D.I.D Parts

D.I.D — Japanese Driveline Supremacy, SDH Technology & X-Ring Chains

### Brand Heritage & Engineering Leadership Founded in 1933 in Kaga, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, Daido Kogyo Co., Ltd. (known globally as D.I.D) is the world's undisputed number-one manufacturer of high-performance motorcycle drive chains and aluminum rims. For nearly a century, D.I.D has led the global powersports industry in driveline metallurgy, precision manufacturing, and patented sealing technologies.

In professional motorsport, D.I.D's supremacy is absolute. D.I.D chains are the exclusive factory choice for world championship teams across MotoGP, FIM World Motocross (MXGP), AMA Supercross, and the Dakar Rally. D.I.D supplies factory drive chains to every major Japanese and European motorcycle manufacturer, engineering driveline components capable of handling instantaneous shock loads exceeding 8,000 pounds while operating under extreme sand, mud, and water immersion.

• 520 ERT3 Non O-Ring Gold Motocross Chains: The pinnacle of lightweight Supercross and Motocross racing chains, rated at 8,300 lbs tensile strength with SDH pin treatment and zero seal drag.
• 520 VT2 / 520 VX3 X-Ring Sealed Chains: Narrow-profile off-road and enduro chains featuring patented low-friction X-Ring seals that prevent chain rub on compact engine cases.
• 520 ATVs & Heavy-Duty Off-Road Chains: High-tensile drive chains engineered for extreme torque loads and abrasive cross-country competition.
• D.I.D Master Links & Clip Sets: Genuine factory semi-press and full-press clip-type and rivet-type master links with gold side plates.
• D.I.D DirtStar Aluminum Rims: Championship-proven 7000-series aircraft aluminum wheel rims engineered for maximum impact deflection resistance.

### How D.I.D Chains Outperform Standard & Budget Chains 1. Patented X-Ring Sealing Technology: Standard O-rings create significant frictional drag and squash flat under tension, degrading quickly. D.I.D's patented X-Ring features four independent sealing lips that twist rather than squash, reducing friction by 50% while extending wear life by 1.5 to 2 times compared to standard sealed chains. 2. SDH (Super-Dai-Hard) Pin Metallurgy: D.I.D pins undergo a proprietary chromium carbide surface hardening treatment that creates an ultra-hard outer layer while retaining a ductile, shock-absorbing core that prevents brittle pin breakage during violent jump landings. 3. Solid Bushing Cold-Forming: Unlike cheap split-seam bushings that distort under load, D.I.D cold-forms seamless solid steel bushings, providing an ultra-smooth contact surface that drastically minimizes initial chain stretch.

### Advanced Pin Metallurgy & Cold-Forging Precision D.I.D's manufacturing excellence centers on its proprietary pin treatment technology. The SDH (Super-Dai-Hard) chemical process diffuses chromium carbide into the outer micron layers of the high-carbon alloy steel pin. This creates an extremely hard exterior casing that resists abrasive grit grinding while leaving the core ductile enough to flex and absorb severe torque shocks without snapping.

• Master Link Clip Orientation: Always install the master link spring clip with the closed, rounded loop facing the direction of forward chain rotation to prevent trail debris from unseating the clip.
• Chain Slack Adjustment: Set chain slack to 50-58mm measured from the swingarm slider to the chain centerline with the bike on a stand. Never overtighten a drive chain, which causes severe countershaft bearing and shock damage.
• Cleaning & Lubrication: Wash non O-ring chains with dedicated chain cleaner, dry with compressed air, and lube before every ride. For X-Ring chains, use only O-ring safe cleaners and avoid high-pressure water blasting directly at the rubber seals.
• Sprocket Alignment: Verify that rear axle block alignment marks are identical on both sides of the swingarm to avoid uneven side-plate wear on the chain links.

Frequently Asked Questions