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!

Having not ever bought a DID chain fook knows but like a lot of things nowadays just cause it's marketed as something dosnt mean it is actually that :no I just stick with what I know and trust,

This has me beat a bit. Your pics look very similar, but looking at the website, it looks like the X part is only shown when the washer is cut in half, unless I'm still half asleep?

Derek, the answer to your title question is, "When it's a Y ring chain!". :lol

Seriously... your washer pic shows a "Y" profile (unless I need my eyes tested! ). I suspect DID use the usual marketing clause, that they reserve the right to modify products under their continual improvement policies... but a 3 point washer can't be as good as a 4 point washer...

Which begs the question, where did you buy it and are you certain it's not a cheaper quality counterfeit product?

Either way, I would contact DID and ask them some searching questions.

Ive just had a look thru some bits of chain i keep in a box ( more clutter and junk ) .

The washers you have had supplied with the split link look nowt like the spares i have that came from an endless DID chain .they are proper X shaped.

mebbee they are just for the split link and are not the same as the rest of the chain ????.

mebbee a call to a DID techy type is in order . the did washers look like they would fit flush inside the regina chain washers !!!.

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.

Hmmm... interesting. Close up it now looks like 5 edges (not 3, or 4), allowing that the inside rim has two edges. Maybe it's a "W" ring! . Sounds like you'll be having an interesting chat with a DID technical chap!
- Pls update if you do, to break the suspense!

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.

Interesting feedback! I've bought from Busters & M&P via flee-bay in recent years. They are fast delivery and haven't needed to contact them for 'customer services'. The big question in my mind is, have they sold you a genuine DID chain and is the split link genuine or after market. If I were you I would talk to DID technical, verify the serial number, etc as genuine & check compatibility of split link. If not genuine DID part, DID will tell you it's not approved for use. Then you can get back to M&P and advise them they have sold you an unsafe and/or counterfeit product... and ask them what they want to do about it. You could always mention 'Trading Stds' if the need arises...

PS: Busters & M&P may be two separate registered companies owned by the same person/s. One may be for Internet sales, etc. and the other a shop, although I appreciate both advertise on eBay.

+ looks like an x if yer tilt ya head............................................


your welcome, from the resident ********.................................

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