GSX1400 Owners .org

Technically Speaking => Chains & Sprockets => Topic started by: Mick_J on Thursday, 10 September 2020, 06:18 PM

Title: Maintenance free chain
Post by: Mick_J on Thursday, 10 September 2020, 06:18 PM
BMW claims to have developed a maintenance free chain and will be rolling them out for other bikes in the future.  Lets hope they start to make 530 chains as the BMW uses 520 so they wont fit our big girls.
https://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/new-tech/bmw-m-endurance-chain/
Title: Re: Maintenance free chain
Post by: grog on Thursday, 10 September 2020, 06:48 PM
Sounds good to me, the price? Will be huge if made by BMW.
Title: Re: Maintenance free chain
Post by: Hooli on Thursday, 10 September 2020, 07:21 PM
So how long do the sprockets last? something has to wear. Besides it'll only be maintenance free for the life of the chain, you could claim about about our current chains if you defined their life as 10k miles.
Title: Re: Maintenance free chain
Post by: Dusty ST on Thursday, 10 September 2020, 08:10 PM
More MCN confusion... Looks like the chain is made by Regina rather than BMW  ???
Title: Re: Maintenance free chain
Post by: Hooli on Thursday, 10 September 2020, 08:11 PM
Quote from: Dusty ST on Thursday, 10 September  2020, 08:10 PM
More MCN confusion... Looks like the chain is made by Regina rather than BMW  ???

I don't think any bike company makes their own chains?
Title: Re: Maintenance free chain
Post by: Eric GSX1400K3 on Thursday, 10 September 2020, 08:24 PM
Hmmm,  doubt the internals of the rollers are coated with the same stuff, meaning that the bushes and rollers will still wear and stretch the chain when you add all the clearances and wear up.

With the coating being that hard, sprockets would wear faster too.

Agree with Hooli.
Title: Re: Maintenance free chain
Post by: steve porter on Thursday, 10 September 2020, 11:41 PM
I know people that consider all chains to be maintenance free
Title: Re: Maintenance free chain
Post by: KiwiCol on Friday, 11 September 2020, 03:54 AM
Quote from: steve porter on Thursday, 10 September  2020, 11:41 PM
I know people that consider all chains to be maintenance free
Yeah, well they are, until they break, then ya just buy a new one.

I think we should re-visit Vlads driveshaft conversion, no more oiling or adjusting & super quiet.  :stir: :whistling:
Title: Re: Maintenance free chain
Post by: steve porter on Friday, 11 September 2020, 07:03 AM
I'm glad we've got past the boiling the chains in duckhams grease that used to be a ritual. I reckon the maintenance free claim would have to have a few caveats in the fine print though regarding water and dirt being cleaned off. Sounds like bullshit to me
Title: Re: Maintenance free chain
Post by: steve porter on Friday, 11 September 2020, 07:25 AM
That DLC coating is what Porsche are using on the valve trains of the cover up replacement engines in the 991.1 series GT3's that keep eating motors due to what appears to be bad design,and they are still eating rockers and camshafts, so the forces involved in that scenario wouldn't compare to what chains and sprockets are subjected to I wouldn't think, but then again I am a cynical bastard
Title: Re: Maintenance free chain
Post by: VladTepes on Friday, 11 September 2020, 02:35 PM
moving parts wear. Some slower than others but they all wear.


(https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcTGLZgDhq7YGLENX3QlEQZYJFkyYAMYdLofcg&usqp=CAU)

