justxr.com evaluation INITIAL IMPRESSION: This is one of the items that really caught my
eye and appealed to me when I was looking at www.utahsportcycle.com
When I emailed Don this was one of the items I was most interested in.
Upon seeing the guide "in the flesh" I was more than happy with it's looks
and construction.
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Cost:
* Note: prices current at time of review, subject to change without notice. |
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| OK HOW TOUGH IS IT &
WILL IT STAY PUT?
One of the major weak points on an XR is the factory chain guide. While it does the job it is very prone to breakage, requiring at least a guide brace. This unit however is one step better. It's 6 piece design is more rugged and closer to the popular CR chain guides than the stock item. The side plates are made from 6061-T6 aluminum, and the inside wear pieces of Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene and super wear resistant Glass Loaded Nylon. Once again another product from Utah Sports Cycle that sports a pedigree list of components. The wear parts are available as spares due to their inherant sacrificial nature. The Aluminium sides appear to be water cut and
annodized which helps make the guide look good.
WELL, THATS NICE BUT HOW HARD IS IT TO FIT? Not too much to say here, split the chain, remove the old guide, bolt the new chain up with the 3 bolts provided, thread the chain through, join chain, check alignment and off you go. It comes with all necessary mounting hardware. HOW DOES IT WORK IN PRACTICE? XR chainguides like many other bikes get pummeled by rocks, logs and other various trail debris, while the new Utah Sport Cycle guide on my bike hasn't recieved a big hit as of yet it is performing well in it's function as a guide. |
WHAT'S IT GOT GOING
FOR IT?
THE BOTTOM LINE, IS IT VALUE FOR MONEY? I quite like the Utah Sport Cycle chain guide and intend to continue using it on my own personal XR. It is certainly built tough and looks good. There is no doubt that the price is also attractive. About the only negative point is the mix of metric and imperial bolts. While this is unlikely to ever become problematic, it is one of my pet hates that I have developed in my own line of work. Mind you it would take all of about 5 minutes and a few dollars to rectify this so It didn't worry me overly. John K, justxr.com - webmaster. |
