F800r chain

[UKMADDOG]

Can any 800R owner shed any light as to whether BMW have used a decent chain for the 800R as opposed to the CZ (apparently low quality chain) that has been fitted to GS800/650's?
With this bike being new it is probably too early to see many problems as yet, but reading about some of the chain disasters with the GS bikes, it concerns me slightly that BuMW have not dealt with this issue yet and are continuing to fit low grade chains to the 800R. It's pointless asking the dealer as they just deny everything, but the evidence seems pretty clear that there is a real issue with the 800GS chains.
I have yet to pick my 800R up, however if there is any doubt as to the quality I will be fitting a DID HD X ring chain to avoid any chance of a breakage and will happily pay the £80 to do so. However if it looks like they have made improvements, I'll stick with it and see how it goes. Any thoughts re this?

[Roy Barnes]

I have the f658 and have 12000 miles on it and the chain has been fine. I have just now found some tight and loose conditions as I rotate the rear wheel. I adjusted to the tight spot and continue to ride. My guess that some of the failure was rocks that got between the chain and sprockets. I lube with chain wax.

[AndyG]

Can any 800R owner shed any light as to whether BMW have used a decent chain for the 800R as opposed to the CZ (apparently low quality chain) that has been fitted to GS800/650's?
With this bike being new it is probably too early to see many problems as yet, but reading about some of the chain disasters with the GS bikes, it concerns me slightly that BuMW have not dealt with this issue yet and are continuing to fit low grade chains to the 800R. It's pointless asking the dealer as they just deny everything, but the evidence seems pretty clear that there is a real issue with the 800GS chains.
I have yet to pick my 800R up, however if there is any doubt as to the quality I will be fitting a DID HD X ring chain to avoid any chance of a breakage and will happily pay the £80 to do so. However if it looks like they have made improvements, I'll stick with it and see how it goes. Any thoughts re this?

Hi, I have had my F800R since March 2010 and have done 16K on OEM chain. Just had a new set of Pilot Road 2's fitted at the weekend and the fitters said the chain had a real tight spot so will be fitting a new one soon...

[Roy Barnes]

I have the f658 and have 12000 miles on it and the chain has been fine. I have just now found some tight and loose conditions as I rotate the rear wheel. I adjusted to the tight spot and continue to ride. My guess that some of the failure was rocks that got between the chain and sprockets. I lube with chain wax.

My chain now has over 21,000 miles on it and still is OK. I just did 5,000 miles and now need to adjust a little.

[Rider]

My wife's 09 F650GS had its first chain replaced at 24,000 miles and the second at 48,000 miles. The guy that replaced it this last time said the old one still looked good. All the chains were BMW ones

[alrobb]

My 2010 800R CPR has 27,000 klm on the original chain, been adjusted once (after 3000klm in 6 days), and it's a CZ. I have a DID on order, but my guess is the CZ will be good for around 35-40K klm. Used Silkolene and Motorex chain lube with no particular lube regime, ridden in all weathers, and not spared the rod throttle-wise.

[AndyG]

Anyone know of a step-by-step guide to replacing an endless chain?

[Dirty Red]

UKMADDOG, I was also worried about this. As far as I can tell it is an all together different chain that is heavier and a higher quality. The sprockets are steel.

Dereck

[petegailey]

Has anyone put an X-ring chain on their F800R?

I recently bought a 2010 F800R with 6,000ks on it. On my first couple of rides I noticed some noise like chain slap when I was changing gear. I checked the chain after I got it home and it looked a bit sad. It had about 40mm sag and needed tightening which I did when I put a new Pilot Road 3 on the rear. There was also some early signs of rust on the outside so I lubed it with Motul spray. I also noticed was that the chain had horizontal movement where it sat on the rear sprocket. Its like the chain is too wide for the sprocket. I checked the X-ring chain that I've got on the Bonneville and there's no sideways movement on it at all. I then read some of the F800GS threads where there is some debate about the factory CZ chain being an O-ring cheapie. I like the idea of having a high quality X-ring chain on my bikes. They don't stretch as much as the O-ring chains and are far more durable and dependable. I'm planning to change over the chain before I do any distance and hopefully before the sprockets get too worn but cant find any info in the F800R specs re chain size.

So the questions. Does the F800R use a 525 chain? How many links?
Would a DID 525 ZVM-X X ring chain with 525, 116 link, 9000lb tensile strength, rivet style master link like the ones they're putting on the F800GS's, do the job for the F800R?.Or does the 800R have a longer chain than the 800GS?
Noticed a chain and sprocket set on one of chain sites. DID CHAIN-KIT 525VX/E F 800 R 08- (120/20/47) for 400-1300cc sports tourers. I guess the 120 is the number of links.

