Rook
Pro
Posts: 1125
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posted December 13, 2010 08:58 PM
Do I want a non oring for the street?
I've read a thread here and seems like most recommended not using a non oring drive chain for street use. The guy was experiencing what he felt was a lot of stretch on the new chain.
I do not drag race. My main purpose in riding is sport riding on the street. When I mod, I place performance first in priority over looks or comfort. It's time to change the chain now and I would like to try a non oring chain. I don't know anyone who has done this for street riding.
What exactly would be the problem with using a non oring chain other than needing to clean and lube more often?
How much of an advantage will a non oring have over an oring chain when used on the street? (i.e. does it matter if there are orings or not once the chain is warmed up?)
Any suggestions for a non oring chain? Looks like the EK 530 DR2 is the one I would pick.
  
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INTIMIDA2OR
Needs a life
RED rider!
Posts: 13081
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posted December 13, 2010 09:12 PM
If you run a Non o-ring chain you will be replacing chains on a regular basis. Even if you wish to lube and clean the chain every 100 miles or less . Not to mention the mess all that lube flinging everywhere will create.
Get an oem equivalent X-ring chain , lube and clean regular and be done with it for a while.
My Did gold X-ring chain is nearing the end of its hard lived life of 40,000 miles.
You will not get that kind of life out of a non o-ring chain.
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'06 Passion Red ZX-14
*Lee*
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INTIMIDA2OR
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Posts: 13081
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posted December 13, 2010 09:19 PM
Non O-ring chains are also prone to having tight and loose spots cause of the fact that they dont hold their lube in the pins . So some parts of the chain may starve of lube and wear the links out prematurely. You are then left with a chain that is tight on one side and loose on the other. Sprockets hate that too!
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'06 Passion Red ZX-14
*Lee*
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INTIMIDA2OR
Needs a life
RED rider!
Posts: 13081
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posted December 13, 2010 09:24 PM
I have heard stories of people that have had good luck with their O-ring chains. But they also tell of how they have to carry a can of lube with them and apply it at every fuel stop. Now way back when bikes came out of the factory with non o-ring chains they some of them also came with automatic chain oilers. You had to refill their oil tanks every so often and what a mess !
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'06 Passion Red ZX-14
*Lee*
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INTIMIDA2OR
Needs a life
RED rider!
Posts: 13081
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posted December 13, 2010 09:29 PM
A common non o-ring chain maintenence back in the old days was to remove the chain, wack it against the ground to remove and kinks, soak it in solvent , then soak it in hot parafin wax and let it cool overnight so the wax was well penetrated into the chain.
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'06 Passion Red ZX-14
*Lee*
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eklipse636
Needs a life
ZX-14
Posts: 6046
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posted December 14, 2010 02:33 AM
Get the ekzzz chain. Best money spent. Mine is over 2 years old and still good
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Best: 60ft 1.351 1/8 5.68 mph 123.98 1/4
8.89 mph 151.32
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Hellmutt
Needs a job
Posts: 2013
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posted December 14, 2010 03:58 AM
I've only ever used the DID X-ring gold series chains........dirt or street.........the seals keep dirt out, and lube in where it should be.........only have to clean and lube it every 500 miles or so.
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British flying couch with endtables and an orange thumper
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TH1RT3EN
Zone Head
Trial And Error Control
Posts: 722
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posted December 14, 2010 04:15 AM
 Edited By: TH1RT3EN on 14 Dec 2010 12:17
I would highly recommend an o ring or an x ring chain for the street. You can run a non o ring chain but you will spend more money in chains due to replacement more often. Plus you will have to be 100% on top of the cleaning and maintenance. If you don’t clean it and it binds up you will have a bigger problem on your hands.
I have 2 links below for you. It is where I got my chain, pretty good deal. One link is if you are stretched (150 link) the other is for SWB (Stock wheel base 130 links)
Hope this helps.
