Replace chain and sprockets on brand new KTM / Husky / Gas Gas?

DLP600
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DLP600
Curious to know your opinions about this. I know the chain and sprockets on Japanese bikes used to be considered junk. Is the stuff on the KTM group better?
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seth505
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seth505 1/25/2021 9:01am
1/25/2021 9:01am
My stock stuff on 250sx lasted 26 hours before I changed it out, not bad at all.
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TeamGreen
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TeamGreen 1/25/2021 9:20am
1/25/2021 9:20am
Uh, no. This is one of the things that surprised me on my 1st Austrian bike: a 2015 FE350S. The chain and sprockets lasted for thousands of Baja miles (Rip to Cabo...and back).

On my 450 SX-Fs, I get over 25 hours out of the stcok stuff, too.

I had a Husky FX250 that I put 30 hours on & TE125 that had over 40 hours on the stock stuff.
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mxbrian15
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mxbrian15 1/25/2021 9:44am
1/25/2021 9:44am
DLP600 wrote:
Curious to know your opinions about this. I know the chain and sprockets on Japanese bikes used to be considered junk. Is the stuff on the...
Curious to know your opinions about this. I know the chain and sprockets on Japanese bikes used to be considered junk. Is the stuff on the KTM group better?
Legitimately curious inquiry on my part.

Why even ask if you should immediately change out the chain and sprockets? Would you not run them until they wore out regardless?
7

The Shop

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yak651
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yak651 1/25/2021 9:45am
1/25/2021 9:45am
All the yamaha's I've had lasted at least 20 hours, run them unless you have money to burn
rjg
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rjg 1/25/2021 9:56am
1/25/2021 9:56am
This is one thing I have never issues with to this day. I learned when I was 12 years old to run the chain loose. I am an intermediate Offroad Ontario rider. I can get a whole season on stock stuff doing offroad. To this day I have never broke a chain and approximately 100hours per season. Call it bs if you like but I have maintained all my bikes in great condition and spent significantly less money on chain and sprockets than most. I never understood the guys that visibly chew through chains in sprockets in less that 50 hours.
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crockett
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crockett 1/25/2021 11:34am
1/25/2021 11:34am
How do you add 1 tooth on stock sprockets
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mattman631
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mattman631 1/25/2021 11:39am
1/25/2021 11:39am
I have 22hrs on my 350xcf. It does have an O-ring chain but its still in good shape. Front sprocket starting to cup just a smidge but nothing major.

My opinion, on any bike, keep an eye on it, you can tell when a chain or sprocket is worn and needs replaced...
Snapper
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Snapper 1/25/2021 11:53am
1/25/2021 11:53am
crockett wrote:
How do you add 1 tooth on stock sprockets
I'd like to know this too. Removing teeth is easy enough to do though...
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Snapper
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Snapper 1/25/2021 11:55am
1/25/2021 11:55am
It's not something I'd recommend but a buddy of mine put 51 hours on his KTM XC 250 before changing the (o-ring) chain and sprockets to sell the bike.

With Japanese or Austrian motocross bikes, put a decent chain on immediately after purchase. Stock sprockets are really good quality nowadays.
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yz133rider
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yz133rider 1/25/2021 11:56am
1/25/2021 11:56am
I always just put a good chain on new bikes. Stock chains are never as good as a quality chain, rather than adjusting every ride or two and tearing up the sprockets and sliders quicker, just save the trouble and put a good chain on.

Rk mxu chain is my new go to. Very thin, light and holds up great.
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TeamGreen
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TeamGreen 1/25/2021 12:01pm
1/25/2021 12:01pm
yz133rider wrote:
I always just put a good chain on new bikes. Stock chains are never as good as a quality chain, rather than adjusting every ride or...
I always just put a good chain on new bikes. Stock chains are never as good as a quality chain, rather than adjusting every ride or two and tearing up the sprockets and sliders quicker, just save the trouble and put a good chain on.

Rk mxu chain is my new go to. Very thin, light and holds up great.
Have you bought a KTM or Husky? They come with good chains/sprockets.
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yz133rider
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yz133rider 1/25/2021 12:15pm
1/25/2021 12:15pm
yz133rider wrote:
I always just put a good chain on new bikes. Stock chains are never as good as a quality chain, rather than adjusting every ride or...
I always just put a good chain on new bikes. Stock chains are never as good as a quality chain, rather than adjusting every ride or two and tearing up the sprockets and sliders quicker, just save the trouble and put a good chain on.

Rk mxu chain is my new go to. Very thin, light and holds up great.
TeamGreen wrote:
Have you bought a KTM or Husky? They come with good chains/sprockets.
Yes, I ran it for a couple rides and put on a sealed chain shortly after new. ‘17 fc350.

It was stretching more often than acceptable for me. But yes the stock sprockets and sliders are great.
SweetDaddy
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SweetDaddy 1/25/2021 1:05pm
1/25/2021 1:05pm
I have switched to steel sprockets and the sprocket and chain last sooo much longer - worth the weight
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G-man
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G-man 1/25/2021 1:40pm
1/25/2021 1:40pm Edited Date/Time 1/26/2021 9:48am
yz133rider wrote:
Yes, I ran it for a couple rides and put on a sealed chain shortly after new. ‘17 fc350. It was stretching more often than acceptable...
Yes, I ran it for a couple rides and put on a sealed chain shortly after new. ‘17 fc350.

