Regina ZRP Drive Chain worn out after 16,000 miles

[TonyA]

Actually the wear started in earnest after about 15,000 well maintained miles . I would never be able to get 20,000 miles on this chain and keep my sanity. I think I see what happened to Richard Pearce now , this chain just plain wore out . I bought another Regina , but if I get the same performance from this one , I will buy Japanese EK , RK ,DID what ever high end #525 pitch and give it a try.

 

[Voodooo]

Actually the wear started in earnest after about 15,000 well maintained miles . I would never be able to get 20,000 miles on this chain.and keep my sanity. I think I see what happened to Richard Pearce now , this chain just plain wore out . I bought another Regina , but if I get the same performance from this one , I will buy Japanese EK , RK ,DID what ever high end #525 pitch and give it a try.

Are you saying this is premature wear?

 

[TonyA]

Are you saying this is premature wear?

No , I am not saying that exactly . I was hoping for 20K with all the maintenance I've given it. Maybe it is too much to ask ? Like I said , my next chain comes from Japan if this next Regina does the same thing . I want 20 K from a high end x-ring chain ! It's not like I am yanking the chain to bits with 150 HP ??

 

[Claudio]

Are you thinking of changing only the chain or also the pinion and crown?

 

[TonyA]

Are you thinking of changing only the chain or also the pinion and crown?

If pinion and crown are front and rear sprockets then all will be changed . But the condition of the sprockets is still very good :

 

[Claudio]

We call the front sprocket pinion and the rear sprocket crown

 

[Voodooo]

We call the front sprocket pinion and the rear sprocket crown

Ring n pinion

 

[Stephen_Spencer]

No , I am not saying that exactly . I was hoping for 20K with all the maintenance I've given it. Maybe it is too much to ask ? Like I said , my next chain comes from Japan if this next Regina does the same thing . I want 20 K from a high end x-ring chain ! It's not like I am yanking the chain to bits with 150 HP ??

I would agree Tony, that appears low. 20-30k miles would be expected in my experience, especially when we only have 80 horses to play with. Also given that your drive sprocket looks in really good condition. Just checked my KTM 990 chain (100 hp) 33k miles and still looks pretty good. No off-road use but she’s ridden pretty hard on the black stuff. Almost no inclement weather, meticulously maintained because I’m completely anal! C&S both still look good. My opinion only. Steve.

 

[Clive]

Hi - thanks for this info Tony I have been wondering at what point I should be looking to replace my carefully maintained chain. So far I have 12000 miles and recently it seems that when setting the chain slack it varies more as I rotate the wheel. I try to replace items before they break; saves money in the long run. So far I have not liked a bike enough to keep it long enough to replace the chain so are there any recommendations for a replacement anyone?

 

[TonyA]

I would agree Tony, that appears low. 20-30k miles would be expected in my experience, especially when we only have 80 horses to play with. Also given that your drive sprocket looks in really good condition. Just checked my KTM 990 chain (100 hp) 33k miles and still looks pretty good. No off-road use but she’s ridden pretty hard on the black stuff. Almost no inclement weather, meticulously maintained because I’m completely anal! C&S both still look good. My opinion only. Steve.

30 K miles would be awesome !

 

[Stephen_Spencer]

Hi - thanks for this info Tony I have been wondering at what point I should be looking to replace my carefully maintained chain. So far I have 12000 miles and recently it seems that when setting the chain slack it varies more as I rotate the wheel. I try to replace items before they break; saves money in the long run. So far I have not liked a bike enough to keep it long enough to replace the chain so are there any recommendations for a replacement anyone?

Hi Clive,

Have a quick look at the thread ‘Chains’ from Sept 17, started by Richard. An older thread but some useful info in there.

Hoping to have to change my chain before I ‘fall off the perch’ - really need to get some more mileage in! I clean off the chain regularly on all of my bikes and (very) lightly lube at the end of every ride, as soon as I hit the garage. Take helmet off, bike on stand, lightly lube chain whilst it is still warn - lube soaks in nicely. I know many would view this as too frequent - it works for me.

