What chains do you guys use?

[deltarider]

Am on the look out for a new open drive chain and prefer the ones that come with a clip link (see example in the pic). Only... i don't see that many around.
I looked it up in the various riders reports in the archives and the average lifespan of a chain on a CB500 is 10.000km. The one I have now, a standard DID50 has become audible at 7.000 km already. In the other forum someone advised to have the heavy duty  - whatever that may be - version*, but I don't see them around.
* Some parts lists mention a DID50HDS. Does it still exist?

[K2-K6]

Heavy duty very often entails thicker plates within chain description.

A little bit of a misnomer there as bikes most unlikely to have a problem with tensile load of link plates, meaning the bearings are near enough the same for both type, also the part that wears most readily to give the link elongation that we see as wear.

O-ring better at this as bearings effectively sealed, but with debate about fitting them in or desirable on these bike.

If you've got castor oil available, it does one of the best lubrication job for an oil that's available. One of the highest shear rating possible without getting to molly ofr sulphur compound  in chain lube or EP oils.

[Matt_Harrington]

Out of interest, is PTFE chain lube any good?

[Oddjob]

I've been using a mixture of MolyD grease and engine oil mixed 50/50. I put it on with a 1/2" paintbrush, it seems to stay on, doesn't really fly off a lot, far less than normal chain lube anyway. It also seems to do a very good job, chain adjustment is much less frequent since I started using this.

Got the idea from Honda as they specify using what they called Molybdenum oil for when you refit the cams on the 1300, Honda described it as a mix of oil and grease, did that, seemed to work great so thought I'd try it on chains and it really seems to work, it's dirt cheap and keep the back wheel a lot cleaner.

[K2-K6]

Out of interest, is PTFE chain lube any good?

Yes as a way of reducing friction, the challenge  being getting it into place and then keeping it there for any length of time that's practical, if you are considering a drive chain in open environment.

The bicycle-istas are really into this on chains, but micro pedantic about cleaning and reapplication, in what seems like 10 minute intervals  well you get the drift of that.

[Bryanj]

You want 530HD but NOT O RING, but check your sprockets for tooth shape before foitting new chain

[Trigger]

I always use RK Takasago 530H. 

[deltarider]

@K2-K6 I have castor oil in the house since long, but imo it's a bit to thick to penetrate well. BTW, I suspect some of nowadays lubes to harden out too quickly into wax, even if the package indicates their spray is for all types of chains: closed and open*. This could also explain the premature wear of my chain. I've seen Tsubaki has two different chain lubes: one for open chains and one for closed chains. By 'too quickly' I mean: before it has penetrated deep enough. On closed chains it doesn't have to penetrate so much.
@Trigger The RK Takasago 530H is a good choice, but not easy to find around here. Also I like the design of the Tsubaki clip link better.
* For those who use this type of spray, in a test Das Motorrad conducted, The S100 spray came out as the overall winner. Three of the nine tested were 'sehr gut', 5 'gut' and three 'befriedigend' (satisfactorily).
Source: https://www.motorradonline.de/zubehoer/produkttest-kettenspray-elf-kettensprays-im-vergleich/

[Trigger]

You can get RK chains cheap, i think i get them for around £20 and change them as a service item every couple of years.
You can get them off ebay cheap > https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/255787370382?hash=item3b8e1d878e:g:i4wAAOSw3ZVjUlJ6&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA4BlVYBuo5adF%2FKXSk7ZcK3%2FEzrqgwS%2Fp%2BWk6hjwOxYUEnC6v2dpURC8yu9GFKiYEd8OKLVQVr1MParEaMOEV8SFkrU6%2BtqsNXoOz2Y3h2cNsBTnComaqk80UH%2B5A3C5h1HQLwaYAYxGwhbrQvQwqbTdzB3ulBOhQQd1rsGbiFOqTYDIa%2B8s9iwbwwVd0i%2FKuUiZNnIvt5o3lZCbqyaO8Bsp%2B9GnNYodCjMfjEN%2FPtQY8pYk%2B2y9q%2F2d2DjE2e%2FABRZ81DDwTucib6qXaG%2F915rBfpc0onqxsOWngeZQSybFb%7Ctkp%3ABFBMoLCr26ti

[Skoti]

Had a DID 530VX which only lasted 13k until bits of the X rings started falling out.

Just fitted a RK 530XS0Z1 on recommendation from Jason (The Chain Man) for £90.

https://the-chain-man.co.uk/


I know folk here don't recommend sealed chains for those old Hondas, but mines is not a "show pony",  I prefer a fit and forget chain for big mileages.

[Athame57]

I dunno, whatever DSS is selling! 

[Oddjob]

Had a DID 530VX which only lasted 13k until bits of the X rings started falling out.

Just fitted a RK 530XS0Z1 on recommendation from Jason (The Chain Man) for £90.

https://the-chain-man.co.uk/


I know folk here don't recommend sealed chains for those old Hondas, but mines is not a "show pony",  I prefer a fit and forget chain for big mileages.

That website is awful, you can't view anything, all "Ring for prices" Not going to sell much if that's what you need to do to buy one.

I've used an O-Ring chain on a 500 and didn't have any problems, however others have, chain rubbing on crankcases is commonly the main problem. Have you checked in the sprocket area for any signs of damage?

[deltarider]

Could this 'self lubing' chain be the best option? https://www.wwag.com/en/tsubaki-delta-530-secondary-chain
The QRN seems popular with Harley riders. Not cheap though. Anyone here has tried it?

[Skoti]

Had a DID 530VX which only lasted 13k until bits of the X rings started falling out.

Just fitted a RK 530XS0Z1 on recommendation from Jason (The Chain Man) for £90.

https://the-chain-man.co.uk/


I know folk here don't recommend sealed chains for those old Hondas, but mines is not a "show pony",  I prefer a fit and forget chain for big mileages.

That website is awful, you can't view anything, all "Ring for prices" Not going to sell much if that's what you need to do to buy one.

I've used an O-Ring chain on a 500 and didn't have any problems, however others have, chain rubbing on crankcases is commonly the main problem. Have you checked in the sprocket area for any signs of damage?

Aye, the website is a bit primitive, but the advice you get when you ring up is professional. This guy specialises in chains and seems to know his stuff.
He stocks rolls of chain and will cut lengths to order, cheaper than boxed stuff.

He also managed to supply me a 5/8"x3/8" Iwis 10B M106SL for my Commando which is slightly narrower than the standard 530 and normally difficult to get in the proper spec. 

I did check out the width of the RK chain before ordering to make sure there would be clearance around the front sprocket.
Hoping the RK is gonna be a decent lasting chain...

     
[/quote]

[K2-K6]

Could this 'self lubing' chain be the best option? https://www.wwag.com/en/tsubaki-delta-530-secondary-chain
The QRN seems popular with Harley riders. Not cheap though. Anyone here has tried it?

Without direct experience it's difficult to form opinion.  Plausible in terms of lubrication of the bearing, but real measured performance the only real way, as you've asked for.

On topic of Castor oil to lubricate conventional chain, I haven't found it any problem to effectively achieve getting the oil into the bearings with this. Also used on bicycle chains with smaller gaps and find it makes them particularly smooth and all but silent. Some of the smoothest changes in gear derailleur I've yet been able to achieve too.

If your current chain is making a noise, indicating failure of lubrication ultimately,  it could be worth trying this to find out for yourself if its effective prior to changing that chain.
I use a "laboratory" type bottle, with thin spout to direct the oil to side links on the inside of chain run immediately before using the bike.