Right now,,
EK 530ZZZ is strongest 530
DID 50ZVM-2 is longest wearing
Best thing you can do to increase chain life is to use largest front sprocket available.
24 or maybe 25, I guess???
"best thing you can do" is not purely a figure of speech.
If you've worn out a chain that quick,,it was probably less-than premium chain.
You very possibly will need to replace sprocket set also.
If you do ,,,get largest front sprocket you can find and calculate the ratio you have now to determine rear tooth count.
It makes a remarkable difference in chain life,,,even just a couple of extra teeth up front do.
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O-ring vs Non-O-ring,,,depends of who's telling the tale.
O-ring chains are "wettable" but not easily Lubeable.
Non-Oring chains are easy to lube,,and there's plenty of exotic lubes you can buy or make.
But each time a Non-Oring runs low on lube,,,it's nearly all been for nothing.
NOT as dramatic as running an engine without oil,,,but exact same principle.
Doesn't matter How well maintained,,or what quality of oil---1st time ya run w/o oil,,engine is toast.
Chain is not as Fragile,,but just as Sensitive.
So the O-ring Chains are much,much more forgiving in that respect.
They can run "Dry" yet still retain their lube in the most critical area--Roller-to-Pin contact.
Probably the MOST compelling fact in favour of O-Ring chains is that nobody I know of makes a "Premium" Non-O-ring chain for "street use" .
All the Highest Quality,Strongest,Highest Tech,Longest Life,,,and biggest line of BS blahblahblah goes into the O-ring Models.
Chain life is VERY subjective,,,the variables in actual field service are such an extreme range it's really impossible to state a life expectancy.
But the MFGR's TRY to rate Chain Life expectancy on Relative Terms compared to "Standard Chain"
Not unusual to see O-Rings rated at High Multiples vs standard chain...5X std~10X std or more.
We gotta assume it Does indicate something useful to know,,,but also that it's an exageration.
I never seen Any chain outlast any Decent chain 5~10X.
Sometimes I think that more closely translates into
"Standard Chain Wont last 2 Month/ 2000 miles" type of statement.
Standard chain gets beat up quick & badly on a big bike.
So Life Expectancy Comparisons are maybe more of a comment on how BAD "junk" chain is,,
rather than How GOOD Premium chain is.
Ol' Reliable,,,Standard Diamond Chain is Non O-ring,,rated at about 2X Std chain life.
With Very Diligent Care & Feeding,,,it's not unusual to see them going 3~4~5 X the mileage of some of the junkier OEM Chains.
And even with almost NO care,,,they WILL do at least Twice the Mileage of an OEM type "standard chain".
Old School as they are,,,it's STILL absolutely a Premium Chain.
Personally I'd use Diamond chain without a second thought.
They decay VERY slowly,,,and are near impossible to break.
They're strong,stable chains.
But they get to be a nasty nuisance on street bikes keeping them maintained.
That's the only "con" I know of to Diamond's plain chains
And I've runs Miles of it.
Not Roads,,,the Chain itself.
Nevertheless,,,for Modern Tech,,"latest greatest",least trouble & best life expectancy,,,
I'd have to say it's EK's ZZZ series.
One other thing,,,
Aluminum Rear Sprocket "CAN" improve chain life.
For anyone who keeps chain adjusted,lubed a little,,,and replaces it before it's just flat wore out,,,
Almost Any aluminum sprocket WILL yield better chain life.
http://www.ekchain.com/images/EKcatalog.pdf
http://www.didchain.com/specs.htm
http://www.sprocketspecialists.com/
http://www.rebelgears.com/
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I did not mention a upgrade to 630,for a few reasons.
Mostly because the Premium 530's outperform it in every aspect.
Only when comparing standard chain does 630 beat 530.
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'Spose it's worth mentioning "Economy".
All the Upscale Chains are expensive.
And at some point the Real-World differences probably begins splitting hairs.
They're All Good,in otherwords.
Some get STOOPID Expensive.
2 or 3 times what a Very Good chain costs.
2 or 3 NEW,,"very good chains" probaly could take you further down the road than 1 "BEST available" Hi-Dollar chain.
Chains ARE "expendables",,,normal wear & tear items which are expected to be disposable,,,same as spark plugs & oil filters.
"Ultra Premium" is always nice,,
But there's also much to be said for LESSER,,,but FRESHER parts.
3- $50~70 standard Diamonds would go farther than any single $175~200+ premium chain.
Or a couple of $100 Diamond XLO's--their Oring chains.
I 'bleive that's true,,,but I also realize that dont narrow down the choices or lessen any confusion,,lol.
It IS a different angle to consider though.
Hi quality,dependable chain with a shorter life & more frequent replacement VS the Hi Dollar chains.
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Just for example,,,I saw this on Ebay.
If it was MY bike,,,(and sprockets were still "too good" to throw away as Should be done when fitting any Mega Buck chain),,,,
This is a Standard Diamond for about $63 shipped.
These are High Quality stuff---at one time these were "best chain available".
Economical way to finish off remaining sprocket life & still have a solid,reliable chain.
This particular one happens to be a bit long,,which is no prob.
No recommendation to DO that,,,just another angle to consider.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/530-X-120-DIAMOND-DRIVE-CHAIN_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ35557QQihZ001QQitemZ110141642872QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWD1V
You might want to shop around Locally for anyone who has Bulk Diamond Chain,,,it's usually lots less expensive.
Good Luck with whichever way Ya go.