Steve.

 

[TonyA]

I do the same , and that was not enough to stop the wear . I had been in a few rain storms over the last 16,000 miles maybe it got washed out ? Until I see somebody get 20K or 30k out of these chains on a Norton 961 I am skeptical.

 

[TonyA]

Hi - thanks for this info Tony I have been wondering at what point I should be looking to replace my carefully maintained chain. So far I have 12000 miles and recently it seems that when setting the chain slack it varies more as I rotate the wheel. I try to replace items before they break; saves money in the long run. So far I have not liked a bike enough to keep it long enough to replace the chain so are there any recommendations for a replacement anyone?

The Regina should have been a good chain . As I said earlier , I already bought a Regina ZRP so that goes on next. The Kawasaki I have is running a EK Enuma ZVX or ZRVX something like that. Its a 10,000 lb tensile strength . Any of the top chains should work you would hope ?

 

[commandofastback]

From my experience with modern Triumphs and Hondas i would put chain makes in this order:
1. AFAM
2. Enuma
3. D.I.D
4. RK

I had a Regina on a Triumph T300 ages ago and it was plain crap.

 

[kommando]

Tensile strength is only one parameter, its cheap to get a high figure eg just use a higher carbon steel for the side plates or make them thicker. But as a property its like a dam, unless you have the HP to breech the tensile strength and break a side link then going even higher does nothing to increase the life of the chain. Longer life chains come from all the bushes in each link being sized correctly, material selection and protection from dirt, this costs more than adding tensile strength.

 

[Bernhard]

The Regina should have been a good chain . As I said earlier , I already bought a Regina ZRP so that goes on next. The Kawasaki I have is running a EK Enuma ZVX or ZRVX something like that. Its a 10,000 lb tensile strength . Any of the top chains should work you would hope ?

The Regina, like Reynolds were once good chains, but not anymore. No matter which chain yo use it has a finite life span, even if you have chain oilers- and yes I have used them, it doesn't seen to prolong their life much. But neglected chains appear to have the shortest life of all.

 

[Fast Eddie]

I’m not saying anyone on here is guilty of this per se, but I believe that over tightening chains is a big cause of premature wear these days.

Even within my own riding mates, I frequently see chains that are running too tight.

I think this issue is made worse by the increased suspension travel on many modern bikes, which basically makes the unladen chain slack requirement seem counterintuitively slack...

Well, that and evolution... we are rapidly reaching the evolutionary stage where if there’s no app for it... we’re f***ed !!

 

[Stephen_Spencer]

Agree with the over tightening; I’ve seen it also. Interestingly (or not), I have never had to tighten the chain on my Norton in between changing the rear tyre. 9k km, on 2nd rear tyre (I think). So effectively the chain has been adjusted twice. Not unusual methinks for low mileage bike/chain. So why post this? Might as well as I’ve written it anyway!

 

[TonyA]

All better now . New Regina ZRP chain and Front and rear sprockets :

New tires too :

Brake discs and pads still very good :

 

[Britfan60]

Nice. Is that still a Talon? 17/50 or still the 47T?

Agree with the over tightening; I’ve seen it also. Interestingly (or not), I have never had to tighten the chain on my Norton in between changing the rear tyre. 9k km, on 2nd rear tyre (I think). So effectively the chain has been adjusted twice. Not unusual methinks for low mileage bike/chain. So why post this? Might as well as I’ve written it anyway!

My original chain, sprockets only lasted me 7300 miles, but I was riding a lot rougher. My teeth looked like talons. No pun intended. Now I'm hanging with the Harleys which slowed me down a bit.
What tire you running,Tony? I went back to the Dunlops. The Bridgestones were shot after 4K. They actually concaved on the center. I don't think I'll ever change again. Those look like a nice tread.