Well I just hit 21,000 miles on the Versys-X 300. I bought it new in 2021, about two years ago now, and it has been almost everything I could want in a motorcycle.
So, I checked my valves this weekend, (thanks for that little push,
@Flying Translator!), and they were all in spec- yay! However, while doing that, I observed that my chain is toast. Lots of stiff links. I'm pretty disappointed, because everyone had said, "the factory-installed chains are junk," {paraphrased, of course!}, and so I expected much better than 10,000 miles from this DID VX3 X-ring chain. (Yes, I checked my records and the stock chain lasted just over 10,000 miles.) This time I've ordered an EK SRX-2, which I'd used before on my V-Strom 650 with good success.
I've ordered everything I need to do it the
@Dave 300x way, and so I'll be installing the JTF565-15RB sprocket. A couple of notes are in order:
Once again, as stated previously by Dave, (if I recall), Amazon is the best/cheapest source for this sprocket. And Dennis Kirk
claimed to have it "in stock" with the initial internet search, but once you click on their website, NO, it's "out of stock." I'm not a fan of Amazon but in this case, I didn't have much choice.
C'est la vie.
Regarding the various washers used- I was initially not thrilled to buy
three of the part #92200-0851, because they're $5 each at Partzilla. (I remember Dave saying all the parts for this were cheap.) But once I watched Dave's video, I see that
two of those will be a one-time purchase, since they'll be installed on the inner side of the sprocket and can be re-used later. So the third washer is to replace the outer one that always gets bent up during removal and reinstallation. (I guess you can reuse the old one, or replace it, the choice is up to you!) But just by coincidence, I'd ordered an extra one of these a long time ago, to have around for whenever; therefore I only needed to buy two, anyway.
(LOL, no I was never a KLR owner! 😅)
The one additional washer, part #92200-1389, was only $2, also at Partzilla.
I've been running 14/43 gearing for pretty much my whole two years of ownership, and it has not detracted one bit from low-speed riding on the NEBDR and PA Wilds BDR-X. So I don't foresee any problem changing to 15/46. It'll be interesting to see if I notice any change in handling- with the 14/43 gearing I was still using the stock length chain, (112 links), and while the adjusters were able to accommodate, the resulting wheelbase becomes about one inch shorter than stock.
Really looking forward to getting this done! After that, the only thing I'll have to worry about for the rest of the year should be tires. Hoping for another epic year of adventure!
