What is the average life of a motorcycle chain?  Is 12k miles normal?

Anonymous2021-04-06T03:41:59Z

Don't know.  I wait till it breaks.

fuzzy2021-04-05T08:00:59Z

Depends on the bike, how it's ridden, the chain quality & maintained.
I used to get 1 to 5 thousand miles on a Honda CB350. The low figure was a cheap Chinese bit of junk. This was pre O ring chains. Normal procedure was to oil it weekly + after riding in the rain.

Anonymous2021-04-05T06:33:28Z

Use, maintenance and type of bike will make a difference.
12k miles is not impossible.

thebax20062021-04-05T01:54:39Z

Chains stretch as they are used. The way to decide if the chain need replacing is to look a the sprockets they drive. If the drive gear sprocket is egged shaped replace the motor sprocket, the wheel sprocket and the chain.

CB2021-04-05T00:40:25Z

20-30k for o-ring type chains if kept cleaned and lubed properly.

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