X Ring Vs O Ring Motorcycle Chain

The o ring chain debuted in 1971 while the x ring has been around for about 10 years or so and has become a popular choice for off road riders.

X ring vs o ring motorcycle chain. The x ring chain is a specialized type of sealed roller chain used to transfer mechanical power. Dubbed the x ring chain prox s o ring style chain offering features a qx style o ring. That in turn led to the development of x ring chains. The x ring design is similar to the o ring design in almost every way except to increase the efficiency of the chain the design was altered to an x style ring where the contact point of the ring would only be on four points.

Casual riders and racers more often prefer a standard chain most notably because of cost but also the weight savings. The x ring type chains are more modern chains with x shaped rubber ring placed in between the chain plates to seal the grease filled inside the chain components. Like the standard o ring chains it is also used in high performance motorcycles. Finally expect to pay two to three times as much for an o ring chain compared to the standard.

It has higher performance in terms of durability lifetime and power loss than non o ring chains as it has less friction than o ring chain while. This is great for sealing and great for most uses but it creates considerable friction which saps the bike s power. As the two plates push on either side of the o ring it distorts to have two flat sides to its shape. As upon pressing these type of rings come in contact with lesser surface area and hence less drag coefficient is generated with same efficient sealing property as o ring chains provide.

O ring chains also stretch less and last far longer than the standard chain. O rings were available first and the ring is literally o shaped. It uses x ring seal to keep lubricant usually grease in place.