Know Your Chains

When it comes to unleashing a motor’s power, a chain provides that essential link to the rear wheel. Tech guru Neil was on hand to tell us more…

- Neil 'Know-It-All' Charlton

FB: What is a chain and how does it work?

NC: Fundamentally, a chain’s there to provide that vital link between the engine and the rear wheel in the most effective way. It transmits energy through a succession of roller bearings from the front sprocket to the rear sprocket, propelling the bike in a forward motion.

FB: What different types of chains are there?

NC: There are four main types of chains; standard non O-ring, O-ring, X-ring and W-ring. The main difference between all four groups of chains is the addition of rubber, for lubrication purposes. Conventional chains require regular lubrication while O-ring, X-ring and W-ring chains contain factory packed grease, to lubricate the roller bearings.

It’s virtually impossible to access the area contained by the rubber, which can be both a good and bad thing. It means the bearings will remain protected from dirt and lubricated all the time the rubber’s integrity holds, but when it fails or the factory packed grease runs out, it will also spell the end of the chain’s life, because you’ll struggle to get lubricant in behind the rubber.

Typically, an O-ring chain saps 3-5% of the power put through it and for this reason, manufacturers developed the X-ring chain. The theory behind retaining lubricant is the same, although the point of contact from the rubber is substantially less. This lessens the resistance and improves the power put through the chain. In turn, the W-ring chain was developed to further reduce the power lost by the X-ring chain, while ensuring the chain’s lubrication.