The topic says it all. I want to play around with the gearing for my X but I dont wana shell out extra $$ if I'm just going to chop a cain up with the chain breaker. So is an O-Ring chain nessary? I usualy clean the chain once a month and lube it every other ride.

 

An o-ring chain is alot more maitnence than 1 time a month and I like them better for my sport.

 

I run a non oring change, you should lube after everyride and clean 1 time a week or more.

 

The difference between a o-ring and a non o-ring chain is about the same as with tires. Which tires would you run on a car? Radial or the old poly tires?
with a o-ring chain, the only thing that you have to do is to lube it after you wash the quad. Or, if you don't wash the quad very often, just spray some lube on when it has been warmed up after a few min of riding.
If you are playing around with gearing then it might be OK to use a non o-ring chain. But, when finished put on the o-ring.

 

Need4Speed,
You can use a non / O ring can if you want but they will wear out really fast if they are not kept lubed. Most of the time non / O ring chains are used in high horse power motocross bikes where every little bit of power could mean you have the edge in winning the race. There is a HP loss with O ring chains. On the other end of the scale they are used in low horsepower imports because they are cheap.
My KDX 200 has a non / O ring chain and it really impressive how it transfers the power back to the rear wheel. I clean and lube it after every ride and sometimes back at the parking lot I will give it a shot of lube in the middle of the day.
Chet

 

For the sand, I use non-O-ring.
For the dirt, O-ring.

Sand doesn't seem to care if you are running an O-ring or not, plus as stated earlier, O-ring chains rob you of H.P.

 

Go to GTThunder and take a look at the dyno runs for a o-ring chain and non o-ring chain. Which is true, what you here from people or what the dyno shows?

 

tprender;
Could you post a link to this "GTthunder" site please?
Thanks!

I have owned both, and felt the drag from both chains. Seems to me, there is a LOT less drag from a standard chain after break-in. The O-ring always seems stiffer regardless of the hours.

I wonder if the test you were talking about was done AFTER break-in also?

 

here is the link to GT Thunder. They have many runs on the 400ex with many different setups.
http://www.geocities.com/gtthunder.geo/testbed_set.html

 

My non O ring chain is so free and smooth running and the O ring chain is well very stiff after many hours of use. My non O ring chain will wear faster and more than likely the O ring chained with its sealed in lude will last for as long as I need the Quad.
I would like to know how much difference their is in the dyno runs.
Chet