Mountain Biking - Anyone try a 8-speed chain on a 9-speed Kona?

The chain slaps a lot on my Kona dawg due to its geometery. Anyone try using a 8-speed chain on a 9-speed to give it better clearence?

Hal

Well I guess never mind. They just have that section of the frame so low the chain will easily hit when in the smallest front gear, nothing can really be done about it.

The chain slaps a lot on my Kona dawg due to its geometery. Anyone try using a 8-speed chain on a 9-speed to give it better clearence?

Hal
I don't understand your logic here. An 8 speed chain is WIDER than a nine speed and won't work with a nine speed system. Chain slap is easily solved with a simple protector for the frame. You can buy a Lizard Skin for about $8 or you can make one.


Reposted several times by me.
http://img321.imageshack.us/img321/4146/raiynhardrockdrivetrainclose8q.jpg
http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/9563/RaiynRockhopper3a.jpg
Two examples of chainstay guards.
Top: Section of used Specialized Armadillo Road tire with beads removed and attached with zip ties. Used on my commuter bike. Cost $0 I reused some zip ties that had been used by the manufacturer to pack new bikes that I had assembled at the shop and the tire was junked.
Bottom: Section of clear water supply hose slit down one side and secured with zip ties. Used on my trail bike. Cost ~ $1.50 for the hose zip ties were obtained in same manner as above.

These have lasted longer than electrical tape, inner tubes, or any Lizard Skin I've come across. the choice is yours

Prettier solution that's as durable:

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t162/dminorwa/Chainstay.jpg

Prettier solution that's as durable:

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t162/dminorwa/Chainstay.jpg
Is that what I think it is? Old school plastic handle bar tape from the bike boom days?

My favorite is the inner tube. Don't cut the tube down the center, instead wrap the entire tube around the chain stay. It provides the most padding therefor eliminating almost all noises.

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g274/talle1000/Bike066.jpg

The chain slaps a lot on my Kona dawg due to its geometery. Anyone try using a 8-speed chain on a 9-speed to give it better clearence?

Hal


This is probably the funniest thing I have ever read on this forum.

edit: oh...and very stylish dminor.

Is that what I think it is? Old school plastic handle bar tape from the bike boom days?Ding! Ding! Give the man his choice of beverage . . . . :)

Ding! Ding! Give the man his choice of beverage . . . . :)
Impressive. Was this something you had or was it purchased? I have to admit the color match looks spot on.

I bought a roll of red and a roll of blue a few years ago from a bargain bin for pennies at the LBS. Thought it might be useful sometime. Used part of the red roll on an '00 BigHit frame I had once (good match for the red accents) and part of the blue on my Gran Mal. Half a roll will do one stay.

I bought a roll of red and a roll of blue a few years ago from a bargain bin for pennies at the LBS. Thought it might be useful sometime. Used part of the red roll on an '00 BigHit frame I had once (good match for the red accents) and part of the blue on my Gran Mal. Half a roll will do one stay.
A few cents well spent in my (never so) humble opinion. It's not as thick as my method, but it is certainly a good looking option. You are aware of colored electrical tape right? ;)

I even found purple:lol:

A few cents well spent in my (never so) humble opinion. It's not as think as my method, but it is certainly a good looking option. You are aware of colored electrical tape right? ;)

I even found purple:lol:Barney tape! Thanks, Raiyn. You must've read my mind - - just haven't had a chance to get to the hardware store yet ;)

Barney tape! Thanks, Raiyn. You must've read my mind - - just haven't had a chance to get to the hardware store yet ;)
Great minds thinking alike and whatnot.....:p

Didn't know they were completely different diameter chains.

The chain hits on the bottom of the very beginning to the swingarm, not so much underneath the arm. Kona has a very odd design right there, the chain side is actually way lower than the other side for some reason. No skin goes that far forward so none will work. Maybe a roller wheel would help but I'll just forget it, nobody else complaining that much about it. If it saws through I complain to kona.

Wrap it up with something...anything. Eventually the chain will take more then paint with it and possibly weaken your frame.

Just get Gary Fisher's King Fisher, the chain will never touch the frame. ;)

http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/8998/asdasfj3.jpg

If your using a Shimano derailleur, a great way to reduce chain slap is to upgrade to a SRAM system.

See for yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZQf1bduGYs .