Title: Re: Maintenance free chain
Post by: Suzuki boi on Saturday, 12 September 2020, 06:54 AM
 Damn I miss my shaft driven deauville :cry2:
Title: Re: Maintenance free chain
Post by: steve porter on Saturday, 12 September 2020, 09:04 AM
XeMz5R2gywo
Title: Re: Maintenance free chain
Post by: grog on Saturday, 12 September 2020, 06:17 PM
Good clip Steve
Title: Re: Maintenance free chain
Post by: steve porter on Saturday, 12 September 2020, 08:05 PM
It does sound promising, and although cynical, I am also a willing to be seduced by a good idea
Title: Re: Maintenance free chain
Post by: seth on Saturday, 12 September 2020, 08:12 PM
Be interesting to see how these last on other bikes and any bike that's ridden in all weather's in the UK ( not sure what other countries salt there roads)
Title: Re: Maintenance free chain
Post by: steve porter on Saturday, 12 September 2020, 09:15 PM
Quote from: seth on Saturday, 12 September  2020, 08:12 PM
Be interesting to see how these last on other bikes and any bike that's ridden in all weather's in the UK ( not sure what other countries salt there roads)
We only salt our chips here
Title: Re: Maintenance free chain
Post by: seth on Saturday, 12 September 2020, 11:08 PM
Quote
We only salt our chips here

Is that chips (like American crisps)
Or chips (like what you have with a fish supper)
:doh: :facepalm:
Title: Re: Maintenance free chain
Post by: steve porter on Sunday, 13 September 2020, 05:27 AM
Quote from: seth on Saturday, 12 September  2020, 11:08 PM

Quote
We only salt our chips here

Is that chips (like American crisps)
Or chips (like what you have with a fish supper)
:doh: :facepalm:
Both
Title: Re: Maintenance free chain
Post by: Eric GSX1400K3 on Monday, 14 September 2020, 08:15 PM
Hmmm,  97 euro for the chain, 5,000 for the matching industrial diamond coated sprockets.

I'm not convinced yet.
Title: Re: Maintenance free chain
Post by: grog on Monday, 14 September 2020, 08:30 PM
5g for sprockets? Just another stupid idea. Is chain maintenance that hard, not for me.
Title: Re: Maintenance free chain
Post by: Eric GSX1400K3 on Tuesday, 15 September 2020, 09:55 AM
Same, not that hard to keep a std chain running true and well lubricated. Sorry but your "maintenance free chain"  is not for me Mr. BMW
Title: Re: Maintenance free chain
Post by: GSX1400Convert on Tuesday, 15 September 2020, 01:02 PM
Quote from: seth on Saturday, 12 September  2020, 11:08 PM

Quote
We only salt our chups here un NZ

Us that chups (like American crusps)
Or chups (like what you have with a fush supper)
:doh: :facepalm:

Fixed  :P
Title: Re: Maintenance free chain
Post by: VladTepes on Tuesday, 09 February 2021, 08:34 AM
Anyone ventured near one of these yet, or know someone who has?
Title: Re: Maintenance free chain
Post by: gsxbarmy on Tuesday, 09 February 2021, 08:50 AM
I've got a BMW maintenance free chain and sprockets that don't wear. It's called shaft drive  :happy1: :happy1:
Title: Re: Maintenance free chain
Post by: VladTepes on Tuesday, 09 February 2021, 08:57 AM
Quote from: gsxbarmy on Tuesday, 09 February  2021, 08:50 AM
I've got a BMW maintenance free chain and sprockets that don't wear. It's called shaft drive  :happy1: :happy1:
:facepalm:
Title: Re: Maintenance free chain
Post by: Batkwaka on Tuesday, 09 February 2021, 09:45 AM
Without reading the article I would also agree all moving parts wear and the chain would inevitably require maintenance.
These things are usually laboratory tested which means real world shit and grime off the road will have no effect upon the chain.
My last chain & sprockets on the 1400 lasted 80k/km with a light spray of WD40 before riding. Cleans the crap off and stops the outside from perishing/rusting.
Title: Re: Maintenance free chain
Post by: froudy on Tuesday, 09 February 2021, 07:47 PM
Quote from: seth on Saturday, 12 September  2020, 08:12 PM
Be interesting to see how these last on other bikes and any bike that's ridden in all weather's in the UK ( not sure what other countries salt there roads)

If you ride all year round in the UK then as far as I'm concerned no chain will ever be totally maintenance free. Way too much salt and sh*t on the roads over here for that to happen.