This Dyna is actually the first bike I've had that doesn't have a chain. In general, with good maintenance, you can get 12-15,000 miles from a chain. Of course, lighter chains or more powerful engines will get you less. I always replace the sprockets at the same time. They wear into the old chain and won't fit a new chain properly, resulting in less life from the new chain. Not worth the difference in cost, IMHO. There are a number of oilers you can get, some automatic (Scott oiler, Tutoro), others just more convenient that doing it by hand (Loobman). If you're doing 100 miles a day you're going to be looking at oiling it every 4 or 5 days.

 

I remember your unfortunate fire, but I don't remember the outcome... Was it actually not worth putting back together? Did insurance total it? What is the potential new bike?

That fire situation was definitely scary...

 

Why would that be a BIG Risk? ... Assuming it's a bike (you posted in the Dyna section) that came originally with a belt, just change it back if it doesn't work out.

You did say ... 99% perfect for you

 

 

Long time chain rider with a heavy throttle hand here's my advice, you keep the chain do your homework on what the most long lived sprockets & chain brands will be and NEVER go cheap. At a 100mi a day you'll chew through the less expensive stuff quick, even on my shovel I could go through 3 chains and 2 sets of sprockets a season doing the cheap stuff. Tsubaki high end O-ring chains lasted me the longest I could get 20k but your looking at up to $250+ for one. Sprockets you'll have to research with the sport bike craze now I'm sure there's much better stuff available than when I ran them.

With a good oring chain you'll be looking at adjusting weekly if you want max life out of things and lubing every 300-400mi. and use a high grade tacky or dry graphite lube over a lighter oil based, less mess. You will notice a slight vibration & whine at higher speeds with a chain over a belt. Watch the rear sprocket teeth, when the start getting a pointed tip and the pocket looks stretched to the front side it's replacement time otherwise wear accelerates quickly at this point and a busted chain is no joke if it decides to jam up in there, will break castings.

 

Clean and relube the chain every 500 km or so
Check slack everytime you do clean

Long term, change the chain every 25-30K km

-not sure how this converts into miles

Your good to go. Nothing risky about having a chain. Just keep it lubed and cleaned. I'd be more interested what's in that engine that required the prior owner to go with a chain. I'm assuming it's a stage 2+ type of modification?

 

Yup, chains are great, as long as they don't develope 2 ends....

I've broke one chain. Ended up buying new center cases...

 

Too old
too tight
too loose

those r the 3 culprits why a chain would break.

I have other sport bikes with chains in my garage, never broke one yet. Knock on wood.

 

Sounds more like the three stages of ***** than a chain