Patrick
EK ZZZ 530 Chain 150 link $188 shipped
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Hayabusa-EK-ZZZ-530-chain-150-link-gsxr-zx10-zx14-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem1e5b53a341QQitemZ130381226817QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories
EK ZZZ 530 Chain 130 Link $171.96 Shipped
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/EK-530-ZZZ-0-Stretch-Motorcycle-Chain-130-Links-Chrome-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem56414310e1QQitemZ370462101729QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories
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There is a fine line between Fear and Respect
When I was a kid i used to........... Wait I Still Do That!
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TH1RT3EN
Zone Head
Trial And Error Control
Posts: 722
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posted December 14, 2010 04:35 AM
quote:
I've read a thread here and seems like most recommended not using a non oring drive chain for street use. The guy was experiencing what he felt was a lot of stretch on the new chain.
I do not drag race. My main purpose in riding is sport riding on the street. When I mod, I place performance first in priority over looks or comfort. It's time to change the chain now and I would like to try a non oring chain. I don't know anyone who has done this for street riding.
What exactly would be the problem with using a non oring chain other than needing to clean and lube more often?
How much of an advantage will a non oring have over an oring chain when used on the street? (i.e. does it matter if there are orings or not once the chain is warmed up?)
Any suggestions for a non oring chain? Looks like the EK 530 DR2 is the one I would pick.
Also to answer your questions:
I would think that a non O-ring chain would generate more heat over a period of time due to it not having a way to hold any kind of lube in place and being metal on metal contact.
If you were to ever get caught in the rain and you did not have the chain lubed perfectly I could see more wear being caused to the chain due to the metal on metal contact.
One thing I can tell you for sure from personal experience is that a Non O-ring chain is VERY noisy on the street. I ran with a Non O-ring Chain for about 75-100 miles just to see how much stretch I really wanted. (I received the chain with the extensions i purchased from a board member). When you can hear metal clanking and scraping against its self it is never a good thing. Just My Opinion....
Patrick
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There is a fine line between Fear and Respect
When I was a kid i used to........... Wait I Still Do That!
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Superman T
Pro
Posts: 1831
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posted December 14, 2010 06:22 AM
quote:
Get the ekzzz chain. Best money spent. Mine is over 2 years old and still good
+1 got one on mine too and I love it!
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Shane661
Needs a life
Posts: 11494
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posted December 14, 2010 06:37 AM
No benefits, and plenty of drawbacks for street usage of a non o-ring chain.
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Rook
Pro
Posts: 1125
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posted December 14, 2010 07:40 AM
TH1RT3EN wrote: "When you can hear metal clanking and scraping against its self it is never a good thing."
Some of you must run non-o-ring chain for racing. Do you agree with TH1RTE3N that it is mechanically rougher with the non-o-ring chain? Many, perhaps nearly all of the o-rings have busted and flow away on my stock ZX-14 chain but I never felt that it was rough. The rear sprocket has some side ware but the teeth look a normal shape. This is why I had the impression that a non o-ring chain would be about the same as the the chain I have now.
Shane661 wrote: "No benefits, and plenty of drawbacks for street usage of a non o-ring chain. "
Please explain a bit why there is no benefit from using a non-o-ring chain on the street. Is it because they both articulate equally well when they warm up?
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Shane661
Needs a life
Posts: 11494
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posted December 14, 2010 07:46 AM
Edited By: Shane661 on 14 Dec 2010 15:48
Clean and lube it 3x per tank of gas and you might see a performance benefit of the smallest degree.
Otherwise it will wear rapidly and develop tight spots. Nothing is there to protect the pins and rollers from massive wear. Even at the dragstrip, it can be hard to measure the gains from non o-ring chains...so forget the "gains" on the street.
Anyway, good luck. 
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Rook
Pro
Posts: 1125
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posted December 14, 2010 08:08 AM
Thanks, Shane. I trust your opinion.
I have avoided replacing stock parts with stock parts but maybe this will be a situation where stock is about as good as it can get.
I'm thinking about the EK ZZZ. Only thing I don't care for is that it is painted. Not the end of the world if the paint scrapes off the side plates. Can anyone comment?