It was stretching more often than acceptable for me. But yes the stock sprockets and sliders are great.
Do you also throw Money 🤑in the garbage?

I have 146 HOURS on my STOCK chain and sprockets.
It's a 16 350XCFW so it did come with an Oring chain but so far so good. 👍
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yz133rider
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yz133rider 1/25/2021 2:26pm
1/25/2021 2:26pm
yz133rider wrote:
Yes, I ran it for a couple rides and put on a sealed chain shortly after new. ‘17 fc350. It was stretching more often than acceptable...
Yes, I ran it for a couple rides and put on a sealed chain shortly after new. ‘17 fc350.

It was stretching more often than acceptable for me. But yes the stock sprockets and sliders are great.
G-man wrote:
Do you also throw Money 🤑in the garbage? I have 146 HOURS on my STOCK chain and sprockets. It's a 16 350XCFW so it did come...
Do you also throw Money 🤑in the garbage?

I have 146 HOURS on my STOCK chain and sprockets.
It's a 16 350XCFW so it did come with an Oring chain but so far so good. 👍
Seems that isn’t an even comparison since yours came with a sealed chain!

146 hours is damned impressive!
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FGR01
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FGR01 1/25/2021 4:58pm
1/25/2021 4:58pm
2020 Husky FC350... got like 9 hrs out of the stock Regina chain... kept stretching. Put an ERT3 on with a steel tooth sprocket. At 34 hrs now.

2021 TC125... at 16hrs now with same Regina chain and stock sprocket. I suspect 20-25 it will need to be replaced.

Pit Row

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mxtech1
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mxtech1 1/25/2021 6:39pm
1/25/2021 6:39pm
Industry rule of thumb for precision roller chains is to replace them when they elongate to 2.5%. Running them past that amount increases the probability of a torque snap.
str8line
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str8line 1/25/2021 6:49pm
1/25/2021 6:49pm
180 hrs on my stock 450XCF chain and sprockets before replacement. And 180 hours on another 450XCF before that. Got only about 30 hrs on my last two KX450's. That's riding desert and mountain singletrack, dunes, slickrock, etc. Wheel bearings go out at about 180 hrs. on the KTM's too.
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fullysicmate 1/26/2021 1:31am
1/26/2021 1:31am
60 hrs on my stock 450sxf chain and sprockets.
68 on my fe501 stock chain and sprockets.

Run them, they are good.
2
BobPA
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BobPA 1/26/2021 5:15am
1/26/2021 5:15am
71 hours on my 300XC, they were absolutely on their last leg.

23 hours on my 450sx-f and they were done.

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Rickyisms 1/26/2021 9:29am
1/26/2021 9:29am
SweetDaddy wrote:
I have switched to steel sprockets and the sprocket and chain last sooo much longer - worth the weight
I run steels on my 125 and 150 with a non sealed DID gold chain. I am really over the top with cleaning and lubing the chain, as well as adjusting it to manual spec and not just the old "two fingers" trick. I get a lot more life out of my stuff than my friends do. In Florida if you don't keep good care of it the sand and mud will eat it away real quick.
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HighPlainsSquid 1/26/2021 12:36pm
1/26/2021 12:36pm
TeamGreen wrote:
Have you bought a KTM or Husky? They come with good chains/sprockets.
I ran the stock chain/sprockets on my '18 KTM 150 XCW until I sold it at 80 hours. I had a brand-new set that I included with the bike and didn't feel pressured to put them on. I should've kept them for my '19 150 SX. Gotta quit giving stuff away.
1
BikePilot
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BikePilot 1/29/2021 8:53pm
1/29/2021 8:53pm
The Husky sprockets seem to be great. The chains seem pretty good, though not great. At 65hrs my Husky’s chain is starting to stretch and get some stiff links. Top of the line did x-ring chains usually last me 100hrs+.
Donkey Kong 1/29/2021 10:05pm
1/29/2021 10:05pm
DLP600 wrote:
Curious to know your opinions about this. I know the chain and sprockets on Japanese bikes used to be considered junk. Is the stuff on the...
Curious to know your opinions about this. I know the chain and sprockets on Japanese bikes used to be considered junk. Is the stuff on the KTM group better?
mxbrian15 wrote:
Legitimately curious inquiry on my part. Why even ask if you should immediately change out the chain and sprockets? Would you not run them until they...
Legitimately curious inquiry on my part.

Why even ask if you should immediately change out the chain and sprockets? Would you not run them until they wore out regardless?
So when you sell the bike you have new chain and sprockets on it. That's really the only point.
Donkey Kong 1/29/2021 10:06pm
1/29/2021 10:06pm
Pretty sure the late model bikes all come with quality components. Bad bikes are a thing of the past really.
Spooner
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Spooner 1/30/2021 7:20am
1/30/2021 7:20am
My TX300i came with an aluminum rear sprocket so I swapped it for a twin ring. We ride in enough mud that the aluminum ones just eat themselves.
Bruce372
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Bruce372 1/30/2021 7:45am
1/30/2021 7:45am
All the quality parts coming on the Austrian bike, but they slap on a crap chain? Makes no sense.

40+ hours of moto on the sprockets on all our Austrian bikes
cloud41
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cloud41 1/30/2021 8:10am
1/30/2021 8:10am
I think this is specific to kawi and maybe Suzuki. Austrian brands and yamaha oem chain/sprockets are solid.

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