Will check it out, thanks guys. Just puzzles me because even though it is an older bike, it is a new component build and was well built.

Lay the bike on its side, for example, pick it up, and just the invariable pedal pull in reverse knocks the chain off every time.

Just find it weird and frustrating that it happens so frequently.

only a minor inconvenience at this point. Forward momentum is all good, and as you say, I should keep it in that direction.