Stock/OEM Chain and Sprocket Quality? Replace or run it?

Johndeere506
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Johndeere506
Edited Date/Time 11/13/2019 5:12pm
As far back as I can remember I replace them when I buy a new bike, with a DID ERT gold chain and Renthal sprockets. Are the stock sunstars and whatever chains on Honda still not great, or do you replace right away?

I like to keep the stock ones to put on before selling so it has "new chain and sprockets".
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motomike894
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motomike894 3/31/2019 6:45pm
3/31/2019 6:45pm
Stock Honda chains have always been shitty, sprockets should be fine, if either put good chain on right away and run the sprockets or just run it all until it’s trashed at 10
Hours lol
Johndeere506
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Johndeere506 3/31/2019 6:53pm
3/31/2019 6:53pm
motomike894 wrote:
Stock Honda chains have always been shitty, sprockets should be fine, if either put good chain on right away and run the sprockets or just run...
Stock Honda chains have always been shitty, sprockets should be fine, if either put good chain on right away and run the sprockets or just run it all until it’s trashed at 10
Hours lol
Sucks. The sprocket I need to go down one tooth at least, so Im going to need that replaced. I figured the chains were still junk.

What is the best value gold chain? Ive been buying ERTs since working at a moto shop years ago when i could get them super cheap...always treated me well.
BobPA
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BobPA 3/31/2019 6:58pm
3/31/2019 6:58pm Edited Date/Time 3/31/2019 6:59pm
Renthal (aluminum) sprockets are one of the for worst longevity. I swear they are made out of pasta....and they are expensive.
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motomike894
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motomike894 3/31/2019 7:07pm
3/31/2019 7:07pm
motomike894 wrote:
Stock Honda chains have always been shitty, sprockets should be fine, if either put good chain on right away and run the sprockets or just run...
Stock Honda chains have always been shitty, sprockets should be fine, if either put good chain on right away and run the sprockets or just run it all until it’s trashed at 10
Hours lol
Johndeere506 wrote:
Sucks. The sprocket I need to go down one tooth at least, so Im going to need that replaced. I figured the chains were still junk...
Sucks. The sprocket I need to go down one tooth at least, so Im going to need that replaced. I figured the chains were still junk.

What is the best value gold chain? Ive been buying ERTs since working at a moto shop years ago when i could get them super cheap...always treated me well.
Ert are good chains, so are reginas and rk are decent too I’ve had ok luck with my Renthal chain this time but yeah rear sprocket looked like shit pretty quick

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Johndeere506
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Johndeere506 3/31/2019 7:10pm
3/31/2019 7:10pm
What are good rear sprockets then? Ive always used renthal since the mid 90s. Other than pro taper or maybe 1 other, the only other options were cheap junk at the time.

Whats better than Renthal now?
TheLostOtter 3/31/2019 7:23pm
3/31/2019 7:23pm
In my experience sun star are the best wearing aluminum sprockets. They are my go to replacement. The typical rental aluminum rear has got to be one of the worst.
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Schenk829
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Schenk829 3/31/2019 7:36pm
3/31/2019 7:36pm
JT steely on my 450 with an RK Uw ring chain, 35 hours on it now and I think I’ve only adjusted it three times? Chain is exspensive but sprockets are cheap but that’s what I have had the best luck with
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Johndeere506
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Johndeere506 3/31/2019 7:39pm
3/31/2019 7:39pm
TheLostOtter wrote:
In my experience sun star are the best wearing aluminum sprockets. They are my go to replacement. The typical rental aluminum rear has got to be...
In my experience sun star are the best wearing aluminum sprockets. They are my go to replacement. The typical rental aluminum rear has got to be one of the worst.
That hasnt matched my experience. The sunstars are 50 and the renthals are like 62 or something. Anyone else comare these 2?
Johndeere506
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Johndeere506 3/31/2019 7:40pm
3/31/2019 7:40pm
BobPA wrote:
Renthal (aluminum) sprockets are one of the for worst longevity. I swear they are made out of pasta....and they are expensive.
What do you recommned over the Renthals?
BobPA
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BobPA 3/31/2019 7:45pm
3/31/2019 7:45pm Edited Date/Time 3/31/2019 7:45pm
TheLostOtter wrote:
In my experience sun star are the best wearing aluminum sprockets. They are my go to replacement. The typical rental aluminum rear has got to be...
In my experience sun star are the best wearing aluminum sprockets. They are my go to replacement. The typical rental aluminum rear has got to be one of the worst.
Johndeere506 wrote:
That hasnt matched my experience. The sunstars are 50 and the renthals are like 62 or something. Anyone else comare these 2?
Are you open to try steel? You cannot feel the slight weight penalty, and they last soooo much longer. I switched to the Supersprox steel, as it looks good and is reasonable. I ran JT steel for a while as well with great results....and they are dirt cheap (look kinda plain jane though). Moose now has a twin ring version (steel teeth aluminum center) that is much more affordable than the Renthal version. If you must have aluminum, I have had good luck with Sunstar and Moose. Renthal has never worked well for me, neither did the Pro Taper chain or sprocket.

