I thought it would be simple. Apparently not so.
Which reasonably priced sprockets and chain should I buy for my 2 week long-distance trip? A bit scared of Ebay as I hear horror stories about fake chains etc. My stock chain and sprockets don't look too bad for the 10000 miles its done, but I don't want any trouble on the road. My yamaha dealer wants �125 for stock Yamaha sprockets and DID chain, but I'm sure one can do better than this?

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2010 XT660Z Blue, Exan can, UFO high front fender, SW Motech baseplate, heated grips, 12v point, Kevs Fuel & O2 mod, DNA Stage 2 Filter and cover, Givi tall screen, Mefo mfe 99s, Kevs throttle mod, TT high seat and 'compass'

Just saw CaptMoto's previous answer to a similar question. Renthal sprockets and chain from B&C look good and I do like the chain with a removable clip like off road bikes use.
Is it safe to use, as the Haynes manual warns against the non rivetted link type?

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2010 XT660Z Blue, Exan can, UFO high front fender, SW Motech baseplate, heated grips, 12v point, Kevs Fuel & O2 mod, DNA Stage 2 Filter and cover, Givi tall screen, Mefo mfe 99s, Kevs throttle mod, TT high seat and 'compass'

Some people hate them, some people love them... You'll get loads of different opinions on this one... and no definitive answer!

Personally, I run endless on the Tenere simply because everytime I get through a chain I take the opportunity to strip the swingarm and linkage. I do however use split links on both my BSA and Triumph. In fact I've run split links/spring clips on many bikes (most more powerful the the XT) and never had an issue (always decent quality stuff mind). Quite a few guys I know wire lock the spring clip in place on their classic road bikes and racers. So do that if you're worried about losing/breaking it.



At the end of the day it's up to you, but remember you can always carry a spare link and clip in your pocket and you don't need to carry any "special" tools to fit them and makes removing the chain a 5 minute job.

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Very interesting. Which chain and sprockets do you put on black beauty?

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2010 XT660Z Blue, Exan can, UFO high front fender, SW Motech baseplate, heated grips, 12v point, Kevs Fuel & O2 mod, DNA Stage 2 Filter and cover, Givi tall screen, Mefo mfe 99s, Kevs throttle mod, TT high seat and 'compass'

I always use DID chains on every bike.

I take it by "Black Beauty" you mean the Tenere? It has OTR 525 steel sprockets and an endless DID X-ring chain.

The BSA A65 (also a "black beauty") runs a 530 DID O-ring chain with a split link and English made unbranded steel sprockets from Burton Bike Bits. The Triumph has aluminium Rickman supplied sprockets and will also have a 530 DID O-ring chain with split link (when I get round to finishing building it!)

As I said before, never had any bother with split links and I've done a lot of miles with them over the years.

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Thanks. The more I learn the more I realise how little I really know

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2010 XT660Z Blue, Exan can, UFO high front fender, SW Motech baseplate, heated grips, 12v point, Kevs Fuel & O2 mod, DNA Stage 2 Filter and cover, Givi tall screen, Mefo mfe 99s, Kevs throttle mod, TT high seat and 'compass'

I use did o ring chain and supersprox sprockets and have had no trouble at all with them , but again it's one of those personal choice things..

I swear to DID gold chains.

DID because i then now that it is quality
Gold because my chain oiler dont need to oil the outer plates. (Normal black chains easily rust on the other plates as soon as there is winter in the weather forecast (and they but salt on the roads as precausion)
Endless for piece of mind - I've had clips fail...(sad panda on http://majland.org/blog/?p=220)

Last year i fitted DID 520 VX2 with Esjot sprocket from Kedo (only done 4000km so far - I got 18000km on the factory fitted)

I considered going oversize as i dit on my super tenere
DID 530VM Gold 28050km
DID 525ZVM Gold 23099km

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2011 Yamaha XT660Z ABS T�n�r�.

• Puig +8cm dark screen, Garmin Zumo 220, Scottoiler eSystem v2
• Barkbusters Storm with external weights, Noname 30mm bar risers & EzMoto alu. levers
• Kev's O2 Controller, Mccoi stepless controller with Hein Gericke heated grips
• TT +4cm seat, Pivot Pegs, Altech stainless sprocket cover