You don't 'alf see some badly maintained bikes, out there! Hopefully, not Laverdas.

The Sock said:
Not an O ring chain, but it appears to have been maintenance free.
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I used to see chains like that, ratcheting clutch cables and my pet hate lose gear levers all the time- I’ve seen hooked sprockets that look like waves- surprisingly I’ve seen very few snapped chains. Most lubed O ring chains I’ve changed have internal rust on the pins with the exception of bikes fitted with a Scott oiler. More of a Linklife man myself..
 
The old heating the chain in a pan of lube - Duckhams or Linklyfe - could be life - changing. Mate went through a divorce when his wife came home to find her cream coloured kitchen was now matt black. Stovetop fire which produced copious amounts of oil laden smoke.....

In justice to her it was just the last straw. I couldn't have lived with him. Going away to race meetings with him was not fun.
 
Fit a Pete Furlong style enclosure , where the chain is enclosed by rubber gaiters ......... like MZ used to use on their two-strokes , and was also available for Laverda triples in the early days ........ Out of sight , Out of mind ........

An MZ person once claimed that his hidden chain had plenty of life left in it , as he had only used up half the adjustment ....... doesn`t mean the thing isn`t worn out ......

Bought a new MZ Supa 5 ........ After a couple of hundred miles removed the engine side cover to check and lube the chain ( easier than struggling with those gaiters ) ........ and found half a dozen broken rollers lying in the bottom of the case ..........

Having said all that , still prefer a worn out chain to shaft drive ......... Once had a rear wheel lock up at 40 mph on a shaft drive bike that had no provision to enable you to maintain or inspect said shaft drive , other than removing it and taking it to bits ....... At least with chain drive you can visually inspect and remedy if needs be ....... ( unless your`re the lazy git / mouth breather / inept idiot who owns the bike pictured ..... ) ........

......... After about 20 yards ( I wasn`t counting ) of shaft drive inspired ( it was that ) , 40 mph rear wheel sliding , I came to a halt more or less in one piece .... that wouldn`t have been the case at 90 ............. After that experience I would never , ever , ride a shaft driven bike again ....... It may have been an isolated incident , but it only needs to happen the once .........
 
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rocketonarail said:
Fit a Pete Furlong style enclosure , where the chain is enclosed by rubber gaiters ......... like MZ used to use on their two-strokes , and was also available for Laverda triples in the early days ........ Out of sight , Out of mind ........

An MZ person once claimed that his hidden chain had plenty of life left in it , as he had only used up half the adjustment ....... doesn`t mean the thing isn`t worn out ......

Bought a new MZ Supa 5 ........ After a couple of hundred miles removed the engine side cover to check and lube the chain ( easier than struggling with those gaiters ) ........ and found half a dozen broken rollers lying in the bottom of the case ..........

Having said all that , still prefer a worn out chain to shaft drive ......... Once had a rear wheel lock up at 40 mph on a shaft drive bike that had no provision to enable you to maintain or inspect said shaft drive , other than removing it and taking it to bits ....... At least with chain drive you can visually inspect and remedy if needs be ....... ( unless your`re the lazy git / mouth breather / inept idiot who owns the bike pictured ..... ) ........

......... After about 20 yards ( I wasn`t counting ) of shaft drive inspired ( it was that ) , 40 mph rear wheel sliding , I came to a halt more or less in one piece .... that wouldn`t have been the case at 90 ............. After that experience I would never , ever , ride a shaft driven bike again ....... It may have been an isolated incident , but it only needs to happen the once .........
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What shaft drive bike was it?
 
I was working with a young bloke years ago who was telling me he was having clutch issues and his bike was making an odd noise. Tiny Pimples for teeth on your rear sprocket have that effect apparently. I shouldn't talk, people have found 6 broken-off teeth on my rear sprocket on day 2 of a 4-day ride and I had the chain suddenly start spinning around the rear sprocket again on a 2-day ride. I now only use Steel rear sprockets and look at them just a bit more often.
 
rocketonarail said:
Fit a Pete Furlong style enclosure , where the chain is enclosed by rubber gaiters ......... like MZ used to use on their two-strokes , and was also available for Laverda triples in the early days ........ Out of sight , Out of mind ........
Click to expand...
Laverda triples, and 750s, and 500s and of course standard fitment on Chotts.

Paul
 
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