Naked chain - function or fashion? - xBhp.com : The Global Indian Biking Community

rakeshchn · 10-07-2008, 12:20 AM

Guys, most of the premium segment bikes in India have lately started adopting exposed chain to show off style and agression. Isn't this more of just fashion than function? For normal Indian riding condiitons - dust, mud and monsoon, this would mean very frequent cleaning and lubrication of chain.
I used to ride one with full chain cover and so needed to lube it only once in a while. People who have bikes with exposed chain, can you post ur experience?

Sunny · 10-07-2008, 10:39 PM

Topic Approved

L.P. · 10-07-2008, 10:48 PM

Its basic reason was Rollon's chain set was too virating and caused noise and a lot of vibration in the bike.. so company finaly removed the chain covers...
with a new tech in run..The O-ring chain..

Samarth 619 · 10-08-2008, 12:21 AM

In my modified P180 UG3, I have been using open chain for 6+ months ...

1. I oil it regularly, but don't clean it ... don't get much time for cleaning.

2. There has been no problems of any Kind ...

Be very careful while oiling, I was oiling once when I started thinking of something else ... Immediately the glass oil bottle caught the chain and was crushed, with scary Cracky sounds! I was caught aback ... I was lucky that my fingers were safe ...

Since then, I'm very careful of it ...

TOPIC ANSWER: It's a Function. Why drag that 4 kgs of double chain covers?

Just put it aside & enjoy looks and lightness (although not much lightness!) ...

It still has a Chain Cover - Discover 135's Open chain cover. it protects quite a bit! It looks same as P200 or 220's cover ... costed me 50 bucks!

hitanshu · 10-08-2008, 03:05 AM

Stupidity.

Vehicles are normally designed for the dumbest (read lowest) common denominator, idiot proof if you will. The naked chain miserably fails that by MILES.

onlinesatish · 10-08-2008, 03:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Samarth 619

TOPIC ANSWER: It's a Function. Why drag that 4 kgs of double chain covers?

Just put it aside & enjoy looks and lightness (although not much lightness!) ...

!

no offence...but show me a chain cover that weighs 4kgs??

shadez · 10-08-2008, 03:28 AM

@samarth: what exactly do i need to do to get my chain cover removed? i too have a 180UG3 and didnt want the chain cover anytime.
comments i got when i planned doing so were:
1. bad for sprockets
2. need new imported chain replacement
3. bad for touring - with chain cover it is 20k kms and without it it is 10k kms
4. mechanic might just screw it up

would be good to get some gyan here.

santoosh · 10-08-2008, 03:47 AM

Own an R15
Adv & Dis Adv i can think of are
1. Looks better.Come on sports bike with a chain guard on ???
2.with a chain guard on , u have the chain hitting the guard , which was the most common problem that bajaj faced.
3.Weight reduction , u save that extra load .
4. Using oil on the chain makes it spread onto all possible places u can think of .
lesser/minimal when used with a good quality chain spray.
5. Naked chain needs proper maintainence , its not that the sproket life ll reduce just cos its an o-ring chain . when u dont maintain it , ofcourse it ll go . needs a regular wash n lubing compared to chains in chain guard.
6. Its not bad four touring , i just carried a chain spray and sprayed it after about every 600kms , no issues.
7. the open chains are less noisy.
8. chances of dust accumulating in the front sproket are more .
9...... Will add more as i could think of.....

Its bad when i took it on the beach , the fine granules of sat got into the chain and needed a wash immediately to avoid any damage.

its not bad in the rain though.the lube still stays with off roading and rain riding .

Santa
________
a00SpicyAlicia

rakeshchn · 10-08-2008, 05:52 AM

There is some truth in saying that open chain will reduce the life of sprokets..can be due to sand grains and all accumulating on chain, thus increasing friction. Think about loss of power too (may be slight). Chain cover is noisy only if chain is loose and hitting the cover, which means its time to tighten

.

Thunder · 10-08-2008, 08:46 AM

Well its simple to say - COST CUTTING ----

Yes - Bajaj started it in the form of Cost Cutting............

There is no need for our INDIAN bikes to show of without a chain box

And that turned P200 as a Style Factor ---- and by seeing that all the manufacturers followed it.......

Naked Chain - requires time and again tightening of Chain
Maintaining the chain - by clearing the dust and Oiling it regularly
and after Oiling - hapy to see ur Shock and some parts of wheel - getting spoiled of the oil sprayed on them

But i would prefer a Chain Box rather a Naked Chain
Especially for the Biking Scenario on COuntry like INDIA

Many bikes in India are having these types of Open Chain looks

Gladi
Disco135
RTR
200
220

Well question here
Which is the first Stock Indian Bike that came with an Open Chain ?

View Poll Results: What do you prefer in your bike?
Naked chain	30	71.43%
Full chain cover	12	28.57%
Voters: 42. This poll is closed

10-07-2008, 12:20 AM	#1 (permalink)
rakeshchn Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: California Posts: 64	Naked chain - function or fashion? Guys, most of the premium segment bikes in India have lately started adopting exposed chain to show off style and agression. Isn't this more of just fashion than function? For normal Indian riding condiitons - dust, mud and monsoon, this would mean very frequent cleaning and lubrication of chain. I used to ride one with full chain cover and so needed to lube it only once in a while. People who have bikes with exposed chain, can you post ur experience?

