► Chain failures: 43 so far and still counting

[Tim Cullis]

I think these threads need age of bike/chain.

I've updated the summary in the first post in this thread to quote the model and mileage (where known).

Mine was so loud adjustment spot on, scot oiled but loud (I almost got used to the noise), so it was taken off before it came off...

After clocking up more than 10,000km in Morocco on the chain-driven Tenere with not a single incident (except one of my electrical connections coming loose and the number plate falling off), I'm back on the F650GS and immediately the chain slap is annoying me. When I'm riding at 30mph why should I be forced to ride at 3000 revs in second gear to avoid the chain slap that occurs when the bike is in third gear at that speed?

Tim

 

[chippy]

Some of the riders whose chains have snapped, have been lucky to have survived these incidents,lucky that a car or truck didn't pile into the back of you,when i got my 650 gs, the dealer told me the chain is covered under warranty,as long as it is maintained,in over three years of ownership of a kawasaki versys i didn't have to adjust the chain once.

 

[v8legend]

Personaly I could not read these threads and do nothing, waiting for something to happen especialy having a 08 bike with original chain.

Mine was so loud adjustment spot on, scot oiled but loud (I almost got used to the noise), so it was taken off before it came off, sprockets were fine.
DiD gold thingy even looks heavy dutier

Its like some people are waiting for BMW to do something before there chain does something a bit like russian roulette exept your playing solo

That really is the problem with what's happening here.

My chain has no tight spots, looks in great nick, isn't noisy, no chain slap, hardly needs adjusting.

I do however lube it everytime I ride it. But still I wonder if I'm next.

I haven't got worn sprockets, and the chain looks fine, so why change it at my expense.

 

[Micky]

That really is the problem with what's happening here.

My chain has no tight spots, looks in great nick, isn't noisy, no chain slap, hardly needs adjusting.

I do however lube it everytime I ride it. But still I wonder if I'm next.

I haven't got worn sprockets, and the chain looks fine, so why change it at my expense.

Well there's lots more on here that will say the same thing ... then their chain broke

At my own expense I fitted a HD DID and new sprockets

Ah ... the piece of mind

 

[Blobby]

With 6k now on my warranty replacement chain (& sprockets), it's starting to turn to elastic and I've lost confidence in it hence will be going the DID route as the preferred option on here. Are the sprockets easy to get off if done at home or do you need special kit like some sort of puller to pop the front one off? I am also assuming that I don't need to remove the swing arm to do this job as I can cut the original chain off and the DID comes split.

My new local BMW dealer only fits OEM chains, hence I need to do a DIY job or go outside of BMW to get it done.

Are Motorworks sprockets identical to those I would get from a BMW dealer?

 

[Wirycow]

Hi, travelling home today on the A1(M) just south of Peterborough, nr the Yaxley exit, on SWMBO`s 800gs, the chain came off when we were doing about 80mph in the middle lane. Fortunately motorway wasnt to busy so was able to reach hardshoulder without any problem. No apparent damage except for broken chaiguard, hopefully thats all !. Couldnt find chain and didnt have to wait to long for BMW assist. Bike has done 10450 miles ( bought in May 08), and has a scotoiler fitted and is checked regularly. I wonder if the chain will be replaced under warranty ?, probable not.

HI all , well chain was replaced under warranty by those good folk at Rainbow, who I think did a realy quick job in repairing the bike, it was recovered to them on Wednesday afternoon and collected on Friday afternoon. OEM chain I think, as after about only 120 miles this weekend it already looks like it needs adjusting

 

[Micky]

OEM chain I think, as after about only 120 miles this weekend it already looks like it needs adjusting

Like I said, 14,000 miles on my DID and only just been adjusted for the first time

Includes overland to the Karakorum Highway in Pakistan, roadworks and no roads from Eastern Turkey and on through Iran ....


What price peace of mind eh!

 

[Tim Cullis]

DonHo on F800riders.org has reported that his F800GS with a build date of Feb 2010 has been fitted with a Regina chain.

So does that mean BMW has now decided that the revised CZ chains are also not fit for purpose?

See also Motorbike World

Tim

 

[mr badger]

Intresting. We decided we couldn't wait for a recall so had a DID + new sprockets fitted on Friday. By the lookof the chain, not a moment too soon.

Great service from local independent KRF - Lind won't fit non-BMW parts so may have lost a lot of future business.

 

[mr badger]

+ 1 and cheaper than an OFF

Especially if it's your foot that's off.

