KMC chains - any experience ?

zheka130 · Feb 21, 2017

Guys
Bought this cheap KMC chain. Now I realized that it may have not been the best idea, although I dont ride much or aggressively.
In any case, anyone know about these ? Worth getting another brand, or dont worry about it and install it?

Riceburner · Feb 21, 2017

Never heard of it. You already bought it...if you can't return it, use it and see how it performs.

Matt Rain · Feb 21, 2017

My bike came with a KMC O-ring chain. I believe the company is mostly known for its bicycle stuff but they have a moto website as well: http://www.kmcgroup.com.tw/

Anyway the chain was fine. Only reason I replaced it is because I did a 530>520 conversion.

TK4 · Feb 21, 2017

KMC, like everyone else, makes good stuff and not-so-good stuff. The more you pay, the better you get.

zheka130 · Feb 22, 2017

OK, thanks guys. Will see if I can return it and get a DID one.

DemonPig · Feb 22, 2017

Wouldn't worry about it man. DID is not the pinnacle of the world either.
What kind of riding do you do? Casual street? Just put that chain on.

taximan62 · Feb 22, 2017

Looks like their chains are rated only up to a 250cc motorcycle. None of their chains are rated for anything above 400cc. What bike do you have?

[FONT=&quot] odel NO.[/FONT]	[FONT=&quot] Pitch[/FONT]	[FONT=&quot]Roller Link Width (Min[/FONT][FONT=&quot])[/FONT]	[FONT=&quot] Roller Dia. (Max)[/FONT]	[FONT=&quot] Link Plate Thickness[/FONT]	[FONT=&quot] Roller Link Plate Thickness[/FONT]	[FONT=&quot] Roller Link Plate Height (Max)[/FONT]	[FONT=&quot] Pin Dia. (Max) [/FONT]	[FONT=&quot] Over-All Width Riv. (Max)[/FONT]	[FONT=&quot] Over-All Width Con. (Max) [/FONT]	[FONT=&quot] Minimum Tensile Strength[/FONT]	[FONT=&quot] Average Tensile Strength[/FONT]	[FONT=&quot] Application (Max) [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] P[/FONT]	[FONT=&quot] W [/FONT]	[FONT=&quot] D [/FONT]	[FONT=&quot] T1[/FONT]	[FONT=&quot] T2[/FONT]	[FONT=&quot] H [/FONT]	[FONT=&quot] d [/FONT]	[FONT=&quot] L [/FONT]	[FONT=&quot]G [/FONT]	[FONT=&quot]/[/FONT]	[FONT=&quot] /[/FONT]	[FONT=&quot] Displacement[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] mm[/FONT]	[FONT=&quot] mm[/FONT]	[FONT=&quot] mm[/FONT]	[FONT=&quot] mm[/FONT]	[FONT=&quot] mm[/FONT]	[FONT=&quot] mm[/FONT]	[FONT=&quot] mm[/FONT]	[FONT=&quot] mm[/FONT]	[FONT=&quot] mm[/FONT]	[FONT=&quot] kgf[/FONT]	[FONT=&quot] kgf[/FONT]	[FONT=&quot] cc[/FONT]
415H	12.7	4.68	7.77	1.5	1.5	12.0	4.0	13.30	15.00	1610	1850	80cc
420H	12.7	6.25	7.77	1.8	1.8	12.0	4.0	16.15	17.60	1800	2100	100cc
428H	12.7	7.85	8.51	1.8	1.8	12.5	4.51	18.90	19.45	2110	2300	125cc
428HG	12.7	7.85	8.51	2.0	2.0	12.5	4.51	19.10	20.30	2200	2450	150cc
520H	15.875	6.25	10.61	2.35	2.35	15.0	5.09	18.55	20.50	3100	3300	250cc
530H	15.875	9.40	10.61	2.35	2.35	15.0	5.09	21.85	23.80	3100	3300	400cc
415E	12.7	4.88	7.75	1.1	1.4	10.3	4.0	12.9	13.45	1185	1390	50cc
420	12.7	6.25	7.77	1.5	1.5	12.0	4.0	14.80	16.60	1610	1850	90cc
428	12.7	7.85	8.51	1.5	1.5	12.5	4.51	16.80	18.10	1820	1950	125cc
520	15.875	6.25	10.61	2.0	2.0	15.0	5.09	17.60	19.30	2710	3050	250cc
525	15.875	7.85	10.61	2.0	2.0	15.0	5.09	18.75	20.80	2710	3050	250cc
530	15.875	9.40	10.61	2.0	2.0	15.0	5.09	20.80	21.85	2710	3050	250cc

Matt Rain · Feb 22, 2017

taximan62 said:
Looks like their chains are rated only up to a 250cc motorcycle. None of their chains are rated for anything above 400cc. What bike do you have?