10-07-2008, 10:48 PM	#3 (permalink)
L.P. Uncle xBhp'ian Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: DL-7S Posts: 2,214	Its basic reason was Rollon's chain set was too virating and caused noise and a lot of vibration in the bike.. so company finaly removed the chain covers... with a new tech in run..The O-ring chain.. __________________ " Nothing Z Forever,Except D Change " Spiti \|\|Binsar \|\| Lansdowne Click Here to Subscribe to the xBhp Delhi SMS Channel [B] Click here to See my Photography Work

10-08-2008, 03:05 AM	#5 (permalink)
hitanshu Resident BullShit Eliminator Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Out of coverage area Posts: 581	Stupidity. Vehicles are normally designed for the dumbest (read lowest) common denominator, idiot proof if you will. The naked chain miserably fails that by MILES. __________________ http://www.bikenomads.com/wiki/index.php/Leh - All you ever need to know about getting Leh'd. My posting Philosophy

10-08-2008, 03:28 AM	#7 (permalink)
shadez Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 677	@samarth: what exactly do i need to do to get my chain cover removed? i too have a 180UG3 and didnt want the chain cover anytime. comments i got when i planned doing so were: 1. bad for sprockets 2. need new imported chain replacement 3. bad for touring - with chain cover it is 20k kms and without it it is 10k kms 4. mechanic might just screw it up would be good to get some gyan here. __________________ BIKER ...the thrill and sense of self-fulfilment is obtained from living a little dangerously!

10-07-2008, 10:39 PM	#2 (permalink)
Sunny SlowMotionInfinity Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Delhi Posts: 7,292	Topic Approved

10-08-2008, 12:21 AM	#4 (permalink)
Samarth 619 Moderator Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Rajasthan Posts: 2,797	In my modified P180 UG3, I have been using open chain for 6+ months ... 1. I oil it regularly, but don't clean it ... don't get much time for cleaning. 2. There has been no problems of any Kind ... Be very careful while oiling, I was oiling once when I started thinking of something else ... Immediately the glass oil bottle caught the chain and was crushed, with scary Cracky sounds! I was caught aback ... I was lucky that my fingers were safe ... Since then, I'm very careful of it ... TOPIC ANSWER: It's a Function. Why drag that 4 kgs of double chain covers? Just put it aside & enjoy looks and lightness (although not much lightness!) ... It still has a Chain Cover - Discover 135's Open chain cover. it protects quite a bit! It looks same as P200 or 220's cover ... costed me 50 bucks!

10-08-2008, 03:47 AM	#8 (permalink)
santoosh toure- r15 Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,002	Own an R15 Adv & Dis Adv i can think of are 1. Looks better.Come on sports bike with a chain guard on ??? 2.with a chain guard on , u have the chain hitting the guard , which was the most common problem that bajaj faced. 3.Weight reduction , u save that extra load . 4. Using oil on the chain makes it spread onto all possible places u can think of . lesser/minimal when used with a good quality chain spray. 5. Naked chain needs proper maintainence , its not that the sproket life ll reduce just cos its an o-ring chain . when u dont maintain it , ofcourse it ll go . needs a regular wash n lubing compared to chains in chain guard. 6. Its not bad four touring , i just carried a chain spray and sprayed it after about every 600kms , no issues. 7. the open chains are less noisy. 8. chances of dust accumulating in the front sproket are more . 9...... Will add more as i could think of..... Its bad when i took it on the beach , the fine granules of sat got into the chain and needed a wash immediately to avoid any damage. its not bad in the rain though.the lube still stays with off roading and rain riding . Santa ________ a00SpicyAlicia Last edited by santoosh; 08-25-2011 at 05:59 AM.

10-08-2008, 05:52 AM	#9 (permalink)
rakeshchn Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: California Posts: 64	There is some truth in saying that open chain will reduce the life of sprokets..can be due to sand grains and all accumulating on chain, thus increasing friction. Think about loss of power too (may be slight). Chain cover is noisy only if chain is loose and hitting the cover, which means its time to tighten.

10-08-2008, 08:46 AM	#10 (permalink)
Thunder Everywhere Join Date: May 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 842	Well its simple to say - COST CUTTING ---- Yes - Bajaj started it in the form of Cost Cutting............ There is no need for our INDIAN bikes to show of without a chain box And that turned P200 as a Style Factor ---- and by seeing that all the manufacturers followed it....... Naked Chain - requires time and again tightening of Chain Maintaining the chain - by clearing the dust and Oiling it regularly and after Oiling - hapy to see ur Shock and some parts of wheel - getting spoiled of the oil sprayed on them But i would prefer a Chain Box rather a Naked Chain Especially for the Biking Scenario on COuntry like INDIA Many bikes in India are having these types of Open Chain looks Gladi Disco135 RTR 200 220 Well question here Which is the first Stock Indian Bike that came with an Open Chain ? __________________ .......Just a Biker.......

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
My naked FZ6	farfromnormal	Superbike And Imports	138	01-17-2012 05:52 PM
[xBhp Universal Thread]: Lubricating your chain	ehud	Universal Threads	41	06-04-2011 05:59 PM
HELP: Kinetic Hyosung GT250 Timing Chain problem	manan_in_2000	Help Me!	4	01-30-2010 03:53 PM
HUMMER and cbr1000rr(naked) pics	worrisomebear	Superbike And Imports	74	02-08-2005 03:39 AM
Yamaha FZ6 - A High-Tech Naked Middleweight	ace619	Superbike And Imports	13	03-26-2004 04:53 AM

Register Now for FREE!
Are you registered on xBhp yet? If not, do so now and start participating to be able to share photos and experiences with other members. It will also enable to you have a chance to be a part of xBhp contests and roadtrips in the future! Username: Password: Confirm Password: E-Mail: Confirm E-Mail: Birthday: Image Verification I agree to forum rules