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loftyair
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loftyair 3/31/2019 7:54pm
3/31/2019 7:54pm
Twin ring rear, quality chain in oring or without. Always replace all 3 items at same time, they wear together. Oring lasts longer.
Johndeere506
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Johndeere506 3/31/2019 7:54pm
3/31/2019 7:54pm
TheLostOtter wrote:
In my experience sun star are the best wearing aluminum sprockets. They are my go to replacement. The typical rental aluminum rear has got to be...
In my experience sun star are the best wearing aluminum sprockets. They are my go to replacement. The typical rental aluminum rear has got to be one of the worst.
Johndeere506 wrote:
That hasnt matched my experience. The sunstars are 50 and the renthals are like 62 or something. Anyone else comare these 2?
BobPA wrote:
Are you open to try steel? You cannot feel the slight weight penalty, and they last soooo much longer. I switched to the Supersprox steel, as...
Are you open to try steel? You cannot feel the slight weight penalty, and they last soooo much longer. I switched to the Supersprox steel, as it looks good and is reasonable. I ran JT steel for a while as well with great results....and they are dirt cheap (look kinda plain jane though). Moose now has a twin ring version (steel teeth aluminum center) that is much more affordable than the Renthal version. If you must have aluminum, I have had good luck with Sunstar and Moose. Renthal has never worked well for me, neither did the Pro Taper chain or sprocket.

For no good reason guess I really dont want steel. My renthal sprocket and ERT last me a long time on my last bike, so I really have no reason to change I guess. I lube it every single session, not sure if everyone does that or not, and I never really ride in mud.
carmfarm
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carmfarm 3/31/2019 8:00pm
3/31/2019 8:00pm
It's all about the chain
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Thirteen-II
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Thirteen-II 3/31/2019 8:05pm
3/31/2019 8:05pm
Keefer says he prefers Sunstar sprockets as they are what the OEM's use (and he finds they wear the best).
rjg
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rjg 3/31/2019 8:34pm
3/31/2019 8:34pm
Love the look of zirconium and heat!

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bvm111
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bvm111 3/31/2019 9:09pm
3/31/2019 9:09pm
Thirty years of riding Moto, never an issue with Renthal Aluminum sprockets. I ride about 1 time a week and I get around 6 to 9 months out of mine on the 450. Could be riding style maybe and I am maticulous about maintenance and lube.

When I get a fresh motorcycle I dump the chain and sprocket and reinstall when selling.
JM485
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JM485 3/31/2019 9:16pm
3/31/2019 9:16pm
Chain and sprockets wear as a set. I can't imagine some of you guys are seriously wearing out an aluminum rear to the point where it's not safe to run before the chain is also toast, it seems like they both wear out at about the same time for me so I replace everything as a set. If you put a new chain on a worn sprocket or vice versa you're going to get premature wear no matter what you do.
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BS12
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BS12 3/31/2019 9:23pm
3/31/2019 9:23pm
70+ hours on my OEM chain and sprockets on my 08 CRF 250. Still good (though obviously due for replacement).

Just lube each time I am resting between sessions, and ensure that the tension is correct.
feelit2morrow 4/1/2019 5:25am
4/1/2019 5:25am
I always go cheap tusk steel sprockets and a cheap gold chain. They last a whole season and I just replace yearly. I think it's like $70 for a kit on RM.
BobPA
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BobPA 4/1/2019 6:02am
4/1/2019 6:02am
JM485 wrote:
Chain and sprockets wear as a set. I can't imagine some of you guys are seriously wearing out an aluminum rear to the point where it's...
Chain and sprockets wear as a set. I can't imagine some of you guys are seriously wearing out an aluminum rear to the point where it's not safe to run before the chain is also toast, it seems like they both wear out at about the same time for me so I replace everything as a set. If you put a new chain on a worn sprocket or vice versa you're going to get premature wear no matter what you do.
An o-ring chain will out last an aluminum sprocket by a bunch. 15-20 hours and my 450 will toast a rear aluminum sprocket. Steel is real...
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AngryBear
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AngryBear 4/1/2019 7:15am
4/1/2019 7:15am Edited Date/Time 4/1/2019 10:15am
AngryBear wrote:
buy one, once, then never again.

