A forum for owners of Yamaha TTR250 trail and enduro bikes!

rdchair · Veteran Member

Soft link Or split link?

Cubber · Super Guru

The simple answer is YES.

Don't forget the rubber rings though.

In all honesty, a split link is easier to fettle in the rough and takes less space in the tool box than hammer, punch, pliers and things.

Of course, others may disagree. wink

Martyn

Moo · Senior Member

As above, on smaller CC bikes the split link is better as it allows you to easily fix things out on the trails.

TTRfan · Super Guru

Controversial question - but not as bad as the oil debate though biggrin biggrin biggrin

Every rider will have an opinion.

If you are competing, then a rivet link is more secure but, for everyday use, the split link is much more convenient in my opinion.

In addition to the points already made, don't forget to change the split link when the spring clip gets worn. I reckon two front sprockets and split links to one rear sprocket and chain wink

I confess to having bought a couple of riveting tools over the years and never managed to get one to work properly. They either bent or broke the pins on the tool if the heads hadn't been ground off the rivet link I was trying to remove. Defeats the object if you need to remove/replace a link out on the lanes

Brian

Herman · Veteran Member

Personal opinion but I have rarely used soft links on anything other than 100 plus bhp. I carry a spare split link on the bike so order two. Don't forget fishy swimmy uphill

Kaos · Senior Member

I've only ever used split links, much easier and still very reliable. Oh once about twenty years ago the clip popped off after rolling the bike backwards. But the chain guide was bent. Wasn't on a TTR either, a KTM by memory. So I always carry a spare old link with my tools.
The new split link will come with O rings.

rdchair · Veteran Member

Thanks for all replies, and yes fish will swim upstream!