How to Choose Pit Bike Chain – 2023 Guide

There are millions, if not billions, of Pit Bikes in the world, and as they have different built-in and riding conditions than normal bikes, they do need special chains, but as a pit bike owner, you probably know that.

And if you are reading this blog, you probably don’t know which chain will be best for your bike, don’t worry. In this blog, we will enlist everything you need to know about Pit Bike chains, like their size, color, strength, weight, master link styles, and much more. 

At last, we will also give you tips about their maintenance and replacement. So, keep reading if you wanna know more.

•  Checklist

• What’s a Pit Bike?

• How to Choose the Best Chain for Your Pit Bike?

• How often do I Need to Clean & Tighten My Chain?
• When should I change my Dirt Bike Chain?

1) What’s a Pit Bike?

“During the starting years of motocross racing, special small bikes were used to maneuver around Pits because of their greater handleability. Hence these small engine bikes were named Pit Bikes.”

Pit Bikes are also sometimes called Dirt Bikes. Pit Bikes are made light, small, & durable, so they can turn easily, go about narrow places, and handle rough terrains, obstacles & jumps. These bikes have small engines, which are mostly air-cooled. These bikes don’t offer much speed. For example, their average speed range is 50 ~ 60 mph ( 80 ~ 97 km/h ). 

Most Pit bikes you find in the market are cheap because they are not built for professional racing but for off-road recreational activities such as dirt racing, stunt riding, and other adventurous pursuits.

Although young adults and teenagers often use pit bikes, they are also popular among older riders, particularly in motocross and stunt racing. Most Riders use them to practice and warm up before competing on larger bikes. Pit bikes are easy to maintain & relatively inexpensive, which makes them more accessible and popular.

•  Why do Pit Bikes Need a Special Chain?

As you already know, Pit Bikes are used for Adrenaline rush activities, which means these bikes are used by adventure seekers on rough terrains like mountains, dirt pits, stunt set-ups, etc. 

So, they face a lot of jumps, frequent acceleration & deceleration, dirt, & other damaging factors than normal bikes would. Hence, the chains used for Pit Bikes demand better built than normal chains.

2) How to Choose the Best Chain for Your Pit Bike?

Pit bike chains are typically lightweight and more robust than standard chains, and they are built to handle the high torque and shock loads that come with off-road riding. The chains are also coated with an additional protective layer to prevent rust and corrosion from motocross dirt which can weaken the chain and cause it to break.

When choosing a dirt bike chain, you can look at the below 6-factors so you can pick the best one for your bike;

1. i) Size
2. ii) Color

iii) Type of Chain

1. iv) Strength & Weight
2. v) Masterlink Style
3. vi) Price

i) Size

When choosing a Pit Bike chain, the number of links or chain length is not the only important thing. Chain Pitch, Roller Diameter & Width, and Pin diameter should also be kept in mind; otherwise, if you select a weak chain, it may break, or if you choose a too-heavy chain, it will affect performance.

You may not be able to get every little detail by looking at the old chain, so it’s best to look for chain specifications in your bike user’s manual guidebook, or you can also look online.

Most Pit bikes’ chain size ranges from #420 ~ #520. The #520 is the strongest and heaviest option for a larger or more powerful dirt bike. However, if you have a smaller dirt bike or plan to do more technical riding with lots of turns and jumps, a lighter-weight chain like a 420 or 428 may be more suitable. These chains offer less weight and drag, increasing acceleration and maneuverability.

ii) Color

There are so many chains colors available in the market, like;

 

• Red

• Blue

• Pink

• Gold

• Black

• Green

• Yellow

• Orange

• Natural metal
• More.

You may choose any color which matches your bike style or according to your liking. But it must be remembered that some finishes, like Gold, are designed for additional rust protection. So, if you do a lot of dirt racing, it is best to choose a Gold finish chain; otherwise, your chain will rust in weeks from all that racing water & mud.

iii) Type of Chain

Choosing the built-tech of the chain is the major factor in deciding how long the chain will last, how smooth the ride it will give, and what its price will be. In the market, there are 3-kinds of chains present;

• Standard/Non-Sealed Chains

• O-Ring Chains

• X-Ring Chains

 

As the name suggests, Standard chains are the simplest and oldest chains in the market. They have no rubber seal rings over their pins, so they let all the grease out, and you need to lubricate them frequently. 

