Krause Racing's Sidewinder ProductsAnswers To Frequently Asked Questions |
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How much Longer will a Sidewinder chain/sprocket last.
A: Maintenance certainly plays a part in useful service life, but Sidewinders typically last 3 to 4 times longer than the average
aluminum sprocket. Some of the cheaper brands sold by our competitors only last a few weekends of hard riding. They wear
out very quickly. It is false economy to buy cheap sprockets unless you are immediately selling the machine. If you are keeping
you machine, the cheap sprockets and chains will cost you far more money in the long run.
Q: It seems like Sidewinder costs more than other brands.
Why?
A: Actually, a Sidewinder system will cost you far less than any other brand. Because of superior materials, large-oversize pins
on our chain and our process of balancing our sprockets, the useful life of our drive system can be as much as 4 times longer.
After a person buys just their second set of cheap sprockets and chains, they have spent way more than a quality Sidewinder
set would have cost in the first place…
Sidewinder could end up saving you hundreds of dollars over the long term.
Q: Why don’t other manufacturers balance their sprockets?
A: It‘s expensive to dynamically balance sprockets like Sidewinder does. Other makers choose to omit this process to cut their
costs, then they sell their products cheaper. But you lose out on a very desirable feature, especially if you race.
Q: Why don’t you see big name riders, like McGrath, using Sidewinders?
A: The top riders are all highly paid to endorse other brands of chains and sprockets. Sidewinder has never paid one penny
to buy anyone’s endorsement. Brand “R” pays up to $100,000.00 a rider to run their products. If you ask any mechanic, he will
tell you they replace those chains & sprockets every race, sometimes between motos. They can’t trust those products to last
any longer. That would shake my confidence.
And consider this…when Jeremy was a privateer and paid for his own parts, he bought and used Sidewinders! What does that
tell you?
Q: How do Sidewinders deliver more power?
A: One of the best advantages you get with Sidewinder is more power delivered to the rear wheel. This is especially important
if you race. Sidewinder achieves this in 4 ways;
1. By using stronger chrome-moly steel, tolerances are held to much closer specifications, reducing friction with the
sprockets. This adds power.
2. The Sidewinder chain is lighter and takes less of a power drain on the motor. You will notice faster acceleration &
quicker throttle response.
3. Sidewinder is the only sprocket manufacturer that has a patented, self-cleaning channel design. This eliminates the
power-robbing, clogging action of mud and debris trapped between the chain and sprocket teeth.
4. The balancing of our system eliminates tremendous power losses. This means as much as 1-2 additional horsepower at
the higher speeds. This is really a very noticeable increase on the 80cc & 125cc bikes.
These four unique features allow a lot more power to get to the rear wheel. Only Sidewinder provides these extra benefits.
Q: Is the Sidewinder rear sprocket made out of aluminum?
A: Absolutely Not! Other brands use a cheap grade of aluminum for their rear sprockets. Sidewinder uses a special grade of
Military Spec. Aircraft Alloy that is heat-treated for extreme hardness. It is half the weight of carbon steel and 1.8 times harder.
Our front sprockets are diamond cut out of chrome-moly steel just like our chain. Only Sidewinder uses this quality and grade of
material.
Besides using the best possible materials, only Sidewinder sprockets are 100% machined. Numerous other sprocket makers
stamp out their sprockets. Stamping is faster and cheaper to do, but very poor from the quality standpoint. But that’s why they
sell for less!
Q: Are rear Sidewinders only available in aircraft alloy?
A: Sidewinder is introducing a complete line of economy sprockets that are made out of hi-carbon steel. We are also the only
company in the world to offer rear sprockets made out of Stainless Steel - for the ultimate in life and durability.
Q: Are Sidewinders guaranteed?
A: Sidewinder is the only company in this industry to give you a one-year warranty against chain breakage. This is unheard
of, especially on an off-road machine (the bikes themselves aren’t even guaranteed). Sprockets are not covered, but in 30
years of business we have never turned our back on a customer that has had a problem.
Q: What is this “Diamond-cut” process all about?
A: A German company that produces virtually indestructible drill heads for off-shore oil rigs has perfected a special process
that uses hi-speed diamond cutter tools in a secret process to machine the sprocket teeth. The resulting teeth are 25% harder
and 40% longer lasting, under all conditions, than anything else on the market. Sidewinder is the only American company with
the rights to this process. All of our front sprockets are now made using this unique diamond-cutting process.
Q: Why doesn’t my local Dealer carry Sidewinders?