odel
NO.
Pitch
Roller Link Width (Min)
Roller Dia. (Max)
Link
Plate
Thickness
Roller Link
Plate
Thickness
Roller Link
Plate
Height
(Max)
Pin Dia.
(Max)

Over-All Width Riv.
(Max)
Over-All Width Con.
(Max)
Minimum Tensile Strength
Average Tensile Strength
Application (Max)

P
W

D

T1
T2
H

d

L

G

/
/
Displacement
mm
mm
mm
mm
mm
mm
mm
mm
mm
kgf
kgf
cc
415H
12.7
4.68
7.77
1.5
1.5
12.0
4.0
13.30
15.00
1610
1850
80cc
420H
12.7
6.25
7.77
1.8
1.8
12.0
4.0
16.15
17.60
1800
2100
100cc
428H
12.7
7.85
8.51
1.8
1.8
12.5
4.51
18.90
19.45
2110
2300
125cc
428HG
12.7
7.85
8.51

2.0
2.0
12.5
4.51
19.10
20.30
2200
2450
150cc
520H
15.875
6.25
10.61
2.35
2.35
15.0
5.09
18.55
20.50
3100
3300
250cc
530H
15.875
9.40
10.61
2.35
2.35
15.0
5.09
21.85
23.80
3100
3300
400cc
415E
12.7
4.88
7.75
1.1
1.4
10.3
4.0
12.9
13.45
1185
1390
50cc
420
12.7
6.25
7.77
1.5
1.5
12.0
4.0
14.80
16.60
1610
1850
90cc
428
12.7
7.85
8.51
1.5
1.5
12.5
4.51
16.80
18.10
1820
1950
125cc
520
15.875
6.25
10.61
2.0
2.0
15.0
5.09
17.60
19.30
2710
3050
250cc
525
15.875
7.85
10.61
2.0
2.0
15.0
5.09
18.75
20.80
2710
3050
250cc
530
15.875
9.40
10.61
2.0
2.0
15.0
5.09
20.80
21.85
2710
3050
250cc

Those are standard roller chains, not O-ring. The one I have is a 530 UO, which is rated for up to 750cc:

http://www.kmcgroup.com.tw/toen/products2_3.htm

[FONT=&quot] Model NO. [/FONT]	[FONT=&quot]Pitch[/FONT]	[FONT=&quot] Roller Link Width (Min)[/FONT]	[FONT=&quot] Roller Dia. (Max)[/FONT]	[FONT=&quot] Pin Link Plate Thickness[/FONT]	[FONT=&quot] Roller Link Plate Thickness[/FONT]	[FONT=&quot] Roller Link Plate Height (Max)[/FONT]	[FONT=&quot] Pin Dia. (Max)[/FONT]	[FONT=&quot] Over-All Width Riv. (Max)[/FONT]	[FONT=&quot] Over-All Width Con. (Max)[/FONT]	[FONT=&quot] Minimum Tensile Strength[/FONT]	[FONT=&quot] Average Tensile Strength[/FONT]	[FONT=&quot] Application (Max) [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] P[/FONT]	[FONT=&quot] W [/FONT]	[FONT=&quot] D [/FONT]	[FONT=&quot] T1[/FONT]	[FONT=&quot] T2[/FONT]	[FONT=&quot] H [/FONT]	[FONT=&quot] d [/FONT]	[FONT=&quot] L [/FONT]	[FONT=&quot]G [/FONT]	[FONT=&quot]/[/FONT]	[FONT=&quot] /[/FONT]	[FONT=&quot] Displacement[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] mm[/FONT]	[FONT=&quot] mm[/FONT]	[FONT=&quot] mm[/FONT]	[FONT=&quot] mm[/FONT]	[FONT=&quot] mm[/FONT]	[FONT=&quot] mm[/FONT]	[FONT=&quot] mm[/FONT]	[FONT=&quot] mm[/FONT]	[FONT=&quot] mm[/FONT]	[FONT=&quot] kgf[/FONT]	[FONT=&quot] kgf[/FONT]	[FONT=&quot] cc[/FONT]
428UO	12.7	7.85	8.51	1.8	1.8	12.5	4.51	20.40	22.10	2100	2400	150cc
520UO	15.875	6.25	10.16	2.2	2.2	15.0	5.30	20.95	22.15	3300	3850	400cc
525UO	15.875	7.85	10.16	2.2	2.2	15.0	5.30	22.65	23.85	3600	4000	500cc
530UO	15.875	9.40	10.28	2.4	2.4	15.5	5.40	25.00	26.20	3900	4450	750cc

zheka130 · Feb 22, 2017

yes, casual riding (just started last year actually), on a 1990 250cc bike.
Thanks for the table. Will check which one exactly I bought.