In contrast, 0-ring chains have 0 shape seal rings which keep the grease between pins and solid rollers. And lastly, X-rings chains, as the name suggests, have X-shape seal rings, which have the same lubrication retaining function as 0-rings but are way better.

You can see the chart below to compare these 3 types of chains so you can easily choose whichever suits you best;

	Standard Chain	O-Ring Chain	X-Ring Chain
Weight
Durability
Life-span
Lubrication Retention Ability	✓	✓✓	✓✓✓
Price

 

iv) Strength & Weight

It may look convincing that the stronger the chain, the better it is, but it is not always right because strength & weight go hand-in-hand, and when you choose a stronger chain, you are actually choosing a thick chain, which will also be heavy. 

And the problem with being a heavy chain is, especially on small pit bikes, the engine will have to work hard to move the heavy chain, so there will be a loss of power. Moreover, due to being heavy, you can expect a quick acceleration or deceleration response from this chain.

So, only choose the strongest heavy chain if you have a large, powerful bike; otherwise, stick to chains recommended by the manufacturer for your bike and don’t overdo it.

v) Masterlink Style

There are 2-kinds of Masterlink that are famous in the motorcycle market;

• Rivet-Style
• Clip-Style

Rivet-Style Masterlink requires special riveting tools to fix, while Clip-Style is easy to set up without any need for additional equipment. It must be kept in mind that Clip-Style master links are not made for rough terrains and may come off if you give them wild riding, which may cause an accident. 

So, it’s best to stay away from clip-style master links and always opt for Rivet ones for better protection.

vi) Price

You should consider your budget before buying the chain. It is necessary to remember that different brands offer their chains at different prices, so if your chain specs cross your budget, then you can consider other brands’ cheaper chains of the same specs.

Moreover, most sellers are ready to cut your chain to your recommended size, so you don’t have to cut it at home.

3) How often do I Need to Clean & Tighten My Chain?

As a general rule of thumb;

“You need to clean your chain every 100 ~ 150 miles and lubrication every 300 ~ 500 miles., especially if you are a Pit bike rider.”

As for tightening, you should check your chain tension regularly and adjust as needed. And the most common sign of a loose chain is the striking sound that it makes when it collides with a chain cover or other metal parts. 

Clean & tightening your chain not only ensure better performance & quiet ride but also ensures less wear and help gives more life span.

4) When should I change my Dirt Bike Chain?

Some riders use their bike in clean conditions and maintain their chain regularly, which make them last a lot longer, while other ride their chains in muddy & rough terrains, which makes their chain deteriorate quickly. So, there is no way of knowing how long your bike chain will last.

Here there are some signs that you can look out for which will tell you whether it’s time to change your chain or not;

1. i) Chain noise: If you hear a lot of noise coming from your dirt bike chain, even after you tighten it, it could be a sign that it is worn out or misaligned and needs replacing.
2. ii) Mileage: Dirt bike chains have a lifespan of about 15,000 ~ 20,000 miles, depending on the type of riding and maintenance. If your dirt bike chain is over two years old or has high mileage, it’s a good idea to inspect it regularly and consider replacing it if necessary.

iii) Rust and corrosion: Dirt bike chains are revealed to dirt, moisture, and other elements that can cause quicker rust and corrosion. If you notice rust on the chain or its components, it’s a sign that the chain is deteriorating and needs to be replaced. Rust can weaken the chain and make it more susceptible to breakage.

1. iv) Chain Stretch: Over time, dirt bike chains stretch. A good rule is to change the chain when it has stretched by 1% to 1.5% of its original length. You can use a chain gauge tool or a ruler to measure chain stretch. If the chain is significantly stretched, it can skip or slip on the sprockets, which can be dangerous and cause damage to your bike.

v) Loose or tight links: A healthy dirt bike chain should have consistent tension throughout its length. If you notice loose or tight links, it could be a sign that the chain is damaged or worn out. Loose links can cause the chain to jump off the sprockets, while tight links can cause excessive wear on the sprockets.