Just thought I would do a quick report. My much loved and well sorted 02 CR250 spit the chain last ride. Ended up the buffer was warn out and the aluminum part was pushed over some. It pealed the master clip off and my chain flew off. I was so lucky a friend had a master that fit as we were 30 miles from the truck. Anyway I run TM Designworks on my 165, its good but wanted to try the BRP. It was recommended by a few people and I ordered one. Came today, VERY nice part. Will install and test this weekend. Seems very robust, very well thought out and complete with all bolts and even nice aluminum inserts where it bolts on. Nice.
Looks like a good piece, I'm planning to try one of those next. My TM one is...well, it used to be pretty, but it's seen better days. It's held up well to taking some hits on rocks, but not sure I can expect more than about 2 years of life out of it.
That ALUMN guide on the older model bikes gave me issues as MZ described above ... My 012 TC250 has a factory plastic one with the same type, replaceable liner stuff inside... not sure which is better but both will take trail abuse where the ALUM one just might get all gnarled out and do chain damage ... When oiling my chain with a toothbrush, I rub inside that guide and the chain slider also ...
IMHO these delrin type ones for technical stuff are almost mandatory. BPR or TM, they don't deform, are super strong and keep the chain aligned. The amulinum ones always get smacked inwards on rocks and roots and ruts and grind at your chain. Not good. I knew better and should have replaced it before the chain incident. All good now. The BPR one seems better designed than the TM one just looking at it. Very nicely done with thoughtful looking features, angles and stuff. I like it.
I don't mind the stock ones, but like you say you gotta keep 'em straight. I bent the one on my 610 and it wore a noticeable groove in the outside of the chain before I caught it and bent it back. I'm mostly just too cheap to spend $75 on something that the bike already has. I probably ought to get a BRP/TM for both bikes, though...
As soon as you have the new one. This is going to start to be a must do mod for most my bikes as it can save a ride and works great for my woods thrashing. I installed it this morning before my 60 mile rain ride. Fits like a glove, very nice part. Looks great and is quiet and seems strong. Chain slides through it nice and smooth and alignment is perfect.
When I purchased my bike, a brp one was already installed. So far, it still looks good after 2000 miles.
When (before) the chain wears completely through the plastic insert, or if it gets bent badly enough that it's rubbing the side of the chain. If the chain has clearance on both sides (check under tension) and there is meat left on the plastic, it's fine. I was looking for something else in the manual yesterday and I found this gem about the chain guide: WARNING*: Check the chain guide alignement (sic), and remember that a bent element can cause a rapid wear of the chain. In this case, a chain fleeting from the sprocket may ensue.
We have the BRP chain guides on our Husky's. They look and work great. I really have no desire to try anything else. I am glad that Dan at Motoxotica talked me out of the oem option. He ended up selling me 4 BRP guides.
The reason I posted ASAP as one hit to a rock or root or rutt and it can bend over and start ruining stuff.
IMO If the frame mounting plate gets bent it, I don't think it will matter what kind of guide is on there because the chain will not be running true.
Never had the swingarm tabs bend and the way the BPR butts up against the bottom of the arm it does not look likely. On the other hand I have had almost every stock aluminum one bend at some point and start wearing the chain, master clips and sprocket.
I saw it happen on a wr250, but only the one time. I think that the tabs sometimes come welded on wrong so the chain favors one side or the other.