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NINJA12
Needs a job
Posts: 3310
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posted December 14, 2010 08:18 AM
Edited By: NINJA12 on 14 Dec 2010 16:20
The purpose of a non o-ring chain is less rolling resistance, this is important for serious drag racers that often have other mods to help this effort. It not hard to oil the chain every 5 -10 miles or more when your trips are 5 to 10 (1/4 mile) passes between check ups.
The non o-ring chain, alum sprockets, very light oil sometime 0w-20, one front rotor, no back rotor, no dust shields on the wheel bearings, no or very little seat. very soft tires that last less than 1000 street mile, oil pan 2-3 inches from the ground, and long WB. All these are great for DRAG racing but create a less desirable STREET bikes with increased maintenance.
Why go through that if you don't need it, and no gains.
It won't hurt anything but your pocket to try it. Just be warned it won't last long and it needs more attention along the way. Its a waste of money like riding a $200 Mickey on the street.
my .02 for free 
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eklipse636
Needs a life
ZX-14
Posts: 6046
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posted December 14, 2010 04:13 PM
You can get the ekzzz in gold or silver. I have the gold one, and it being over 2 years old the only place the silver is comming off is where the chain bounces up and hits the tigertail. It has actually hit the tigertail hard enough to bend the tab a little.
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Best: 60ft 1.351 1/8 5.68 mph 123.98 1/4
8.89 mph 151.32
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Rook
Pro
Posts: 1125
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posted December 14, 2010 05:10 PM
Edited By: Rook on 15 Dec 2010 01:17
The blue finish of the EK ZVX is something that would fit my plans for appearance. How do you guys feel about the ZVX compared to the ZZZ?
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eklipse636
Needs a life
ZX-14
Posts: 6046
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posted December 14, 2010 05:48 PM
I just know the zzz is the shiznit! I've never used the other chain. I'm sure ek has a chart as to how they rate them
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Best: 60ft 1.351 1/8 5.68 mph 123.98 1/4
8.89 mph 151.32
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Compton
Zone Head
Posts: 969
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posted December 14, 2010 06:14 PM
i took my zzz off and put on a drz2. bike was easier to roll from that alone.
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b.w.
zx14, little longer, little louder, little lower.
08 Busa, just a little longer and louder and lower than the 14
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Rook
Pro
Posts: 1125
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posted December 14, 2010 07:58 PM
The DRZ2 is a non-o-ring. I'd be on it if I had my bike at the strip. 11,500 tensile strength and handles up to 300 hp that sounds like a down and dirty racing chain.
"I just know the zzz is the shiznit! I've never used the other chain. I'm sure ek has a chart as to how they rate them "
According to Schnitz's site, the ZZZ is 11,000 lbs tensile strength and weighs 4.8 lbs /100 links which is .
the ZVX 10,560 lbs tensile strength----no info on weight offered.
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quick6
Expert Class
Posts: 257
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posted December 14, 2010 09:23 PM
+3 on the ek zzz. i have probally 80-100 track passes on mine and i think i have only had to adjust it twice. seems to be a great chain.
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2006 zx14, fully dressed and sliding(Charlie Sheen)
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eklipse636
Needs a life
ZX-14
Posts: 6046
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posted December 15, 2010 03:13 AM
Weight? I wouldn't be concerned about weight with something like this. If you have ever seen a chain break you would know what it will do to a motorcycle
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Best: 60ft 1.351 1/8 5.68 mph 123.98 1/4
8.89 mph 151.32
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Rook
Pro
Posts: 1125
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posted December 15, 2010 08:05 AM
......or the rider!!!
Never seen it. Don't want to find out.
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Flame On
Needs a life
Fuel Air & Spark
Posts: 17104
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posted December 15, 2010 11:17 AM
ZZZ rated is the best no doubt . If you are trying to save money with a less rated chain for non race you can get a standard plate Jap o ring chain for 90.00 bucks . I belive I seen them on cycle superstore.com
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77 RD 400
80 GS1000 GT
06 ZX14
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gilberjj
Needs a job
Friend of Fast
Posts: 3196
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posted December 15, 2010 12:30 PM
I have a drz-2 chain on my bike and I wouldn't dream of running it on the street. It takes a lot of maintenance. Just get an o or x ring chain.
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