing motorbikes and a car towing a motorbike trailer. No one stopped. I was rather disheartened when a really nice guy made a detour and a rather long return journey to check if I was ok. It turned out of course that he has an XBR500 as well and the car he was in belonged to his girlfriend. We had a good natter and he went on his way after he was sure he could do nothing. Just goes to show the nicest people ride thumpers.
Anyway I eventually got home and rushed to M&P in Coventry the next day to get a chain and was messed about by them (another story, but I shan¹t be using them any more). I got home and started fitting the chain and sprockets, only to find the gearbox output shaft was bent.
Oh bugger.
Out comes one of the spare engines. Better check it¹s OK so try and get out the spark plug. It snapped in the head.
Oh bugger.
Ah well, long story but eventually put an engine together using a 45,000 mile bottom end (in perfect nick) and a 90,000 mile cylinder head also perfect, no wear on the guides, just needed to grind the valves (another story). Fan bloody tastic engines these.
It is all running really well now.
However, the reason for this rambling is to warn people about cheap standard chains. Yes our thumpers don¹t need HD chains. They are not powerful or torquey but my chain broke. It did this because it had suffered from multi -origin fatigue which had started from rust pits on the fish plates. This is in spite of having a Scottoiler. The chain was actually dry twice in its life for two or three days at a time and did not appear particularly rusty. It is just that cheap chain is crap. The final fracture came about under light load with about 2/3 of its cross section left showing just how marginal it is. I am sure a good quality corrosion resistant standard chain would be fine, but I will not be risking it thank-you. I just wish we could get Renolds chain again. That was real quality (ah nostalgia, I will be waxing lyrical about Lucas electrics soon).
Still enough rambling, fit that HD chain and Scottoiler and get out and enjoy yourselves.

Richard