 

[bob the grizz]

gs800 chain

Reading through this thread, my 09 gs800 has just done a trip to Portugal without any problems, just checked and seems ok, but feel with the recall it will only be another cheaper replacement chain.
Better to be safe than sorry,Don't want to end up, at the side of the road, warranty or no warranty, feel worth the ££ to avoid future problems, would the advice be a DID chain or the Motorworks one, any info where to buy the DID

 

[6821snape]

Reading through this thread, my 09 gs800 has just done a trip to Portugal without any problems, just checked and seems ok, but feel with the recall it will only be another cheaper replacement chain.
Better to be safe than sorry,Don't want to end up, at the side of the road, warranty or no warranty, feel worth the ££ to avoid future problems, would the advice be a DID chain or the Motorworks one, any info where to buy the DID

Have also been following this thread and have 09 800gs no problems so far 8k miles but of to Spain and Portugal in 4 weeeks and decided to change it before we go.Bought the heavy duty DID 525ZVM2 of ebay seller FTCMC £80 plus £8 p&p roughly.Feels and looks quality.Am sure that was quite a bit cheaper than Motorworks wanted,and the fact its the heavy duty chain it will probably outlast the bike.Might as well go the whole hog and buy the specific scottoiler next .Anybody got one yet?

 

[mr badger]

.Might as well go the whole hog and buy the specific scottoiler next .Anybody got one yet?

Fitted to madame's 800 last April. Took me 2 hours. Works just fine but you really need the red oil for the summer as it gets quite warm being close to the engine.

 

[bob the grizz]

Scottoiler

I got dealer to fit Scottoiler to my bike when I bought it, trying to get it adjusted correctly, either not enough flow or splats everything in oil, top box n hodall I used for my trip well oiled. Worth having one IMHO.
Enjoy ur trip to Portugal, our recent trip was excellent, the roads are brilliant plenty of twisties, and not many of those four wheeled things either.

 

[Micky]

I got dealer to fit Scottoiler to my bike when I bought it, trying to get it adjusted correctly, either not enough flow or splats everything in oil, top box n hodall I used for my trip well oiled. Worth having one IMHO.

How can that be worth having when it either doesn't work or spits oil all over the place


Good quality chain spray on an 'as and when' basis, done 15,000 miles and only been adjusted once (DID chain of course)

 

[v8legend]

Fitted to madame's 800 last April. Took me 2 hours. Works just fine but you really need the red oil for the summer as it gets quite warm being close to the engine.

I still haven't got round to fitting my Acumen CL10 yet. But it looks the best option (try Busters). Electronic pressurised delivery with handlebar adjustment. The only drawback is that it needs a pulse signal, which is thankfully provided by BMW in the Canbus plug. I'll report back more when I get round to fitting it.

 

[Tim Cullis]

Having had a Scottoiler on my first F650GS twin I wouldn't fit one again--oil everywhere including all over the back of my jacket. The F-GS specific version only holds enough for a few hundred miles and taking spare oil/nozzle to refill the system when you are touring gets REALLY messy.

Manually lubing the chain is the way I now go, which means I tend to take some notice of what state the chain is in which isn't a bad thing when it's so suspect.

Aldi does a spray motorcycle chain cleaner, also a chain lube though I've not used the latter.

Tim

 

[bob the grizz]

Scottoiler

How can that be worth having when it either doesn't work or spits oil all over the place

Better to have an overlubed chain than a dry one !!
I'm sure once I get the setting right it will be fine

 

[GringoRojo]

slightly confused

what's the difference wrt luggage space between a can of spray lube and a 500ml bottle of scotoiler topup? none as far as I can see.

although as the tail piece is too weak for the touring reservoir the scottoiler std kit with lube tube seems the way to go - fit the tube under the seat with a pipe to the top of the reservoir and bob's yer uncle just takes patience to set the flow right. any excess oil coats and protects the back end of the bike anyway, so pretty much fit and forget.

 

[Dean]

Might as well go the whole hog and buy the specific scottoiler next .Anybody got one yet?

Yep

mine is working well, fitted as new on the 58 plate must admit it was set to high originaly and basicaly dumped its oil fast , but now its on the lowest setting and I get good range as they quote between 500 and 1000 miles. the kit is specific to the 800/650GS. yes I do get oil spots on the back wheel (your dripping oil on a mooving chain ) which are easy to clean off. refilling is easy with the clear tube fitting directly on to the unit. the blue oil is suposed to work in up to 30C where the red is for hotter countries where you can fry an egg in the sun.