After many many wonderful miles, from the day I picked her up on the 1st June 2008, through European trips, Spanish trips, Portugal trips, countless UK trips, snow, hail, wind, rain and baking sunshine. Over the trails of the Lakes and many other forgotten rides.

The relationship has ended.

It's time to replace the Chain & Sprocket set.

Why ? because the front sprocket has turned it's last turn, it's lost it's bite - literally!

Last night on the way back from another endeavour into the mountains the bike started to make some horrible noises, grinding noises under power <from a standing start>, at first it was only in 2nd gear and my fears of a gearbox rebuild started to loom. Then in all gears from a start, but never when under power (overtaking etc) I was becoming perplexed so I stopped and took a look.

Chain was fine, could do with a little tension, rear sprocket had all it's teeth so I set off again, taking it easy. All was well.

Returned home, whipped the front sprocket cover off to discover ever one of the teeth are worn down to about 3-4mm in length, I've seen pastry cutters with a more aggressive edge.

The chain is fine, as is the rear sprocket, but I think I've pushed my luck as far as I dare, I'll take this warning from the bike and say goodbye to the C&S set that has served me so well for so long - it almost made 4 years....

Bit of a bu99er it's Easter weekend though - and I've no transport..... the Landy has three tyres on the wear indicators (that's a 700 mile motorway trip for you), the Tenere is toothless and the TTR needs RFL ! I guess it's my daughters Micra and a paper bag!




I know... I'll get a photo up as soon as the camera has some battery life - another victim of overuse!

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Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.

Hehe.....you weren't a courier in a previous life were you?!

Darren on Wednesday mine is for new cushdrive under warrenty , chain and sprockets , new front mudy . dont feal too bad ... mine is in use everyday all weathers and yes its a 11 model .

How many miles did you get from that sprocket? My last bike, WR250X, ended up with BADLY hooked teeth after 12k miles. I read somewhere that singles were heavy on sprockets, & wonder how long the XT will last, particularly when ridden 'spiritidly'.....
Also, there was someone on another forum who made alu sprocket covers with big holes in it, so you can see sprocket condition at a glance - is there such a thing for the XT????

30k from the chain and rear, 3k less from the front. I had brief time with a 14T before deciding it sucked. Then put the original back on

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Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.

****** me

heres mine after 8k miles ....


By minkyhead at 2011-05-14

I've got a 14 tooth I can post if you're in a fix? Let me know..

Mike

Toura**** do one.

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I spent a lot of money on travel and racing motorcycles - the rest I just squandered.

XT660Z - Commuter, Adventurer...Racer?

www.dashmoto.net

Other bikes >> MT-03 / CG125BR-J / ER-6F
Departed >> ZXR400L3 / EC300 / DR-Z400E / DR800S / GPZ500S / GS400

A very kind offer, I've found the old one from the TTR at the back of the bench, a bit hooked but it'll do for a few days till I get one through the wonderful postal service...

But thanks very much for the offer.

__________________
>-------<

Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.

So, the bike is now in a state of repair, or partial anyway!

The Tenere gets a lot of bad criticism with regard the quality of the parts, so just to redress the balance a little. These pictures are almost 4 years old, have covered 30K miles and haven't had an easy life. Yes, they have had the benefit of a Scottoiler from new, but other than a once a year clean (at service time) and the odd spray of chain grease now and then, the set has been pretty much left alone.

First of all, lets look at the chain:



It has been degreased, but that isn't bad at al fro a chain that has ridden 4 winters, suffered sand, cold, heat and torrential rain. The seals are in pretty good shape too:



And the pin isn't showing too much wear, apart from some darkening, there is no real surface wear. I soaked a section of chain overnight in 'Gunk' just to see if it effected the grease inside the chain, when I split it there was still grease inside...... so the myth about cleaning your chain with degreaser, in this experiment, has been busted somewhat.
The damage to the end is where I took it off with the chain tool:



Now, the front sprocket....... The one on the right is the one I've just removed, the other one is a new one. I think I've squeezed every mile out of this...



and here is the front and rear, again these have been on the bike since May 2008, and the rear isn't in too bad a shape:



and a close up on the rear:



All in all, in conclusion, the OE C&S is not a bad bit of kit, it has lasted well if you keep it lubricated.

The Scottoiler must take credit for this, at �70 it's 70% (ish) of a new C&S set, but extends the life incredibly.

So, will this replacement x-ring chain last any longer ?

__________________
>-------<

Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.