[SpudRider]

Originally Posted by AZRider

Spud, I'm sure that you're safe to do so with a 250, but with more powerful bikes, i believe that a riveted link is essential.

If you are racing a sport bike at high speeds, you probably should use a riveted link. However, I use a master link with a clip on my Honda XR650L, and I have ridden it over 90 mph without any problems whatsoever. At sea level the XR650L will reach a top speed well over 100 mph, and many, if not most owners, use a drive chain with a master link clip. We certainly won't have any problems running a master link with a clip on our Zongshen RX3 motorcycles. However, if someone prefers a riveted link, I think he should use a riveted link.

There is not a lot of lateral force on the clip. Therefore, if the clip is installed properly, it never causes a problem. If someone installs the clip improperly, that is a different matter. However, even if done poorly, a rivet is highly unlikely to fail, so it is definitely more fool proof.