sprockets & chains

[the red shed]

are they much of a muchness or do the REALLY expencive ones make a difference?
rivit or soft link?i had a soft link on a fzr4 and never had a prob.

[RedexRobB]

No idea if price really makes any difference, people rave about Renthals that they weigh half as much as a standard item. Personally i go for something like an 'O' or 'X' ring chain and whatever sprockets that comes with them.

[masterofinsanity]

should use a rivet link really on anything over 125cc

[Jamz]

A cheap-ass X-ring will still be better than an O-ring.

I'm using my first x-ring after years of O-rings and am making a hell of a lot less adjustments to it, so it's got to be worth the extra money!

Like Rob says - the Renthal stuff is super-light which makes a huge difference as it's the drive train (that'll start an argument! ). Make the most of it because they don't make stuff for sportsbikes over 400cc!

Don't get a non-o-ring chain because although it'll be cheap as chips you'll be adjusting it every 20 miles just to stop it falling off the sprockets!

And as Baz says - you don't really want a split link (that could start another argument there! )

[BULLET]

Definitely go with the X-Ring chain. I just got the trick new RK X-Ring black & gold race chain with afam front(14) and rear sprockets(47 - new alloy race research testing model) and works like a dream. Interesting note though. I got the guys at the Afam factory in Osaka to do the work and they used a 120 chain and cut it down to size. Their reasoning was that even though the 110 will work, a cut down 120 will add better balance to the drive train, put less strain on the chain and allow for greater reliability and more room for adjustment. Now I don't know if this is true or not but thats what their team of experts say so who's arguing Boy Japan is a cool place to live if you like bikes!

[rene]

simple answer DID gold chain, i did 4,000 miles including 2 trackdays and every single mile flat out and full of wheelies on my zxr750. In them 4,000 miles i didnt tutch it once part from greasing it VERY GOOD CHAINS, its still on the bike now after 11,000 miles and looks perfect.

You'll be fine with a split link, personaly i wouldent use one on anything biger than 600cc but my old mans been using one on a FJ1200 for the last 5,000 miles and hasent had a problem

[Jamz]

Definitely go with the X-Ring chain. I just got the trick new RK X-Ring black & gold race chain with afam front(14) and rear sprockets(47 - new alloy race research testing model) and works like a dream. Interesting note though. I got the guys at the Afam factory in Osaka to do the work and they used a 120 chain and cut it down to size. Their reasoning was that even though the 110 will work, a cut down 120 will add better balance to the drive train, put less strain on the chain and allow for greater reliability and more room for adjustment. Now I don't know if this is true or not but thats what their team of experts say so who's arguing Boy Japan is a cool place to live if you like bikes!

Sounds like they ran out of 110 chains and fed you a line to keep you happy!

I don't see how a cut-down chain would be any better than one with the correct number of links as standard???

[BULLET]

No they had plenty of 110's and I told them over and over that it would be ok. But then they just looked at me like I was a total amateur and had no clue about setting up a drive train for optimum performance and tried to explain it to me. They said that the current chain is for the 15/45 stock set up. Now because I was changing to a 14/47 set-up the chain would have to increase to 112 links. Though saying this you are right you can use the 110, but the guys at Afam consider this poor engineering and the incorrect chain length for these sprockets. Who am I to argue.

[Jamz]

Ahh sorry - I missed that it wasn't the standard sprockets!

Still bloody weird though - because you can get 112 chains - so I still don't understand why they'd see any advantage in cutting a 120 link chain down?!

[BULLET]

So you know, the new RK race chain I'm using doesn't come in 112 even though the older series x-rings do (well some). Also they charged me the 110 price and used the 120. Anyway this is far from the point don't you think. So, the correct number is 112 for the ZXR400 using this sprocket set up.

[deviant]

Now because I was changing to a 14/47 set-up the chain would have to increase to 112 links. Though saying this you are right you can use the 110, but the guys at Afam consider this poor engineering and the incorrect chain length for these sprockets. Who am I to argue.

Nah, utter bullocks. There's plenty of range on the chain adjusters to use 110 link chain on a 14/47 setup. It would only be a problem if you ended up with the chain too tight. But you don't.

[crushedlizard]

Does anyone here run a 520 chain? I'm replacing my chain and apparently the ZXR has a 530 standard. I'm not expecting to feel the weight difference or anything, I just like the idea of it. Obviously I'll be changing the sprockets to suit a 520.

Sorry if I'm wrong about the 530 being standard - I've been told assured it's a 530 but you never know.

Cheers

[rover220]

think my tsubaki is a 520 with 14 tooth front sprocket, not sure what the rear is though.

[Jamz]

Does anyone here run a 520 chain? I'm replacing my chain and apparently the ZXR has a 530 standard. I'm not expecting to feel the weight difference or anything, I just like the idea of it. Obviously I'll be changing the sprockets to suit a 520.

Sorry if I'm wrong about the 530 being standard - I've been told assured it's a 530 but you never know.

Cheers

I'm pretty sure it's a 520 as standard at the most!

My VFR750's all had 530 chains and they were a hell of a lot bigger - I remember clearly because I've changed chain and sprockets on all of them, and the 530 only just fits in my chain breaker!

[deviant]

Sorry if I'm wrong about the 530 being standard - I've been told assured it's a 530 but you never know.

520 = standard.

I think the honda 400s run 525 as standard.

530 is well into 600/750cc territory.