smokinjoe73

So I managed to limp my old chain $ sprockets throught the winter but me thinks they are toast.

Does anyone know how to measure links to tell how beat it is? Its a 530 chain and I know there is a way to measure say 10 links to see how worn it is.

( I know the dont 'stretch' but the rollers wear. I cant pull it far off the rear sprocket but have no more chain adjustment room.

jscobey

time for a 520!! ha i never thought id want my chain and sprockets to wear out, but i refuse to buy new stuff till my current setup is toast or close to it. then im doing a 520 15/41 set up. plus im gonna go back from 190 rears to 180's.

in regards to your question... i always replace sprockets and chains together so when the sprocket teeth are shot i replace errything... but thats usually right about when im out of adjustment...

smokinjoe73

Yeah like I said, bought the 520 chain & sprockets last fall (100yrs ago it seems).

I just want to know the measurement thing.

2wheelsagain

I'd like to know why you've gone/going to a 520 chain?

If you're out of adjustment its time to toss them. No need to measure.

smokinjoe73

Lighter components mean less unsprung weight, less inertia and faster acceleration, better mileage, etc. Similar to lightening your flywheel.

I am interested to see longevity but this is the only way to find out.

I found out that the 5 in 520, 530 etc is the pitch in eighths. So one pitch is 5/8s. 21 links (20 pitches is 12.5". Once it reaches 12.6" its no good.

The prob is how to measure that accurately. It was just for my own info of how the chain wore.

2wheelsagain

The weight difference is only a few ounces (comparable quality) you'll be saving more weight by skipping breakfast that morning

smokinjoe73

Yeah well 1) Those are very valuable real feel ounces, and

2) No way am I skipping breakfast.

But seriously, you can feel the difference. Much less inertia.

jscobey

its similar to why people want lighter pistons, lighter con rods, light crank, etc...

its all part of the rotating mass that the engine has to spin while it revs. the lighter the parts, the faster it can rev. same with lightening the flywheel like joe mentioned

really there is no reason not to do it. people think it will wear alot on a 1000cc vtwin BUT the VTR only has 105-110hp. some mods and money later and MAYBE you get it up to 115 or 120hp (talking about average bikes, im well aware of what tweety and some other guys have in terms of hp)

chains are usually rated in terms of a bikes CC's and 520's are good up to 750cc I4's which produce similar HP although slightly less torque. ive also seen lots of guys run 520's on R1's with no issues or really even any lack of longevity.

plus when Honda slapped a 530 chain on the hawk back in the late 90's, the quality of the chains isnt what they are now. 530's back then were rated for similar power outputs as 520's today because of much better construction and materials. it all depends on the chains manufacture to.

skokievtr

Chain wear is not just a matter of "stretch" and sprocket wear (sometimes you can get away with reusing a hi-Q steel front sprocket), it's also whether the chain "kinks" and does not roll over sprockets easily and then straighten readily. I use a Scotts chain oiler (though do not clean it often enough with kerosene and a toothbrush) and still only manage 20 ~25k miles on a decent quality chain and sprockets. But I ride in the rain and sometimes dusty conditions.

I was going to go to 520 this time (I'm in the process of replacing the chain and sprockets, cleaning and greasing the shock linkage and swing arm bearings after having my Penske shock totally rehabbed) but found a new Regina 530 O-ring chain in my "attic stock" so I just busted for new sprockets.

Next time (about when I crack 110k miles on the odo) I'll spring for a set of 520 and maybe the Superspox rear and maybe their lifetime guaranteed set.

I like 16/43T and am installing a lightenened flywheel.