canyncarvr,
I'm confused...you talk about getting no more than six rides out of a standard chain, then you say you get 20K out of a standard chain.
Did you run 3300 miles on each of the six rides? When I say anecdotal, it is not to say that a person did not experience what they claim, all I am saying is that thier experience could have, and would have, been better if they did things differently. When someone says they get only a half dozen rides out of a chain, then I know for a fact they either had the crappiest chain that money can buy or they did something incorrectly. Bottom line is, if you only get six rides out of a chain on a dirtbike, something is wrong and it should not be taken for granted that standard chains are junk. Actually a standard chain will probably be the very same chain as the ring chain (by the same mfg) save for maybe slightly modified plates to accept the rings. In the case of standard vs o-ring chains, the information that has been offered here is for sure anecdotal, and the short life that some are experienceing is not due to the fact that the chains lack integrity...rather the maintainer has issues that need to be addressed.
If you know something said to not be correct, do you just let it slide?
jeffw,
When the lubricant(sometimes grease/sometimes oil) that is placed in the pin/bushing area is consumed, there is no way you can replace it. The chain is on a downhill slide from there. A standard chain, on the other hand, can still accept lubricant in that area and if it has been properly lubed and maintained it can last past the point that the ring chain can.