https://dirttricks.com/product-category/sprockets/

total gamechanger.
GeorgiePorgie wrote:
Tell me more....
Naanak wrote:
60 hours on mine. Front should be replaced soon (almost a year) and back still looks like it’s in very good shape.
you'll go through several chains, even o-ring, before you wear out a steel dirt tricks

old school steel was heavy, dirt tricks has theirs trimmed out enough to get weight differences much closer. and they look amazing in person, pics dont do the zirconium justice. there's also black if you dont like the heat treated awesomeness look...

and they'll laser etch your name/# on it for free...



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YamahaJT1
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YamahaJT1 4/1/2019 7:51am
4/1/2019 7:51am
This is a pretty good setup...

The D.I.D VT2 is a narrow X-ring, yet one of the burliest chains they make.


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Derek Harris 4/1/2019 8:19am
4/1/2019 8:19am
Shy of SX ridnig, I haven't seen OEM chains break


So I run the a new bike ALL STOCK for the first chain and sprocket change need - for me on a 450 that's 15 hours max.
And I don't know why people push these to huge hour intervals. A broken chain due to neglect is super dangerous.

This 15 hours allows me to understand the bike - and appreciate all the testing work the OEMS did. I run std bar bend, etc etc etc. After 15 I make a punch list of things to address - often times I come to like the stock bar bend.

at retail, max price you could pay for quality stuff is 250 (maybe 300??)
One hospital trip and missed work or worse due to a broken chain is a lot more than that.

Usually I suggest for the weekend warrior sunstar steel sprockets (super cheap) and a good chain - the DiD narrow t ring is awesome. This combo will last most people a LONG time - and doesn't break the bank.

These hardened steel rear sprox are awesome - but the risk factor of running one so long just doesn't make sense to me.

For racing use - everyone SHOULD be running lightest combo they can and frequent replacement. Not that we do.
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YamahaJT1
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YamahaJT1 4/1/2019 9:59am
4/1/2019 9:59am Edited Date/Time 4/1/2019 10:08am
AngryBear wrote:
you'll go through several chains, even o-ring, before you wear out a steel dirt tricks old school steel was heavy, dirt tricks has theirs trimmed out...
you'll go through several chains, even o-ring, before you wear out a steel dirt tricks

old school steel was heavy, dirt tricks has theirs trimmed out enough to get weight differences much closer. and they look amazing in person, pics dont do the zirconium justice. there's also black if you dont like the heat treated awesomeness look...

and they'll laser etch your name/# on it for free...



Dirt Tricks

I too remember Christmas as a "yout" ,,,

Just F-ing with ya...

New hardware inspires much happiness...
1
AngryBear
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AngryBear 4/1/2019 10:16am
4/1/2019 10:16am
YamahaJT1 wrote:
Dirt Tricks

I too remember Christmas as a "yout" ,,,

Just F-ing with ya...

New hardware inspires much happiness...
zirconium bling temporarily disabled memory abilities ;-)
YamahaJT1
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YamahaJT1 4/1/2019 12:03pm
4/1/2019 12:03pm Edited Date/Time 4/1/2019 12:12pm
AngryBear wrote:
zirconium bling temporarily disabled memory abilities ;-)
All good! Bask in the good insight that you have purchased wisely.

And DO look into the D.I.D VT2 Narrow chain... Amazon for $96.. I bought the last two 116 link units today on Amazon..

Despite it being named "Enduro" it is a BEAST for MX.:

http://www.didchain.com/chainSpecs.html

Read for yourself...
fourfourone
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fourfourone 4/1/2019 12:18pm
4/1/2019 12:18pm
OEM Yamaha stuff lasted about 25 hours.

I've had good luck with renthal aluminum.

Only issue I had recently was a primary drive x-ring chain. The chain and master link were so wide it was hanging up on my oem chain guide. I didn't want to just let it wear a groove and potentially knock the master link clip off. Ended up going with a rental R1 chain and no issue at all.

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