No more split links for me!
 

I fitted a new ( and expensive!) chain and Renthal sprockets to my Tenere about 7 months ago and used the split link supplied. I had a mechanic friend cast an eye over it and all good. I'm super fussy about oiling/adjusting the chain and it's been fine for several thousand miles and a trip to Ireland, but coming back from work the other day I heard a metallic ' ching' ...didn't think much of it but gradually the bike didn't feel right...I had been blasting along but took it gently the last few miles as it felt like the clutch was slipping. When I checked the bike over I found the link missing and the chain about to come apart....the sprockets were destroyed, hence the slipping clutch sensation. As I'd been doing 80mph earlier I'm just glad the chain hadn't let go!! .....no more split links....ever!!! Steve

Thanks for the heads up regarding split links.

I fitted one to my replacement DID chain around 5 years ago and it�s still going strong.

Think I will be having a closer look at it after reading this post.

Glad that you noticed it as the outcome could have been very different.

Cheers

Not a nice experience Steve.

Had a similar issue this year myself. Had just over 3k on a new chain and sprockets when the split link failed on me,doing about 60mph on the outside lane of a dual carriageway. Luckily the chain fell of cleanly onto the road as I lost all drive. After I recovered said item from the fast lane �� I found that the outer clip part had gone and the inner side section had broken in half.
I'm lucky no damage was caused but replaced it with a new d.i.d riveted chain and sprockets.

Steve, how come your sprockets were destroyed if your chain didn't come off? Apologies if I've misread something..

I've never felt good about split links, bought myself one of these -> https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/drap...ain-splitter-/

�60 might be alot for a single tool that doesn't get lots of use, but it's cheaper than a rebuild if the link lets go...

Always use silicone on the clip. it should be considered as a law.

+1 on the tool.. I have one too. Still have to grind the head off a link's rivet before I use it though. Pushing a rivet out without grinding it flush will probably shatter the tool's driving pin. Oddly though, if you have the grinder to grind the head off a link's rivet you may as well just use the grinder to cut straight through the old chain. It is the best thing ever though to peen over a new rivet head.

Recent trip, with new chain and sprockets, did 10500km through France,Spain, Portugal, Morocco, western Sahara, and back. Chain and sprockets completely shagged.....but on inspection had lost the springclip. Don't know where, or how many km's, but very worrying !!!

I know a guy who had the split link let go on a ZZR1100 at speed. It smashed the rear of the motor, the tail and then just missed a car behind him. A bad experience that could have been much worse...

Cheers guys...I think it's deceptive with the Tenere as despite the on paper BHP it's a big single with lots of 'grunt'....and quite hard on chains. Which as we know are only as good as the weakest link!.
Chalk Two... I think the side to side movement after the split link departed and all the extra play just chewed up the teeth on the sprockets, especially the rear Renthal superlight which is hard anodized aluminium. Cheers, Steve

It doesn't... :) or rather it hasn't ... :smilies0944:

I'm just being a tight-rs, not wishing to scratch my chain breaker..... and I'm probably too kak handed to not bust a driving pin anyway.

YouTube has plenty of vids on how to use a chain breaker and some do, and some don't recommend preparing a rivet head first but I think it's generally agreed if a chain is 530 and thicker you definitely do need to prep 1st. Although I know our chains are thinner I personally prefer spending 27 seconds cutting an old chain off and saving my chain breaker which is lovingly kept bathed in gun oil and under my pillow between usage but that's just me cuz I'm a :knob:

I only ride endless chains
 

http://mariendalvej.dk/wp-content/up...varivalby1.jpg

After this i have only ridden endless chains. It take a bit longer to replace but you have to lube the rear swing arm once in a while anyway ....

My chain of choice is the DID 520 VX2 and i usually buy from Kedo with Esjot sprockets.

If the picture does not show in a direct link, then go to http://mariendalvej.dk/clips-k%C3%A6...heck-det-igen/

Wow....that looks nasty! How much damage did it do....? Great looking Tenere by the way! Steve

Not to bad - solved it "plastic padding chemical metal" - see pictures on the link above. But decided that it was a clue to give up winter riding (happened in March of 2009) At that time it had runded 100.000km and i bought a Smart Fortwo that I at the time could take with the ferry to work at the price as a motorcycle. I ride/drive ~2000km a month to/from work and back then i had a XTZ750 for the sommer months. Since 2013 i've only had the XT660Z in the link below