I wanted to do some work on the swing and I wanted to take the chain off and clean, so I cut a link and figured I would just get a 520 link to hook it back up. HA, surprise, not gonna happen with standard parts. Even the new RK o-ring chain master link does not fit. The pin diameter on our TR650 chain is a tad bit smaller, so the standard links will not fit. Luckily one shop had a bin full of links and I found one that would work. Be advised, if you split your chain, don't count on getting a link easily, be prepared to buy a new chain. Here are some pics for your inspection and research. First pic below is stock chain. This one shows the link that worked, and trust me, I hunted all over for this. Even BMW did not stock the link. I believe that husky made a custom order from RK for the chains on our bikes. If anybody else has a source for parts, please post em up.
I think the stock chain is garbage. I'm not impressed with it at all. At 3k miles, it already looked worse than other chains in my garage that had over 10k miles on them. So my intention is the first time I drop the chain, I replace it. It hasn't happened yet, but that day is coming really soon.
I do not think the stock chain is RK, I can not ever remember husky using RK as an OEM chain. It actually looks like maybe a RK imposter or knock off.
RK chains are usually good. This one could be a cheapy made for OEM of course. What it LOOKS like isn't reall relevant of course . Cheap chains rarely have any coating and usless you keep the chainlube to them will look crap quite quickly. Made worse but salt water or where they put salt on the road to de-ice. My choice would be a Reynolds chain though on a Supersprox sprocket ( or a Reynolds coated aluminium one for lightness/trackwork). Unfortunately Supersprox didn't list sprockets for the TR last time I looked.
You need to look at bmw 650, they fit. High Five at adv has a red sprocket from them. They just haven't added the TR 650 to the list. However, RK has lost me as a customer forever because of the crap they put me through just for a master link. No need to take chances. I may get the renthal chain. Something that can be fixed with a universal fit.
Probably not RK's fault, They wouldn't make a "speacial" OEM chain unless Husky ordered them. Much easier and cheaper for them to sell husky existing ones.
I have talked to two separate motorcycle shops in town who will not sell RK due to their not following standards. A 520 chain should be a 520 chain period. If I buy a D cell battery, the darn thing better fit my flashlight. They pimped their product out, no ethical values. Obviously they do not believe their product will stand on it's own, that they would have to pimp out to make a sale. If the chain was beefier by request, I may forgive, but it is a thinner pin, cheaper, el cheapo, garbage, and now the customer plays hell getting parts. And ten bucks says if you order the new link from husky, you will get one that will not fit, forcing you to buy a new chain, or welding your old plate back on.
You may be right. Hadn't heard about the other RK chains being a problem but if the shops are peed off with them it does point to a problem. I certainly haven't had the pin diameter problem with RK. I have had the interplate width problem but all chains have that one because of the different seals they put in different chains
It's par for the course, we have an oddball bike, may as well have oddball parts to round out the experience Glad I found out while the bike is at home though.
Have just replaced my OEM chain at 6800km as it had rust coming out from links & was starting to bind up in a lot of links. Did not replace with RK but fitted a DID X ring. I believe other owners are not getting big distances out of their OEM chains either !! When I cut the chain off at a random link, there was no lube left inside. Just dry & rusty. Chain maintenance was carried out in the same way as I do for my KTM990 & I got 30000km out of the OEM unit. Other wise, no other issues so far. Cheers G.M.
Kenneth, I was looking at that chain. Pardon my ignorance, but I've never bought a chain with "color" options before. Is there a difference between black and black/gold? And while I'm posting, for anyone tuning in, a 520 with 112 links should be the replacement for stock.
Honestly, I don't know. It may just be a bit of sales type bling, but I did read something about it on the DID web site. I just order the VX2 and it comes gold with x-rings. They also make chains with thinner plates and those take a different link, of course. I think that is a racing chain and drops a little bit of weight.
Good racing chains have NO seals. The seals add substantial internal friction. The chains require racing type maintenence ie. clean and lube after every race meet. The seal chains also add weight as they have to be wider and thus more material to fit the seals between the plates. The best chain coating is nickel. Corrosion resistant and self lubricating and helps to reduce crack propagation . Chrome is a very bad coating for the exact opposite reason ie. increases crack propagation and low embedability. Teflon is a great coating if applied properly. Some chains have teflon paints. Don't know what is in the gold coloured plated chains but it seems to be pretty good.
stock chain lasted 8800 miles but last 100-200 was adjusting the chain every day or 2. New RK X-ring chain and its nice and quiet. BTW the 112 links to be new the top of adjustment, 114 is right about center of the adjustment.
I'm going to a non oring after I wear out this setup. Also going to drop a tooth on the front, and add a couple to the rear. I was looking at the tranny parts list, and was wondering if anybody has made a taller replacement 5th gear for these bikes (BMW)? If there was, I would drop even more on the front and gear this thing like a tractor, and have 5 as the overdrive to do road speed.
I dropped a tooth on the front and I like it. Plus the speedo is only 2% slow, verified with GPS. At 50 mph on GPS speedo shows 49 mph.