A: As you probably know, most Dealers try to make as much profit as possible in their parts department. They usually decide
to stock sprockets & chains that they can buy the cheapest and then resell for the most profit. They just can’t make as much
profit with the higher quality products like Sidewinder. Also, the last thing the dealer is interested in selling you is a product that
is going to last 3 or 4 times longer. He wants you coming back as often as possible to replace those parts.
Some shops that do stock and sell Sidewinders, but most offer the cheaper products that they make more money on.
Ironically, we know of several shops that actually buy and use Sidewinders on their race team bikes but only sell RK, Renthal,
Sunstar, Etc. in their store. You can draw your own conclusions from this.
Q: Can I just use the Sidewinder chain?
A: Of course!! You can run Sidewinder chain with other sprockets but you do forfeit some major advantages.
You no longer have a close tolerance, matching set. The other sprockets will fit loosely in the chain. This will contribute to early
wearout.
The other sprockets will be made of softer material and won’t last nearly as long as Sidewinders. And, as the sprockets wear
out and start hooking, they will ruin the chain.
Also, these brand “X” sprockets will be out of balance causing a lot of vibration, backlash and chainslap. This costs you power
and reduces the useful life of your whole drive system.
Naturally, a Sidewinder chain still puts you way ahead of any other chain, but the whole set is the best way to go.
Q: Can I just use the Sidewinder Sprockets?
A: You can certainly use our sprockets with any brand of chain you choose. However, you will not have a matching system.
The fit between our precision sprockets and a brand “X” chain will be loose and prone to early wearout. Plus, a mild steel chain
will begin stretching immediately and start to ride up on the faces of the sprocket teeth. This will wear the sprockets very
quickly, and will spoil your opportunity to enjoy a trouble-free drive system. The real answer is a genuine, Sidewinder sprocket
and chain matched set.
Q: Has Sidewinder ever won any big events?
A: Absolutely!! But remember that Sidewinder does not pay the winning riders to use our product. They choose Sidewinder
for durability, not just for just a few quick bucks. We won the recent Baja 1000 on team Honda Factory machines (1st and 3rd
place). We also set the 24-hour world’s endurance record on a Banshee. We have also won the “Pikes Peak” race in the
Super Mod Quad class. Countless thousands of amateur races have been won on Sidewinders.
Q: I saw Sidewinder decals on Robbie Knievel’s jump bike, do you sponsor him?
A: Robbie Knievel is now the most accomplished daredevil motorcycle stunt rider alive today. His recently televised “Death
Jump ‘99” in Las Vegas, where he leaped his Honda from roof to roof between two 19 story high buildings, has got to be the
ultimate. Robbie stakes his life on Sidewinders every time he jumps. He has chosen to use Sidewinders exclusively for the past
8 years. We provide our product, but we don’t pay Robbie to use our chains & sprockets.
Q: What are the advantages of stainless steel.
A: For a sprocket, Stainless Steel is a dream material. It is incredibly tough and hard to begin with. The almost magical
characteristic, however, is the unique property of Stainless to actually get harder as it undergoes mechanical action. The
sprocket teeth get tougher the more you ride.
Q: Why use a laser to cut the Stainless sprockets?
A: The laser is the only viable way to produce a sprocket out of such a hard material. The incredible power of that beam of
light cuts anything with exact precision that cannot be duplicated. Just ask Darth Vader!
Q: Isn’t the Stainless sprocket heavy?
A: Not at all!! Our patented new designs take advantage of the strength of stainless to eliminate all unnecessary material.
Sidewinder Stainless sprockets are almost as light as aluminum sprockets – only a few ounces more.
Q: Will the Stainless sprockets wear out the chain?
A: No! Stainless sprockets will prolong the life of the chain. What causes greater wear on any chain is the sprockets tooth
wearing away causing the chain to ride up on the teeth. This puts extra stress on the chain and causes it to stretch. The teeth
on a Stainless sprocket are incredibly hard and actually get harder with use. Because the teeth do not wear down, the chain
stays in the bottom pocket where it belongs. Chain life is extended by this process. .
Q: Do Stainless come in colors?
A: All stainless are made with a brushed grain finish. The terrific corrosion resistance of stainless eliminates any need for
coatings or platings, and the hi-tech look will last as long as the machine.
Q: Do the Stainless Sprockets have the self-cleaning grooves?
A: We make the Stainless Sprockets in a 7-gauge material. This allows additional clearance between the chain and sprocket.
