HOW IT WORK'S
ER-simply really. A series of pins, bushes and sideplates form a link between two toothed sprockets which is designed to be flexible only on one plane. Which means, it's flexible but with a limited range of movements. Flexible enough to be wrapped round a large sprocket and turned with little effort. This flexible link between the two sprockets transmits power between the sprockets extremely efficiently.
HOW IT'S CONSTRUCTED
A chain is made up of flat hardened steel side plates, joined together with riveted pins. The plates give the chain its strength. The pins are surrounded by a rotating bush, which is the part that rides on the teeth pf the sprocket. It's these bushes which eventually wear out in a chain as they turn between the center pin and the face of the sprocket tooth. Keeping these bushes lubricated is the key to smooth running and low wear.
O' RING OR NOT ?
Almost all superbikes use an O' ring type chain-this design uses small rubber O' ring seals (D) between the sideplates and the bushes to seal in grease. The idea is that even if the outside of the chain is dry and unlubricated, the essential bearing surfaces inside the chain bushes are still running in lube. Some manufactures use X' or XW' type seals these are different shaped seals designed to better keep grease inside the brush.
Smaller bikes and commuters use plain chains because they're cheaper and don't have so much power to deal with. Strangely, race bikes also use plain chains a high-quality plain chain absorbs less power than an O' ring design, and race bikes are serviced regularly enough that the increased wear isn't an issue.
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