Looking after your Chains and Sprockets

Let’s be honest. Chains and sprockets are about as exciting as socks at Christmas. They don’t roar, they don’t flash, and they definitely don’t get posted on Instagram. But ignore them - especially through winter - and they’ll ruin your ride faster than a flat battery on a cold Monday morning.

Winter riding is brutal on bikes. Grit, salt, road filth and constant moisture all team up to slowly murder your drivetrain while you’re busy pretending it’s “character building”. If you ride through the colder months, checking your chain and sprockets regularly should be optional - it’s survival.

Road salt is the main villain here. It’s pretty good at stopping roads from freezing and absolutely brilliant at accelerating corrosion. Add in water, grime and less frequent cleaning (we see you), and your chain is basically being sandblasted and rusted at the same time.

Lack of lubrication is another killer. Cold weather washes lube away quicker, and thick winter grime can actually stop fresh lube getting where it needs to be — into the rollers and O-rings.

Result? Faster wear, tight spots, stretched chains and sprockets that start looking like they’ve been chewed by a badger.

Short answer: often.

• Have a quick visual check before every ride
• Give them a proper look over every couple of weeks (especially in winter)
• Immediately if something feels “off”

If you’re riding daily through winter, a weekly check isn’t overkill — it’s common sense.

Start with the chain:

• Rust or discolouration – surface rust is a warning, heavy rust is a problem
• Stiff or tight links – rotate the wheel and watch for sections that don’t move smoothly
• Excessive slack – or worse, uneven tension as the wheel turns
• Dry, shiny metal – means the lube is long gone

Now check the sprockets:

• Teeth should be symmetrical and evenly shaped
• If they’re hooked, pointed or leaning one way, they’re worn
• Sharp teeth = bad news
• Rear sprockets often go first, but fronts wear too (and get ignored more)

If the sprockets resemble a circular saw blade, it’s time.

Chains and sprockets don’t usually fail politely — they give you warning signs. You just have to listen.

Common symptoms include:

• Snatchy or jerky throttle response
• Vibration through the pegs
• Clunky gear changes
• A whining or grinding noise that definitely wasn’t there before
• The bike feeling rough when pulling away

If your bike suddenly feels less smooth than usual, your drivetrain is a prime suspect.

A badly worn chain can snap - simple as that. And when chains snap, they don’t drop off quietly. A ping and a fling risks causing further damage to your bike and could leave you stranded. Worst case? The chain wraps itself around the sprocket, locks the rear wheel, damages the engine casing or smacks into your leg.

Worn sprockets don’t get off lightly either. They accelerate chain wear, rob you of performance, and make power delivery unpredictable — exactly what you don’t want on cold, greasy roads.

This isn’t about being dramatic — it’s about not turning a cheap service item into an expensive (or painful) problem.

At Triple D Motosport we stock a wide range of KTM chains and sprockets for bikes across the range. We also sell aftermarket chains and sprockets from Renthal as well as other manufacturers.

Chains and sprockets are consumables, especially if you ride through winter. Looking after them keeps your bike smoother, safer and cheaper to run — and stops small issues becoming big ones.

If you’re not sure what you’re looking at, or something doesn’t feel right, bring the bike in. We’d much rather say “you’ve got loads of life left” than see you later with a snapped chain and a face like thunder.

Look after your drivetrain this winter. Your bike — and your wallet — will thank you.

If you're not sure what to look out for, drop in with your bike and we'll give you our verdict. Or, if you think the time is now to, drop us a service enquiry for more details on getting your bike booked in.