Standard chain

Well I put new sprockets and chain on for an up and coming long trip and I went with the standard chain this time. I must say I was pretty impressed on how much hp felt like it was getting to wheel. Hills coming out of my neighborhood than I would normaly have to stift down for, now it just keeps pluging along. Plus the bike now finally coast, with the o-ring chain it felt like putting on the breaks as soon as you pull in the clutch.

Happy so far standard chain, I'm looking to see how happy I will be down the road.

Has anyone tried a stanard chain with the wr? How did it hold up? What was your maintenance like?

I seen that there was some talk of using standard chains somewhere but i could not find it again.

Thanks!

I too,switched a non-o-ring chain and like it for the same reason....less friction. I believe it will require more maintenance to last as long, though. I've been taking it off to clean and lube (soak in oil). One good thing....when I take it off for maintenance, the process exposes the sprockets for cleaning and inspection.

I have only a 600 hundred miles on it. So, I don't know how it will wear over time. If it even comes close to an o-ring chain, I'll stick with it.

Yeah I think keeping it clean and lube will help it go a long way. I have a 5k trip starting this coming Tuesday so we will see.

I see you from east Tn. I'm in Friendville. You near that area?

Hey neighbor,
I'm in Greenback....what a great motorcycling area we live in. Where do you ride? I usually just do stuff in the Cherokee National forest, with the exception of a few close by trails.

My bike came with a standard chain with 13/52.
Since then I switched back to 13/42 and an O-ring chain.
When you hold them both in your hand, there is quite a difference.
Compared to bicycle chains, its like a new chain compared to a very rusty, seized old chain...night and day.
I guess the o-ring stays its way for a longer time, with little attention...so if abuse and neglect is your dish...that's the way to go.
If you you don't mind cleaning your chain after a dirty ride, a standard chain makes alot of sense.

I'm thinkin a standard chain with a strict wd40 regimen for simplicity's sake...

My experience with the two types of chains:

Motocross bikes, which are "high-maintenance bikes", the kind of bike that is supposedly just the opposite of a "low-maintenance bike" like a WR-250R or WR-250X, come with standard chains (non-O-ring) because a standard chain costs less and will require at least some cleaning and lube to keep it alive for any length of time.
Also, I believe another big reason is because it is assumed you'll be at a motocross track and very close by to your pit and toolbox for any chain adjustment, if needed.

When I started riding dirt bikes, that's what all bikes came with.
You can clean and lube that chain after each and every ride, but you'll still need to make a slack adjustment much more often.
That's just fine and dandy as long as that's what you're after and accept that.

These days (actually, for the past 15 or 20 years), O-ring chains come on practically all bikes that aren't the lowest-priced models in a manufacturer's line-up or motocross bikes.
Dual-purpose bikes have them, off-road bikes (not motocross bikes, but bikes intended for high-performance off-road riding) have them, and street bikes have them.
Reason?
They last much longer with little upkeep because the rubber O-rings are used to seal grease into the critical pin joint, the joint that, once worn, makes the chain toast.
Even a used bike with an O-ring chain maintained by a lazy slacker stands a good chance of still being in decent condition.
There are limits to that, of course, like anything else.

My opinion:
If you want to take your "low-maintenence" motorcycle and install a high-maintenence chain, go for it.
I know what it takes to keep a standard chain alive, and that's cleaning and lubing immediately afer each ride.
Seems a poor choice to me, mainly because the O-ring chain stands a much better chance of lasting longer no matter what you do, and never seeing dirt and water will give you the best shot of achieving that.

DN- I race Mountain bikes at a high level so I'm gone all the time, but when I travel I always take the wr and the long way round. Some of my favorite stuff is around the ocoee area. I alway hit that up when I have to make my way south. Cheokee is nice as well. I 'll always take Citico to the Cherohala. My wr is setup for the long haul , so it becomes a handful on single track. Question: Do you know if River rd in open? Last time I was there they had it closed at the Tn/Nc bourder.

As far as the chain. Had a quick 300 mile trip and it just so smooth. It's a trade of I guess. With all the extra time I have not checking valves I guess I can spend it on the chain.

Corycy wrote:

...Question: Do you know if River rd in open? Last time I was there they had it closed at the Tn/Nc bourder...

I don't know about that. I sometimes ride Smithfield Road (between hwy 68 and Green Cove), but ever since they shutdown Upper Tellico OHV Area I don't venture into NC via River Rd.

Corycy wrote:

Question: Do you know if River rd in open? Last time I was there they had it closed at the Tn/Nc bourder.

I went from River Rd. to Davis Creek road about a month ago. It says that the road is closed but it is not hard to get through there with dual sport bike. Just go around the signs.

My 2 cents.. Since I have Scottoiler vSytem installed on my commuter wrX, I am thinking to get non-sealed chain again and again. As my chain always lubricated with desired portion of cheap engine oil, I don't need to lose on frictions and can save some part of hp and $$ on cheap non-sealed chain. I think for commuter it can even improve MPG as well.