Date: Sun, 28 Apr 1996 19:49:36 -0500
From: ARt X
>I need to replace the drive chain on my '75 Commando (and am suffering
a
>chain awareness deficit from years on shafties). I notice that there
seems
>to be a wide range of prices and a variety of brands from Tucker-Rocky
at
>$20 to RK at $30 to Diamond at $40 to Reynolds at $70. Is there a
preferred
>brand?
>Are O-ring chains not available or applicable to Brit bikes? Or are
some of
>the above O-ring chains?
Here is my advise. Since I sell Tsubaki chain, you may wish to take it with a grain of salt! First, the Commandos (and most other Britbikes) have too narrow of a chain passageway to use the wider o-ring chains. So we must stick to standard 530 chains. Over the years, I have used and sold a number of brands. EK makes a good inexpensive chain, but why cut corners on chain. The best chain that I have found for Britbikes is Tsubaki 530 QR. It wears quite well, is slow to stretch and is priced reasonably (I sell it for $.33/link, so the 100 link chain for your bike would be $33). Some dealers swear by Renolds, perhaps because it is made in England. I think it is overpriced and not any better than Tsubaki. BTW I used Tsubaki on both of my "rider" Commandos and our shop AHRMA roadrace Featherbat.
ARt X