530 x-ring chain on a mk111

The oldstyle Oring chain probaby does pull a bit of power. Not 5 hp,but some. Xring chain loses much less and is readily available.
Jim's comment that it showed no power loss vs nonsealed chain when fitted to a Commando and run on his dynomometer is proof enough for me that power loss here is a nonissue.
The dyno test puts all theory and speculation to rest.
Glen

I ran a 520 RK xso once. Brand new out of the box 70 mph was a struggle. I kmow that a well warmed chain, more than just a little warmed up, produces a profound improvement.

The question is, how many miles of riding should it take to get it warm enough to be reasonably efficient?
What significance does ambient temps have on warm up time?
Is buying 4 or 5 regular chains to one x-ring chain make more sence?
Or is low maintainance and slight loss of power till warmed worth the expence?

I have had a cheap regular chain wear out a front sprocket in a season. Would a good x-ring help save the expence and time associated with worn out sprockets?

I'm not sure how many miles, but my Vincent with xring chain and similar hp to a Commando does 115 mph down the Sulby Straight on the Isle of Man.

Glen

I ran a 520 RK xso once. Brand new out of the box 70 mph was a struggle. I kmow that a well warmed chain, more than just a little warmed up, produces a profound improvement.

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OK remember we are talking amounts of differences that can't be measured by crude dyno's so About as long as takes to heat tires, so depending on temps and pilot mood and condition ~20-30 min or 40-75 miles, d/t hi throttle and engine drag down shift race like rates required to actually warm to significance. Foolish investigation unless insane as me in good region for it.

What significance does ambient temps have on warm up time?

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As much as it does your hands and toes so may not be able too so must then resort to race warmers on chain too or just forget about it.

Or is low maintainance and slight loss of power till warmed worth the expence?

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For folks with some smarts but even more lazy sealed chain beats the snot out of plain chain life if run dry and the mess of a really properly constant lube slinging plain chain. I don't think many know what it really takes to detect chain drag and mass delays in tire destruction fun or timed coast downs. One thing is how long and hard to ride before noticing drive train slack and then to point shifting and throttle adaptations to compensate. To really get a sense for this will wear chain slack about as fast as using up a new rear tire as it changes in profile and grip, so just a matter of a hand full of small gas tank top offs. A Commando run to level to detect what I'm talking about gets mid to low 30 mpg.

I have had a cheap regular chain wear out a front sprocket in a season. Would a good x-ring help save the expence and time associated with worn out sprockets?

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WHOA NELLIE! SAY WHAT Pete!!! I recognize what you just revealed ***a power to weight ratio and trigger finger that'd please racers and upset their opinion of you with a single carbie*** Dear Sir that falls in past Peel performance so able to respond somewhat. Yes > less chain slack wear of sealed chain will allow longer deep valley tracking at speed than more slacking plain chain with one shot lube slung out for accumulations of its own metal grinding dust, so rides higher and higher on teeth till fanned over and then fracture off or shear off leaving just nubbins chain can't grip. Also have to consider the link valley phasing best if teeth and chain all odd counts worse if all even counts. No > if you are using 520 size teeth with your glee then expect to go though a front sprocket about as often as rear tire - similar to racers.

No, I reverted to the standard 530 setup.

The chain was a very standard variety maybe good for conveyors.

The sprockets quality cannot be confirmed but it seemed good. Although i have seen worse, I needed to replace it.

I am really hungry to try the new 530vx to see if it will run for me.

ha I'd go racing up Mt's on the teeth left on that still serviceable sprocket. Old teeth do wear links more, so nothing for it but use it up and spend spend spend. I bet ya the 530 x makes some gear box shell machine gun machining sounds for a few miles then fine and maintenance free for 10,000 miles,with some slack take up as ya go of course.

hobot said:

ha I'd go racing up Mt's on the teeth left on that still serviceable sprocket. Old teeth do wear links more, so nothing for it but use it up and spend spend spend. I bet ya the 530 x makes some gear box shell machine gun machining sounds for a few miles then fine and maintenance free for 10,000 miles,with some slack take up as ya go of course.

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The main reason to change the sprocket is to go from 20t to 19t. I won't throw it away.

Ok i only ran Peels into the ground because I was still oiling plain chain in desert conditions and enjoying Peels surprising spunk so something else broke that allowed discovery on rather more damaged teeth. Bad teeth rot the best chain links quicker so I'd not want to run it but short time mildly till facing facts and wrenching some more major item vs more often minor chain change. I get better mileage staying dry cleaned on the outside. I have yet to do the math but wondering cost effectiveness of buying decent bulk plain chain and renew every couple tires 7500-8000 miles of sane use vs X-chain at 10-12000 miles 3 tires worth. One thing this lazy fella now knows, if its got an edge worth keeping or it rubs a lot Cryogenic Temper it! For some special events I can revert back to 520 teeth plain chain for a few nth degrees more response. Spread out and repeated a bunch on twisty tracks can add up detectable.

My xring chains go 20,000 miles and that is in 520 on a Vincent, known to pulverize chains. Hi quality 530 on a Commando ought to do even more. Once you have to start adjusting, time to throw the Xring chain out, it is finally done.
Sprockets are another question, we get chrome moly rings made up then turn down old CS sprockets, press on and four mig weld tabs to hold. This sprocket still looked decent at 20,000 but I changed it to go with the new chain. Rears also in chrome moly, very long lasting.

Glen

Glad for it but best stay on the Ozark hwys and avoid THE Gravel, so only Wes's and my mileage ratio's not anyone else. I know mild mannered life long cycle maintainer Wes' chain life helping him re new a factory chain then a length off my roll. So its not just stupid hobot the poor chains have to deal with here. Crap we go though rings in about a chain worth of mileage last decade, ugh. Seems like we may be getting more chain mileage last few years as we now power wash before showing up in public.