Chain for Zong in Aust.

[Pliskin]

I went to local Honda dealer they didn't have KMC O-Ring Chain 428 x132. I was looking for that one as Spud gave good review.
They had another Japanese for $110 don't remember the brand. The KMC chain from http://www.oemcycle.com/Item/product/900269983 shipped to Australia would be $89.64 with priority mail international.

Has anyone else found other chains which would be a good deal?

Also i was asking a Honda dealer about chain breaker, but he told me that with grinder i can grind the pin on each end and just get 1 extra link with new chain. To reduce few links from 132 links to 126. Would this work fine?

[SpudRider]

Fortunately, you have a number of other good choices for a size 428, O-ring drive chain, Pliskin. The DID 428V is a very good drive chain, even if it is a bit expensive.

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com...ing-Chain.aspx

In addition to my KMC 428UO, drive chain, I have installed an EK 428SROZ drive chain. It was an excellent drive chain.

http://www.motorhelmets.com/htm-body...s-428-sroz.htm

Both these drive chains come with a clip-type master link. You can easily break several links off a longer chain to make it fit your Zong. The important thing to remember is always cut off an even number of links. I use an angle grinder, or Dremel tool, to trim the stakes off the desired pin, then I use a chain breaker to push the pin out of the chain. Any chain breaker will work, but a heavy-duty chain breaker is best. Here are some examples of chain breakers.

http://www.harborfreight.com/heavy-d...ker-66488.html
http://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/p/.../CHAIN+BREAKER
http://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/p/.../CHAIN+BREAKER

Spud

[humanbeing]

Bite the bullet, buy in OZ. If something f***s, at least u can blame & sue.
-
There are some poorman's O-ring http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=16310048185 | http://www.zjhql.com/EN/proshow.asp?id=469
That brand using US brand grease & Taiwanese seal, strength isn't par to Taiwanese brand "KMC" BUT better than non o-ring.

[SpudRider]

Thanks for the help, Humanbeing.

I forgot to mention, in the United States you can also buy the KMC 428UO, drive chain on eBay. Perhaps you can also find the KMU 428UO, drive chain on the Australian version of eBay, Pliskin.

Spud

[Weldangrind]

Pliskin, those are terrible prices for 428 chain. Is there anything on eBay in Oz that is priced better?

[SpudRider]

Those are O-ring drive chains, Weld. Since the drive chain damages the sprockets as it stretches, one needs to replace the sprockets with the drive chain. Therefore, the longer-lasting, O-ring drive chains are actually less expensive than conventional drive chains, as well as requiring less maintenance.

However, I think you offered an excellent suggestion to check for drive chains available on eBay. As I said in an earlier post, the KMC 428UO, O-ring drive chain is available for sale on eBay in the United States.

[Weldangrind]

I missed that point. It certainly makes sense that o-ring chains cost more, and are worth it.

[zingshoen]

what s the standard chain length on the zong?

are there other sellers with cheaper int mail options? you wouldn t expect to pay more in freight than the item is worth, even if it is heavy.

the DID 428 X-ring chain may be a good alternative, but costly at 192 A$:

http://www.motorcyclesuperstore.com....um-x-ring.html

maybe cheaper elsewhere in oz?

[Pliskin]

Thank you Spud for additional chain options.

Now that i think of it, that chain that i saw at Honda dealer was DID 428 chain. It looks impressive. I think you can pull tanks with it.

While searching for EK 428SROZ drive chain here in Aust. i found this website.
https://www.slipstreamperformance.com.au
if you go to chains left menu and click on RK takasago chain, there is a list and
https://www.slipstreamperformance.co...ducts_id=22848
the one i think should do the job. There is no picture of it. :(

What do you think people about this chain? Also it's 126 links, i won't have to do anything to it. Should be o.k for Zong? I am guessing it's o ring but will have to confirm.

Originally Posted by SpudRider

The important thing to remember is always cut off an even number of links. :wink:

Spud I didn't know that, good tip. Thank you for providing links to chain brakers.

Originally Posted by humanbeing

Bite the bullet, buy in OZ. If something f***s, at least u can blame & sue.

It's the postage that is spoiling the party. That's why i want to buy it from here. Thank you for links as well.