This provides for plenty of self-cleaning action without the need for grooves.
Q: How much Longer will a Sidewinder chain/sprocket last.
A: Maintenance certainly plays a part in useful service life, but Sidewinders typically last 3 to 4 times longer than the average
aluminum sprocket. Some of the cheaper brands sold by our competitors only last a few weekends of hard riding. They wear
out very quickly. It is false economy to buy cheap sprockets unless you are immediately selling the machine. If you are keeping
you machine, the cheap sprockets and chains will cost you far more money in the long run.
Q: It seems like Sidewinder costs more than other brands.
Why?
A: Actually, a Sidewinder system will cost you far less than any other brand. Because of superior materials, large-oversize pins
on our chain and our process of balancing our sprockets, the useful life of our drive system can be as much as 4 times longer.
After a person buys just their second set of cheap sprockets and chains, they have spent way more than a quality Sidewinder
set would have cost in the first place…
Sidewinder could end up saving you hundreds of dollars over the long term.
Q: Why don’t other manufacturers balance their sprockets?
A: It‘s expensive to dynamically balance sprockets like Sidewinder does. Other makers choose to omit this process to cut their
costs, then they sell their products cheaper. But you lose out on a very desirable feature, especially if you race.
Q: Why don’t you see big name riders, like McGrath, using Sidewinders?
A: The top riders are all highly paid to endorse other brands of chains and sprockets. Sidewinder has never paid one penny
to buy anyone’s endorsement. Brand “R” pays up to $100,000.00 a rider to run their products. If you ask any mechanic, he will
tell you they replace those chains & sprockets every race, sometimes between motos. They can’t trust those products to last
any longer. That would shake my confidence.
And consider this…when Jeremy was a privateer and paid for his own parts, he bought and used Sidewinders! What does that
tell you?
Q: How do Sidewinders deliver more power?
A: One of the best advantages you get with Sidewinder is more power delivered to the rear wheel. This is especially important
if you race. Sidewinder achieves this in 4 ways;
1. By using stronger chrome-moly steel, tolerances are held to much closer specifications, reducing friction with the
sprockets. This adds power.
2. The Sidewinder chain is lighter and takes less of a power drain on the motor. You will notice faster acceleration &
quicker throttle response.
3. Sidewinder is the only sprocket manufacturer that has a patented, self-cleaning channel design. This eliminates the
power-robbing, clogging action of mud and debris trapped between the chain and sprocket teeth.
4. The balancing of our system eliminates tremendous power losses. This means as much as 1-2 additional horsepower at
the higher speeds. This is really a very noticeable increase on the 80cc & 125cc bikes.
These four unique features allow a lot more power to get to the rear wheel. Only Sidewinder provides these extra benefits.
Q: Is the Sidewinder rear sprocket made out of aluminum?
A: Absolutely Not! Other brands use a cheap grade of aluminum for their rear sprockets. Sidewinder uses a special grade of
Military Spec. Aircraft Alloy that is heat-treated for extreme hardness. It is half the weight of carbon steel and 1.8 times harder.
Our front sprockets are diamond cut out of chrome-moly steel just like our chain. Only Sidewinder uses this quality and grade of
material.
Besides using the best possible materials, only Sidewinder sprockets are 100% machined. Numerous other sprocket makers
stamp out their sprockets. Stamping is faster and cheaper to do, but very poor from the quality standpoint. But that’s why they
sell for less!
Q: Are rear Sidewinders only available in aircraft alloy?
A: Sidewinder is introducing a complete line of economy sprockets that are made out of hi-carbon steel. We are also the only
company in the world to offer rear sprockets made out of Stainless Steel - for the ultimate in life and durability.
Q: Are Sidewinders guaranteed?
A: Sidewinder is the only company in this industry to give you a one-year warranty against chain breakage. This is unheard
of, especially on an off-road machine (the bikes themselves aren’t even guaranteed). Sprockets are not covered, but in 30
years of business we have never turned our back on a customer that has had a problem.
Q: What is this “Diamond-cut” process all about?
A: A German company that produces virtually indestructible drill heads for off-shore oil rigs has perfected a special process
that uses hi-speed diamond cutter tools in a secret process to machine the sprocket teeth. The resulting teeth are 25% harder
and 40% longer lasting, under all conditions, than anything else on the market. Sidewinder is the only American company with
the rights to this process. All of our front sprockets are now made using this unique diamond-cutting process.
Q: Why doesn’t my local Dealer carry Sidewinders?