Would appreciate it if anyone has any clues. Cheers Pete.

[toms]

My 11´ F800r came stock with a regina chain (o-ring). Service manual specifies 525 chain with 120 links. Stock sprockets are 20t front, 47t rear. Horizontal slack is present in both sprockets.

[petegailey]

Thanks Toms.

[alrobb]

I scored a 120 link DID 525 ZVM-X chain and AFAM sprockets for my 10 F800R from sprocketcenter.com (delivery was in about 9 days) for about the same dollars as being asked for the chain alone here in Brisneyland. The high Aussie dollar has some benefits. I keep thinking I will fit it soon but the original CZ chain and OEM sprockets are still holding up pretty well after nearly 30,000 klm.
I think the DID, given its pedigree, should easily outlast the CZ.

[ferenc]

It would be superb to replace parts from time to time to minimize heavy cost maintenance.

chain maintenance is something i did not look forward to when i switched from a shaftie, and must say, i am a bit unclear on what exactly to do with the darn chair.

the f800r manual allows for quite a bit more chain slack that i recall on older bikes with chains.

also, the dealer said to not worry about cleaning it, but to just lube it.

i had some pj1 blue label laying about, but used some newly purchased z clean lube stuff, being totally clueless - suggestions welcome.

ferenc
ps my f650 chain, with some 20k miles seemed to be pretty happy with just some extra dextron tranny fluid i had a surplus of ...

[petegailey]

I scored a 120 link DID 525 ZVM-X chain and AFAM sprockets for my 10 F800R from sprocketcenter.com (delivery was in about 9 days) for about the same dollars as being asked for the chain alone here in Brisneyland. The high Aussie dollar has some benefits. I keep thinking I will fit it soon but the original CZ chain and OEM sprockets are still holding up pretty well after nearly 30,000 klm.
I think the DID, given its pedigree, should easily outlast the CZ.

I got in contact with Chaingang in QLD, scott@chaingangchainsandsprockets.com.au
and they wrote back
Subject: X-link chain for BMW F800R
Hi Peter,
The chains we have been putting on the f800 and all so the f650 twins is a
did vx 2 pre stretched chain cost $200 but if you don't want to change your
sprocket you may want something a little cheaper so they can run their
course and not cost any more than it has to. The set of chain gang sprockets
are $ 50 for the front $139 for the rear postage $20 and on your bike with
the chain we suggest these sprockets will last forever and make your chain
last forever as well.




D.I.D. VX2 X-Ring Series 525 Chain

Greater rigidity (7% higher than previous D.I.D. VM chain); greater rigidity creates smoother handling, reduced power loss, and quicker response
Best value of all D.I.D. Chains
D.I.D. has half the friction of o-ring chains
Longer life than D.I.D VM chains
Available in gold and black
Rivet Link supplied
Replaces the D.I.D. Professional o-ring and the D.I.D Premium x-ring VM series chains

[petegailey]

I did end up buying a DID 525-Vx2 x-ring chain from Chain Gang in Qld. I could have got it a cheaper from OS but with postage it wasn't that much different so I thought I may as well spend my bucks in Australia. I got it fitted today at the Orange Beastie's 10,000k service. I reckon its really sweet. Very smooth and quiet, no chain slap. I didn't change the sprockets. Yeah I know you're supposed to but they still looked good so I took a chance. Ive still got some horizontal chain movement on the sprocket just like every other F800 in the showroom so it must be the width of the sprocket that the F800's are fitted with. Anyway I love the look of the x-ring, I love the smoothness of the X-ring, and I'm happy with this upgrade. Bikes are like women, they love having money spent on them and on the run home after the service the Orange Beastie just sang.

Man I love this bike.

[Offcamber]

Greets, Pete: Was this an "endless" chain, or did you have to fit a master link and peen the rivets? If you did, can you share how much of a chore that was? I'll read up in the manual. I hope I don't have to do this soon, but the OE chain on my bike looks like s**t, perhaps courtesy of the PO riding through winter salt.

[petegailey]

The chain I used had a master link. I got it put on by the workshop when they did the 10,000k service but there is plenty of stuff on the web showing you how to flatten the rivets. IMO the DID x ring chain is quieter, smoother and doesn't stretch like an old woman's knickers, a huge improvement over the OE chain which i agree with you, looked like s**t.

[Foxtrot]

Hi

I'm needing a chain for mine (UK) and settled on one of the DID 525 Chain and Sprocket sets, but wondering how the soft links work? I'm so used to spring links... do I need any special tools? And also, a lot of the sets I see on ebay are listed 2010 or onwards. Did they change the sprockets after 09, or would I be okay with one of 1 2010? (my F800 r is an 09 reg)
Heres a link to the set I was having a gander at: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/130754065887

- Fox