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Chain lifespan?

  • 28-10-2014 10:09pm
    #1
    Maidhci
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 866 ✭✭✭


    Wondering what the recommended kilometer lifespan of a well maintained chain on a road bike is? A rough guide is really what I am looking for - at what stage do other cyclists change the chain etc. etc. ? Thanks.


Comments

  • #2
    Gallant_JJ
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 821 ✭✭✭Gallant_JJ


    Maidhci wrote: »
    Wondering what the recommended kilometer lifespan of a well maintained chain on a road bike is? A rough guide is really what I am looking for - at what stage do other cyclists change the chain etc. etc. ? Thanks.

    Can get 5/6000+ km out of a chain but if you leave it that long you are guaranteed to have to change cassette also for smooth shifting. I generally change them out after 2.5/3000 km to maintain the cassette.


  • #3
    Eamonnator
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,561 ✭✭✭Eamonnator


    I use one of these:

    http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/cyclo-chain-wear-indicator/rp-prod42815


  • #4
    Colonel Panic
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,040 ✭✭✭Colonel Panic


    I'm on around 3000 km on my current chain and it's still grand. I just wipe it down weekly or after being out in the rain and keep it lubed. It's good advice to swap it sooner than later to save the cassette though.


  • #5
    victorcarrera
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,059 ✭✭✭victorcarrera


    Anywhere from 2K to 13K depending on how thick the chain is and whether you use full mud guards/mud flap or not.


  • #6
    tomasrojo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,853 ✭✭✭✭tomasrojo


    I found a mudflap extended the life an awful lot. I use the old tape measure method: when the span between twelve links exceeds twelve inches and gets up to about 12 1/16", I change the chain the following weekend. Works for me. I use the edge of the rivets as the start and end of the measurement.


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  • #7
    Seweryn
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,499 ✭✭✭Seweryn


    Maidhci wrote: »
    Wondering what the recommended kilometer lifespan of a well maintained chain on a road bike is? A rough guide is really what I am looking for - at what stage do other cyclists change the chain etc. etc. ? Thanks.
    My current chain covered approximately 12 - 13k km and has about 0.75% wear, so will be replaced soon.
    However, you can wear a chain in less than 2k km, if you neglect it.


  • #8
    desertcircus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,648 ✭✭✭desertcircus


    Threads like this always worry me. I don't cycle that much compared to a lot of the posters here, but I do a reasonable amount, and I haven't changed my chain or cassette in the four years I've owned my bike. I have no idea how many kilometres I've done, although as I do adventure races my usual distances are sub-60k. Should I consider replacing them?


  • #9
    Darkglasses
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,526 ✭✭✭✭Darkglasses


    desertcircus wrote: »
    Threads like this always worry me. I don't cycle that much compared to a lot of the posters here, but I do a reasonable amount, and I haven't changed my chain or cassette in the four years I've owned my bike. I have no idea how many kilometres I've done, although as I do adventure races my usual distances are sub-60k. Should I consider replacing them?

    Probably time to do it yeah. How well is the drivetrain running now?


  • #10
    desertcircus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,648 ✭✭✭desertcircus


    Reasonably well, at least as far as I can tell. It's the only serious bike I've owned, and I've been getting progressively stronger on it as time goes on, so it'd need to degrade pretty badly for me to notice. Guess I'll go shopping for a new cassette and chain in the new year.


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