All motorcycle chain regardless of brand is a consumable product; which means that it will not last forever and will eventually need to be replaced.  RK Chain suggests that chains need to be replaced every 20,000 miles and every 3,000 miles for non-sealed chains. You should also change both the front and rear sprocket whenever you replace the chain.

RK Chain recommends cleaning a sealed chain with only a mineral based O ring safe chain cleaner. Do not use kerosene, mineral spirts, diesel fuel, brake cleaner, motor oil or any caustic chemicals because that can damage the seals. RK recommends that you douse a rag with the mineral based O ring cleaner and wipe the dirt off the chain. Do not use a wire brush or hard bristle brush to clean a sealed chain. The wire or hard bristles can damage the seals reducing the life of the chain.

RK Chain recommends that after cleaning the chain and before lubrication, go for a short ride around the block to remove most of the chain cleaner and or water from the chain. RK recommends that you then follow up with a quality chain lubricant designed for sealed chains while the chain is still warm.

WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND USING A MOTORCYCLE O-RING CHAIN SPECIFIC CLEANER AND LUBE.

All motorcycle chains regardless of brand is a consumable product; which means that it will not last forever and will eventually need to be replaced.  RK Chain suggests that chains need to be replaced every 20,000 miles and every 3,000 miles for non-sealed chains. You should also change both the front and rear sprocket whenever you replace the chain.

Cleaning a non sealed chain is the same as a sealed chain. RK Chain recommends cleaning a non-sealed chain with only a mineral based O ring safe chain cleaner. Do not use kerosene, diesel fuel, brake cleaner, motor oil or any caustic chemicals. RK recommends that you douse a rag with the mineral based O ring cleaner and wipe the dirt off the chain.

After cleaning the chain and before lubrication, go for a short ride around the block to remove most of the chain cleaner from the chain. RK recommends that you then follow up with a quality chain lubricant and apply to the chain while the chain is till warm.

RK Chain has an exclusive warranty on all sealed chains NOT used for racing purposes. For street sealed chains not used in racing, there will be a pro-rated 20,000 mile warranty. For off road sealed chain not used for racing there is a 1 year pro-rated warranty. There are some stipulations and conditions to the warranty. For complete information see the warranty section of this website.

1. Racing will VOID warranty
2. Chain must be appropriate for the motorcycle.
3. Chain must have been installed correctly and with drive system properly aligned.
4. Chain must have been maintained. NO rust, corrosion, or other signs of neglect.
5. Warranty does NOT cover contingent damages.

See warranty card for complete details.

We recommend that every RK Chain be installed using a chain tool. Some tools, like the RK Chain tool UCT2100(50), combine all the parts needed to break the chain, cut it to length and clip or rivet the connecting link.

Using tools that weren’t designed for chain installation and/or removal may damage your chain and/or cause a dangerous situation and may void your chain warranty.

For RK Chains, reference the chart below for the minimum and maximum rivet diameter in mm. The rivet pin should be flared just enough to keep the sideplate on, but not flared too much to bind the link. 

RK’s new UCT2100(50) tool features a newly redesigned Flare Pin Tool that will prevent over-flaring of the rivet pin. *This only applies to the NEW UCT2100(50) tool not previous generations of UCT2100.

No – You do NOT need to pre-clean a brand new chain. If you feel the quantity of grease is excessive, you can wipe some away. But overall it is not necessary to clean the white lithium grease off of a new chain.

The answer is yes and no. It is true that initially non-sealed chains do produce less friction when compared to sealed chains.

However as time/rpm increase, sealed-ring chains significantly outperform non-sealed chains.

During normal use chains heat up and expand; this expansion can create friction resulting in horsepower loss. Due to the increased internal lubrication of sealed-ring chains, friction is reduced, allowing the chain to more freely transfer horsepower to the ground.

RK currently has five types of sealed-ring chains and each has its own features and benefits. After several years of development, RK produced the XW seals which drastically improved the chain life and performance. As racing expanded into several different genres, RK added the ultra thin U-Ring and UW-Ring.
Each seal is specifically designed for a particular use to provide the ultimate in rotating efficiency while providing longer wearlife.

1. A sealed chain will last longer.  That saves you money in the long-run.

2. Absorbs torque and improves acceleration

RK’s sealed ring chains offer less torsional friction and increased high-stress, high-speed performance. From the beginning of a race to the end; RK’s sealed ring chains deliver more consistent horsepower to the ground than non-sealed chains.

The nitrile butadiene seals ensure that lubrication stays inside the chain while keeping dust and dirt out. Most RK Chain seals have lubrication pools that protect against high speed abrasion, heat buildup, torsional flex and loss of lubricant under extreme conditions, resulting in longer life for the chain and sprockets. The below chart shows that sealed chains can wear longer before the elongation percentage increases.

In the DRIVE CHAIN market, quality requirements are increasing every day with an emphasis on chain weight and strength. Usually the chain maker’s name and chain model are punched on the outer-plates of the chain. These punched marks although mild and shallow, reduce the thickness of the plates and therefore reduce the fatigue resistance strength of the chain. RK Chain modified our method of marking chain from punching to Laser several years ago. The following photos show each marking method.