A: As you probably know, most Dealers try to make as much profit as possible in their parts department. They usually decide
to stock sprockets & chains that they can buy the cheapest and then resell for the most profit. They just can’t make as much
profit with the higher quality products like Sidewinder. Also, the last thing the dealer is interested in selling you is a product that
is going to last 3 or 4 times longer. He wants you coming back as often as possible to replace those parts.
Some shops that do stock and sell Sidewinders, but most offer the cheaper products that they make more money on.
Ironically, we know of several shops that actually buy and use Sidewinders on their race team bikes but only sell RK, Renthal,
Sunstar, Etc. in their store. You can draw your own conclusions from this.
Q: Can I just use the Sidewinder chain?
A: Of course!! You can run Sidewinder chain with other sprockets but you do forfeit some major advantages.
You no longer have a close tolerance, matching set. The other sprockets will fit loosely in the chain. This will contribute to early
wearout.
The other sprockets will be made of softer material and won’t last nearly as long as Sidewinders. And, as the sprockets wear
out and start hooking, they will ruin the chain.
Also, these brand “X” sprockets will be out of balance causing a lot of vibration, backlash and chainslap. This costs you power
and reduces the useful life of your whole drive system.
Naturally, a Sidewinder chain still puts you way ahead of any other chain, but the whole set is the best way to go.
Q: Can I just use the Sidewinder Sprockets?
A: You can certainly use our sprockets with any brand of chain you choose. However, you will not have a matching system.
The fit between our precision sprockets and a brand “X” chain will be loose and prone to early wearout. Plus, a mild steel chain
will begin stretching immediately and start to ride up on the faces of the sprocket teeth. This will wear the sprockets very
quickly, and will spoil your opportunity to enjoy a trouble-free drive system. The real answer is a genuine, Sidewinder sprocket
and chain matched set.
Q: Has Sidewinder ever won any big events?
A: Absolutely!! But remember that Sidewinder does not pay the winning riders to use our product. They choose Sidewinder
for durability, not just for just a few quick bucks. We won the recent Baja 1000 on team Honda Factory machines (1st and 3rd
place). We also set the 24-hour world’s endurance record on a Banshee. We have also won the “Pikes Peak” race in the
Super Mod Quad class. Countless thousands of amateur races have been won on Sidewinders.
Q: I saw Sidewinder decals on Robbie Knievel’s jump bike, do you sponsor him?
A: Robbie Knievel is now the most accomplished daredevil motorcycle stunt rider alive today. His recently televised “Death
Jump ‘99” in Las Vegas, where he leaped his Honda from roof to roof between two 19 story high buildings, has got to be the
ultimate. Robbie stakes his life on Sidewinders every time he jumps. He has chosen to use Sidewinders exclusively for the past
8 years. We provide our product, but we don’t pay Robbie to use our chains & sprockets.
Q: What are the advantages of stainless steel.
A: For a sprocket, Stainless Steel is a dream material. It is incredibly tough and hard to begin with. The almost magical
characteristic, however, is the unique property of Stainless to actually get harder as it undergoes mechanical action. The
sprocket teeth get tougher the more you ride.
Q: Why use a laser to cut the Stainless sprockets?
A: The laser is the only viable way to produce a sprocket out of such a hard material. The incredible power of that beam of
light cuts anything with exact precision that cannot be duplicated. Just ask Darth Vader!
Q: Isn’t the Stainless sprocket heavy?
A: Not at all!! Our patented new designs take advantage of the strength of stainless to eliminate all unnecessary material.
Sidewinder Stainless sprockets are almost as light as aluminum sprockets – only a few ounces more.
Q: Will the Stainless sprockets wear out the chain?
A: No! Stainless sprockets will prolong the life of the chain. What causes greater wear on any chain is the sprockets tooth
wearing away causing the chain to ride up on the teeth. This puts extra stress on the chain and causes it to stretch. The teeth
on a Stainless sprocket are incredibly hard and actually get harder with use. Because the teeth do not wear down, the chain
stays in the bottom pocket where it belongs. Chain life is extended by this process. .
Q: Do Stainless come in colors?
A: All stainless are made with a brushed grain finish. The terrific corrosion resistance of stainless eliminates any need for
coatings or platings, and the hi-tech look will last as long as the machine.
Q: Do the Stainless Sprockets have the self-cleaning grooves?
A: We make the Stainless Sprockets in a 7-gauge material. This allows additional clearance between the chain and sprocket.
This provides for plenty of self-cleaning action without the need for grooves.
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