mduhon
Junior Member
This last weekend I took a trip to visit my friend and help him fix his bike. Approximately 210 miles each way. On my way up (after a preride check of the bike with chain tightening and lubing of course) I started noticing a strange feeling coming from around the chain area.
I racked my brain to make sure I checked tightness and that my rear axle was tight etc. Well it was night and no shops or stores were open so I kept pressing to my destination. When I roll up it had gotten bad and my friend had a horrified look from the noise he heard. I immediately checked my chain and it still felt tight and sprockets looked fine so I decided it was time to replace the chain which I was planning on doing soon anyway.
Well the next morning I went to a store (about 45 minutes away) and bought a nice DID chain that retailed for almost $200 at the store. I haggled my way down to $109
and took it back to put on my bike happy as could be.
Well I get back to install the chain and find there is no master link in the package!!! I was confused to say the least and of course the store closed 15 minutes before I found this out and there were no other stores open on Saturday. At this point I'm worried because I don't want to ride on my current chain but I need to make the 210 mile trip home on Sunday.
Well Sunday morning we wake up early and go back to the store and complain a little bit. After some searching the store couldn't find the master link so they gave me a new RK chain that was a good quality and this time I double checked for the master link!
After putting the chain on and everything I took it out for a ride and what a difference it made! Better responsiveness and felt like better power! (That could be all in my mind but it made me happy )
On my way up I got 44 MPG. On my way home with taking 60 miles of back road twisties, I was up to 49 MPG! I couldn't believe how much of a difference a chain could make! Never going to let it go that long again!
I racked my brain to make sure I checked tightness and that my rear axle was tight etc. Well it was night and no shops or stores were open so I kept pressing to my destination. When I roll up it had gotten bad and my friend had a horrified look from the noise he heard. I immediately checked my chain and it still felt tight and sprockets looked fine so I decided it was time to replace the chain which I was planning on doing soon anyway.
Well the next morning I went to a store (about 45 minutes away) and bought a nice DID chain that retailed for almost $200 at the store. I haggled my way down to $109
and took it back to put on my bike happy as could be. Well I get back to install the chain and find there is no master link in the package!!!
I was confused to say the least and of course the store closed 15 minutes before I found this out and there were no other stores open on Saturday. At this point I'm worried because I don't want to ride on my current chain but I need to make the 210 mile trip home on Sunday. Well Sunday morning we wake up early and go back to the store and complain a little bit. After some searching the store couldn't find the master link so they gave me a new RK chain that was a good quality and this time I double checked for the master link!
After putting the chain on and everything I took it out for a ride and what a difference it made! Better responsiveness and felt like better power! (That could be all in my mind but it made me happy
) On my way up I got 44 MPG. On my way home with taking 60 miles of back road twisties, I was up to 49 MPG! I couldn't believe how much of a difference a chain could make! Never going to let it go that long again!
