Ordered wrong chain :(

So I recieved my new DID520 gold chain today and found out the one I ordered isn't an O-ring chain. Turns out it is an 520DZ 2 chain. Can anyone tell me something about this chain? Not sure to keep it or not. I do quiet a bit of offroading and assumed I needed an O-ring chain.

I'd return it.

With DID chains, you want one that has a V in the model designation if you wan a sealed O- or X-ring chain.
Examples:
520V
520VM
520VX2

Thanks for the info. Gonna send it back.

Someone want to school me on x-ring chains. Dont know anything about them

mcdoudlehopper wrote:

Someone want to school me on x-ring chains. Dont know anything about them

There's debate over if there's a real difference between x and o ring.

In theory an X ring holds the grease in and the dirt out better due to it having a cross-sectional difference in design.

Is there a seat-of-the-pants difference in feel? Not that I'm aware of.

Does an X-ring last longer than an o-ring?

Supposedly, but again so much comes down to how well you maintain your chain.

After asking the same question here a while back I just went with the x-ring.

I'll see if I can find that thread.

https://wr250rforum.forumotion.com/t1841-chains-x-ring-o-ring-street-off-road?highlight=ring <-- here it is

^^ Hey mate - basically in laymans terms it's just a better / up-rated version of a sealed type o-ring chain....Proberly an easier sales pitch too with the "X" factor in the name ! lol ( Real benifit is that the design / style of the "x" rings are supposed to give a better seal than a "conventional" o-ring type chain....so lube stays in & dirt stays out better than the "standard" o-ring design ).

I'm running a gold series Sunstar XTG tripple gaurd x-ring chain on my WRR - seems the goods so far. ( It has a very high pin load rating & tensile strength & it's hardly even needed much "stretch" adjustment after approx 3,000 Klms ).


Cheers.

Beaten to the punch by motokid due to my slow 2 finger Mechanic typing, LOL.

I'm sure I started typing long before you did.

^^ LOL

I probably would have just gone ahead and used it rather than pay shipping twice to get a new one. They dont last as long and require more maintenance but are cheaper.

mcdoudlehopper wrote:

Someone want to school me on x-ring chains. Dont know anything about them

IMO they are worth the extra few bucks.
I had race quads for alot of years and went through a bunch of chains and sprockets, an X ring chain would last about twice as long as a O ring chain when used in extreme conditions (high hp and lots of mud).
The X ring has less friction too, I couldnt tell the difference between them while riding but you can feel it when you spin the wheel by hand to lube the chain.

Thanks for the info. Havent sent it back yet but found a nice blue on for same price in an O-ring.

just jumping in on the end here... out of curiosity, what "type" / brand is the factory stock chain? "O" "X" or I would guess neither? what is it's average life expectancy...I got about 7k on factory chain... thanks : )

mcdoudlehopper wrote:

Thanks for the info. Havent sent it back yet but found a nice blue on for same price in an O-ring.

Factory chain is a D.I.D brand O-ring. Chain life varies depending on riding conditions, style, & how well you maintain the chain.

FTWeather wrote:

just jumping in on the end here... out of curiosity, what "type" / brand is the factory stock chain? "O" "X" or I would guess neither? what is it's average life expectancy...I got about 7k on factory chain

DID 520V, which is their base model O-ring chain that was in their product range for about 25 years, in my estimation.
7,000 miles seems like average milage out of one to me, so not bad.

Although it may still be coming on new bikes off the assembly lines, when buying replacements from a local motorcycle dealer, it has been replaced in distributor catalogues during the past couple of years by the DID 520VX2, an X-ring chain.

O-ring?
X-ring?
Difference?
See here:

http://www.didchain.com/trialsChains.html

The stock 520V O ring chain is the weakest 520 chain DID makes, its more than strong enough for a 250 tho.
All the other X and O ring chains they make use a larger pin dia and are much stronger and last longer.

thanks for the stock chain info replies, guys!!

I NEVER clean my chain, rarely lube it (although 95% of my riding is on road). My stocker lasted about 10k. It wasn't stretching at that point but it had gotten stiff. So stiff you could make a sculpture from it and some of the links felt almost welded together lol. It was also rubbing on my swing arm without me noticing, that may have overheated it and cooked the lube or something because it wasn't anywhere near its stretch limit.

oops, had another quick question as I'm soon replacing stock chain. Is stock chain length 108? i have stock gearing (13-43 I believe)

AND

is there a range of sprocket sizes that work with the 108 length (obviously there is some range to adjust chain) but when do you need to go to a longer chain (if at all)? say...going up to a 47 rear, 13 front... 108 chain length still be OK? thanks all : ) josh

A 47 tooth rear would require a longer chain.

Looky: entire section on chains and gearing <-- clicky