When is an X ring chain not an X ring chain......

When it is a DID 525 VX X ring chain.......

This is what I've bought for my Tuono 1000 V4. I decided to buy an extra gold rivet link so I know easily when I've oiled the whole chain when in service.


The chain is supposed to be an X ring chain and there is loads of information about the benefits of X ring chains over O ring chains.
So what is happening to DID X rings or should they be called + rings or O rings with wedges cut out.
Have a look closely at the following pictures. What they show is two "X ring" washers, one from the OEM Regina chain (upper most in the pictures) which I'd just removed from my bike and the DID 525 VX X ring about to be fitted.



The upper most Regina X Ring washer is the shape I have been lead to believe what an X ring washer should look like but the DID is nothing like what they advertise an X ring should be like.

Here is a link to the DID website which I based my purchase of the 525 VX chain.
D.I.D Racing Chains and Dirt Star? Rims
None of the their descriptions or illustration refer to the type of seal which they have assembled into my chain.
Do I need to cause a scene at DID technical dept?
Questions need answering!

I've managed to create a close up of the two chain rings. the upper most ring is from the OEM Regina chain and the lower ring is from the DID 525 VX.

It has 4 edges, but not the shape of an "X" it is the shape of a "+"

Today I called Busters, where I bought the DID chain from, and explained to the customer service call handler the dilemma I was having with the chain being a + ring not an X ring. I also told him I had sent them pictures. He informed me I had called M&P and not Busters. I asked if M&P and Busters were part of the same company. The call handler told me they were not. So I apologised and rang off.... I was a bit puzzled I had made the mistake of dialling the wrong company.
I googled Busters number and called them. I got through to a call handler and explained about the + ring / x ring issue I was having. He didn't want to know and just told me to read what was on the box, X ring, so that must be what it is. I was getting nowhere with this guy, but to double check he wanted my order number. While I was looking for the order number I overheard him talking to someone about my query. After I gave him the order details he then informed me he had just been talking to the call handler who I had previously called. He also confirmed M&P and Busters ARE the same company.
It is disgusting how this company has treated me over this query about the DID chain.
I will NOT be giving them any more of my business.

Derick said:

When it is a DID 525 VX X ring chain.......

This is what I've bought for my Tuono 1000 V4. I decided to buy an extra gold rivet link so I know easily when I've oiled the whole chain when in service.
View attachment 3708

The chain is supposed to be an X ring chain and there is loads of information about the benefits of X ring chains over O ring chains.
So what is happening to DID X rings or should they be called + rings or O rings with wedges cut out.
Have a look closely at the following pictures. What they show is two "X ring" washers, one from the OEM Regina chain (upper most in the pictures) which I'd just removed from my bike and the DID 525 VX X ring about to be fitted.
View attachment 3709
View attachment 3710

The upper most Regina X Ring washer is the shape I have been lead to believe what an X ring washer should look like but the DID is nothing like what they advertise an X ring should be like.

Click to expand...

Well I got to the bottom of the X ring / + ring DID chains:
It turns out that DID have developed a "ring seal" which does have a + profile until it is assembled and compressed within the chain.
I tested this by squashing a ring between a flat surface and the bottom of a glass where I could actually see the way it twists to form the X shape. I have not been able to find any other information to verify or disprove this system is any better than other manufactures X ring systems.
The picture shows three stages of how the seal rings twist under compression of the side plates of the chain as it is assembled