WEE CHAIN

[Euroned]

I need chain and sprokets for my Wee soon(17k) and my local bike dealer said they would use a 'universal' chain when they did the work. I would like to purchase a recommended chain for my Wee and they will be able to fit it!

 What is a recommended chain for the Wee?


 Thanks


 Neil

[iansoady]

You just need a good make - DID, IWIS etc - and go for X ring rather than O ring.

Bike manufacturers don't make chains (probably a good thing.....)

[Juvecu]

Get a gold version DID X-ring chain and some JT sprockets. With something like a PD oiler added you have complete peace of mind then and you can easily get 15k+ miles on it too. Yes, DID is more expensive than the generic O-ring chain they would sell you, but a snapped chain is going to cost much more. Buying cheap chains is often false economy, the stretch and wear out quicker than a good chain.

[WeeStromer]

I replaced mine with the DID 525VX gold. it's surprising how good a new chain and sprockets can make a bike feel.
If you're planning to fit it your self, get a good quality chain tool if you don't already have one.

[tell]

while you are on the subject of chains can any body tell me what his the best way to clean a chain and what to use to do so,.
I have heard people using wd40  there his a bloke on u tube using petrol  I use at this moment  chain cleaner from the bike shop at  I can pay up to a tenner a tin am I silly please reply thank you  

[UK_Vstrom650]

I hear paraffin is good. Was going to buy this from B&Q http://www.diy.com/departments/bq-paraf ... 116_BQ.prd

[pilky68]

I use paraffin from a local hardware shop.  5 litres for £6.00. Lasts ages as I pour about a cup full and clean using a toothbrush.

[MartinW]

+1 for Paraffin. I tip some into an old T-Towel and grab round the chain and slowly rotate the wheel.
 

[Yoyo]

I use paraffin,  does a cracking job, I use a compressor to apply it, a good scrub then blast it off with a blow gun, if you use a scottoiler or similar you need to coat the chain with the correct oil.

[greywolf]

The members at Stromtrooper who get the most miles out of chains never clean them but lube them after every fuel stop and rain ride or have an oiler mounted. It appears cleaning is bad for chain life.

[kissofdeath]

thanks for that GW, I feel much better for not cleaning mine now  

[UK_Vstrom650]

Me too! I rarely clean mine (probably count on one hand how many times in 3 years) but 'paint' oil on it regularly and use a Scottoiler. Rarely have to adjust chain either. Maybe I should give the paraffin a miss..?

[Yoyo]

I only clean mine when the sprocket carrier is really filthy and the bike is getting a good clean, maybe I need to quit the cleaning too. I fitted the Scottoiler 4k ago and the chain still need adjusting, I know some people don't like auto oilers but they really do look after your chain.

[Juvecu]

For the Wee the PD Oiler was the best thing since sliced bread. I seldom cleaned the chain though, maybe once or twice in it's entire life. Would get 15k+ out of a chain without much problems. It helps if you buy good quality chains too, I usually bought DID.

On the Tracer I'm experimenting, I'm only using WD40 to clean the chain and when it's clean I apply WD40 as a coating. I might give it a quick spray of WD40 in between cleans, but no real lubrication at all. I don't ride anywhere near as much as I used to with the Wee so the cleaning intervals aren't crazy. At a guess I'd say it's cleaned every 600 miles. The chain stays clean, doesn't rust, I don't have oil going everywhere or dirt getting stuck in the chain oil and making a grinding paste of it. I also can't see any significant accelerated wear on the sprockets, but I doubt I'd be able to tell that after 2000 miles anyway.

[pilky68]

I clean mine with paraffin to get rid of road crud, tiny pieces of stone etc. In my mind I was thinking these small bits of crap mixed with oil equalled grinding paste.
But I suppose adding clean oil etc  will clean away this abrasive material.
I'm on the fence I suppose.

[greywolf]

It's the stuff you can't see that may cause wear. The visible stuff is just sitting there. Cleaning can move the small stuff into the creases between the O-rings and the metal. If pressure is used, it can even force crud past the O-rings.

The only time cleaning or washing anything on the bike can really help is if salt is involved. Then it may be a tossup. Salt is nasty stuff. I didn't care how much it shortened my riding season. I wouldn't ride when it was on the streets.

[Jacko]

I won't take the glee out in salt, I used to have a winter bike for that. Salt slaughters a bike.

Chain life. Fitted a Scottoiler within the first 1000 miles, now on 15k and chain still like new.

Used to oil regularly on my old zx6 and the chain/sprocket set still had plenty of life left in them 23,000 miles later when I sold it.

[MartinW]

I don't intentionally go out on salty roads and if I ever get caught out then I wash the bike down immediately.