DemonPig · Feb 22, 2017

Rating chains based on cc is cute. Don't even bother looking at that.

More about torque and gear ratios.

ungoloth · Feb 22, 2017

3 years ago (after much research)I bought what I thought was the very best chain available. I don't remember what the make was, likely an RK or DID? It lasted a year without issue until I picked up a small stone between the sprocket and chain. Lucky the chain just nicely ejected itself out the back when it broke with minimal damage. I'm in a small way glad this happened as the bike was 26 years old and the wife realized I deserved a new bike.

Even thou I've always been anal with cleaning, lubing and maintaining the chain, Luck can also have a small part to play with chain life. Happy apexes.

dricked · Feb 22, 2017

DemonPig said:
Wouldn't worry about it man. DID is not the pinnacle of the world either.
What kind of riding do you do? Casual street? Just put that chain on.

Just curious but what is?

blackcamaro · Feb 22, 2017

zheka130 said:
yes, casual riding (just started last year actually), on a 1990 250cc bike.
Thanks for the table. Will check which one exactly I bought.

No experience with that brand but I'd run it on your bike. Keep an eye on wear (stretch, tight spots etc) but you don't need anything fancy and you already have this one so why not.

zheka130 · Feb 22, 2017

Guys
I know one is supposed to chain the sprockets along with the chain. But mine look pretty decent. Anyone care to comment, based on the photos

dricked · Feb 23, 2017

zheka130 said:
Guys
I know one is supposed to chain the sprockets along with the chain. But mine look pretty decent. Anyone care to comment, based on the photos

Its hard to see from that angle (you want straight on from the side) but it looks like the teeth are starting to hook. I'd change them with the chain.

DemonPig · Feb 23, 2017

dricked said:
Just curious but what is?

RK makes chains just as good as DID for example. The point is not to be a sheep. It's not DID or die.

dricked · Feb 23, 2017

DemonPig said:
RK makes chains just as good as DID for example. The point is not to be a sheep. It's not DID or die.

Gotcha!

RK/EK/DID/tsubaki are all good name brands.

zheka130 · Feb 23, 2017

Guys, anymore suggestions regarding the condition of the sprockets based on the photos?

DemonPig · Feb 23, 2017

Looking at those pics I'd say that the sprocket is halfway through its life cycle. Whatever that cycle is. How much mileage on it?

This is drastic but gives you an idea of what to look for.

Matt Rain · Feb 23, 2017

That does look like a fair amount of wear to me. Not anywhere close to critical but far from new.

Take a look at the front sprocket as well. Decent chance it's even more worn.

I'd replace the whole thing.

odel NO.	Pitch	Roller Link Width (Min)	Roller Dia. (Max)	Link Plate Thickness	Roller Link Plate Thickness	Roller Link Plate Height (Max)	Pin Dia. (Max)	Over-All Width Riv. (Max)	Over-All Width Con. (Max)	Minimum Tensile Strength	Average Tensile Strength	Application (Max)
P	W	D	T1	T2	H	d	L	G	/	/	Displacement
mm	mm	mm	mm	mm	mm	mm	mm	mm	kgf	kgf	cc
415H	12.7	4.68	7.77	1.5	1.5	12.0	4.0	13.30	15.00	1610	1850	80cc
420H	12.7	6.25	7.77	1.8	1.8	12.0	4.0	16.15	17.60	1800	2100	100cc
428H	12.7	7.85	8.51	1.8	1.8	12.5	4.51	18.90	19.45	2110	2300	125cc
428HG	12.7	7.85	8.51	2.0	2.0	12.5	4.51	19.10	20.30	2200	2450	150cc
520H	15.875	6.25	10.61	2.35	2.35	15.0	5.09	18.55	20.50	3100	3300	250cc
530H	15.875	9.40	10.61	2.35	2.35	15.0	5.09	21.85	23.80	3100	3300	400cc
415E	12.7	4.88	7.75	1.1	1.4	10.3	4.0	12.9	13.45	1185	1390	50cc
420	12.7	6.25	7.77	1.5	1.5	12.0	4.0	14.80	16.60	1610	1850	90cc
428	12.7	7.85	8.51	1.5	1.5	12.5	4.51	16.80	18.10	1820	1950	125cc
520	15.875	6.25	10.61	2.0	2.0	15.0	5.09	17.60	19.30	2710	3050	250cc
525	15.875	7.85	10.61	2.0	2.0	15.0	5.09	18.75	20.80	2710	3050	250cc
530	15.875	9.40	10.61	2.0	2.0	15.0	5.09	20.80	21.85	2710	3050	250cc

KMC chains - any experience ?

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