Tank Slap - Motorcycle Forum

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Game changer.

How much are they?

Am I missing something? It seems the same as other chains.

It's the coating.

Won't u still have to at least clean it?

Are they suggesting the coating is so hard and durable it will not wear?

Sounds a good idea in principle. Wonder who actually makes it DID, Afam etc. As you would imagine BMW buy their chains in from suppliers.

It claims it's "nearly maintenance free" so yeah you still need to clean it.

It's similar to DLC coatings which don't last even on a mountain bike chain and I know we tried using them at my previous employer and it was more hassle than its worth.

They claim it's harder but I don't believe it's hardness that you necessarily want in that application. It's like using carbon brake pads, they last longer but at the detriment of the disc. Therefore, the chain may last longer at the detriment of the sprocket.

The chain is still only as good as its seals which don't appear to be any different to ordinary X ring chains.

It'll have to wear out, I can't see how they'll escape that. I suspect that they will recommend you change the chain at certain intervals.

Maybe they charge 5 times the price of a normal chain, and then guarantee it for the life time of the first owner

Also why are BMW making a chain for a now obsolete Triumph

I suppose that chain makes sense from a marketing perspective as BMW know their market. Middle aged, middle classed men. Probably all iPhone owners too.

Seeing as a GS owner will typically put 20-30k on in the first couple of years I understand why those people might spec it but I do see it as a bit of a con.

In MTB, a DLC chain costs approximately 3-4 times more than a regular chain. From what I hear they don't last significantly longer.

Cav wrote:I suppose that chain makes sense from a marketing perspective as BMW know their market. Middle aged, middle classed men. Probably all iPhone owners too.

Seeing as a GS owner will typically put 20-30k on in the first couple of years I understand why those people might spec it but I do see it as a bit of a con.

In MTB, a DLC chain costs approximately 3-4 times more than a regular chain. From what I hear they don't last significantly longer.

You do know the GS is shaft drive, don't you

I didn't. But you know what I mean.. just assume I got the correct bike haha

Cav wrote:. Middle aged, middle classed men. Probably all iPhone owners too.

You’re off my Christmas card list

I must confess i have never seen the point in keeping a chain meticulously clean unless the bike is used to commute through winter.

The biggest wear will be where the chain roller contacts the sprockets. It keeps itself clean by friction and these days all the rollers are sealed units. If the seal breaks then the chain needs replacing anyway.

I have only ever replaced a chain once in all the bikes i have had. I do lube them regularly. One Multi did 13k miles and the other 11k and neither needed the chain replacing when i sold them.


A quick wipe with a cloth soaked in chain cleaner is all the cleaning i do.

Yep pretty much sums up my chain use too Duke.

I give mine a thorough clean after a handful of trackdays or a euro trip then relube it. It's only a few hundred miles but it catches a lot of brake dust and oil/fumes.

Back in the days of commuting I used to clean the chain every week. Regardless of mileage it got replaced every year.

In the short time I had the VFR and about 10k miles I never cleaned or lubed the chain once, and that included a winter. The scottoiler did a great job of keeping it cleaned and lubed.

The electric scottoiler on the BMW isn't as good though, and the OEM chains are crap.

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Its a shame they cant make the current model s1000rr to match the chain

All the chains I've had have been maintenance free