Originally Posted by SpudRider

Perhaps you can also find the KMU 428UO, drive chain on the Australian version of eBay, Pliskin. :wink:

I did search but they only had 116 links from my memory.

Originally Posted by zingshoen

what s the standard chain length on the zong?

According to my count 126 links.
Zingshoen are you still on your stock chain?

There are also 2 more bike shops in town so will check them next week as well to see if they have something.
Thank you Gentlemen for your input. Always appreciated.

[SpudRider]

The RK 428SO drive chain is very good, Pliskin. Any of the brand name, O-ring drive chains will work well on your Zong. In the United States, the KMC 428UO chain is the least expensive, followed by the EK 428SROZ. However, prices are probably different in Australia.

I found the KMC 428UO drive chain on eBay from a vendor who will ship internationally; here's the link.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/428-X-132-Li...#ht_1481wt_905

Spud

[Pliskin]

Thank you Spud for the link. I don't have account with ebay so couldn't check how much would be with shipping.
But I am guessing the price would be similar to http://www.oemcycle.com. You have much better deals on products over there. :wink:

[SpudRider]

You're welcome, Pliskin. The shipping charge to Australia for the eBay, KMC 428UO drive chain is $19.95.

Spud

[Weldangrind]

Originally Posted by Pliskin

Spud I didn't know that, good tip. Thank you for providing links to chain brakers.

With all respect to my good friend Spud, that comment can be misinterpreted. Another way to look at chains is a series of male and female links. Once you've cut off what you don't need, you must have two female links left to join with a master link. Make sense? I believe that's what Spud means by an even number of links; your new chain will have a female link at each end, and it must look like that when you're done cutting.

As Spud also says, removing links with a mini grinding tool (like a Dremel) or with an angle grinder is easy. I don't even use a chain breaker.

[SpudRider]

Originally Posted by Weldangrind

With all respect to my good friend Spud, that comment can be misinterpreted. Another way to look at chains is a series of male and female links. Once you've cut off what you don't need, you must have two female links left to join with a master link. Make sense? I believe that's what Spud means by an even number of links; your new chain will have a female link at each end, and it must look like that when you're done cutting.

As Spud also says, removing links with a mini grinding tool (like a Dremel) or with an angle grinder is easy. I don't even use a chain breaker.

You've given a much better, more detailed explanation, Weld. However, it's much easier for me to remember, and explain to others, to remove an even number of links! I select the pin I wish to grind by counting an even number of links/pins, then I visualize to confirm I will be left with two male (narrower) links on each end of the chain.

Another very important point to consider is this; don't cut the chain too short! 8O If you cut the chain too long, you can always cut it again. If you cut the chain too short, you have ruined the entire chain, unless you can use it on another motorcycle.

When changing sprockets on a bike, the stock chain length will frequently change. Therefore, you can't be sure how many chain links you need to add, or remove. Once again, keep an even number of chain links, or you won't be able to install the female (wider) master link.

When I need to determine a new chain length, I loosen the rear wheel and push it as far forward as the chain adjusters will allow. Then I install the chain, and wrap it around both sprockets. I inspect to see where I would have two male (narrower) links line up on the rear sprocket, a tooth apart, and the place where I would install the master link. This space will be farther back than the most forward position of the wheel on the chain adjusters, otherwise you couldn't get the chain installed. After "measuring" twice to confirm I got the correct pin, I remove the chain and grind the stakes off the desired pin. Then I get my heavy-duty chain breaker, and push the pin out of the chain.

Incidentally, it requires a lot of torque to push the pin out of a new, quality, O-ring drive chain! 8O Some people don't bother to grind the stakes off the pin before they push/pound it out. However, I find the process is difficult enough even after I have ground the stakes off the pin! 8O You really have to torque on the chain breaker for quite a while to push the pin out of a new, quality, O-ring drive chain.

Spud

[SpudRider]

The newer drive chains, especially O-ring drive chains, are constructed better better than the older drive chains. Therefore, you will discover a chain breaker really does facilitate the process of shortening a drive chain. It was much easier to drive the pin out of older chains, especially conventional chains. However, I'm sure you will be glad you purchased a chain breaker when it comes time to drive the pin out of a newer, quality, O-ring drive chain.

Spud