Master chain link missing or old owner replaced chain?

Heyyyy everyone,

Again I drive a 1980 kz440 LTD model A.
So in an earlier post I was removing my rear brakes and I came across another issue...
My service manual said to remove the chain by removing the master link. Guys, I looked everywhere on the chain, even on both sides, and could NOT find it. I looked online to double check what I was looking for, but it’s defintely not there.
I am the third owner of this bike, so is it possible they changed it to a chain that doesn’t require a master link?

The thing is, I’ve read everywhere that it is very very dangerous to ride without the master link because the chain can come apart, but I have put 1000 miles on it (and whatever the previous owner had because the chain hasn’t been changed since I bought it) and it has obviously been fine. I am still here in one piece!

So is it possible they changed the chain to one that doesn’t require this?
Or that the master link is gone? (See image)

Here is a picture of a link I found that is different from all the rest that could possibly have been holding the now missing link:

What you are holding is the master link. The ends of the pins have been peened. That is MUCH stronger than e clip-style that I bet you are thinking about.
As for riding without one, that is only possible with an endless chain. With any common replacement chain, there is no way to connect the ends without a master link.
What you have is exactly what you want to have.

I knew there must have been a reason this link looked different than the others! I just didn't know what 'peen' meant :laugh:
Thank you, that relieves me!

That's usually referred to as a rived chain link. It does require the correct tool to do that.



It is the closes thing to the original "endless" chain used by the OEM's.