replacement chain/sprocket kit recommendations

[The Snowman]

Any brand recommendations for a replacement chain/sprockets on a 97 CBR900RR?

Looks like mine needs it at just about 15K.

[Degsy]

Chain- DID
Sprockets - Renthal, AFAM or Sprocket Specialists.

Someone will no doubt say vortex - yuck.

derek

[The Snowman]

why the yuck for vortex??

[Degsy]

Originally posted by 97BladeRider
why the yuck for vortex??

All bling, no zzzzzing. Cheap crap (in my humblest opinion)

[union]

Im using a DID 520 and a AFAM sprocket on my bike. Asside from normal wear on the chain its perfect. Last time I had the wheel off and cleaned up the sprocket it looked like it was fresh out of the box.

[Doc]

Just don't get aluminum, the wear quicker, not worth the lil weight savings. IMHO

[The Snowman]

OK, I look at the stock specs for the chain and it says 525EHV GC&B and the DID web site says that a 525 chain should be used to a max of 750 cc and a 530 chain to a max of 1000cc.

If I'm reading this right, if I ordered a 50(530)VM Premium X-ring, I'd be all set?

Also, stock sprockets are 16/43. If I wanted to get faster acceleration, I'd go one down/two up, front/back, right? Top end is enough for me, since right now, I'm only in 5th at 75mph @ 5100rpm and don't really expect to go much faster. I'm not a track racer.

[Degsy]

Yeah, you could use a 530, but bear in mind you would have to get new sprockets in size 530.

A 525 chain will be fine for your bike, and it would be lighter than a 530 with less reciprocal mass.

derek

[The Snowman]

Originally posted by Doc
Just don't get aluminum, the wear quicker, not worth the lil weight savings. IMHO

All the AFAM rear sprockets I've found are 7075-T6 aluminum. Should I try another brand??

[Doc]

Originally posted by 97BladeRider
All the AFAM rear sprockets I've found are 7075-T6 aluminum. Should I try another brand??

I don't know man, I had Aluminums on and the teeth bent right over like lil waves in less than a summer, also broke a couple teeth off the front and rear sprockets ( I know now I should have checked more often)

Some of this may have had to do with my beating the bike and the chain being a little tight but I haven't had problems with the steel sprockets I run now.

[Degsy]

Originally posted by 97BladeRider
All the AFAM rear sprockets I've found are 7075-T6 aluminum. Should I try another brand??

They are hardened, they'll be fine.

derek

[Degsy]

Originally posted by Doc
I don't know man, I had Aluminums on and the teeth bent right over like lil waves in less than a summer, also broke a couple teeth off the front and rear sprockets ( I know now I should have checked more often)

Some of this may have had to do with my beating the bike and the chain being a little tight but I haven't had problems with the steel sprockets I run now.

I have never seen an aluminum front sprocket. Most are case-hardened steel.

If you broke a couple of teeth off the front sprocket, your chain was either:

1. Way too tight.
2. Fucked.

[RandyO]

I've always had best luck with oem sprockets, last longest, per mile cost is lowest

[Awesome]

my opinion would be get the 530 chain, along with steel sprockets if you can find them. Forget about the mass. If you're worried about powerloss with weight re-gear it a tooth or two. The 530 chain will last way longer than chewing through a lighter chain, and the steel sprockets will last longer than the soft qand lightweight aluminum. You might have trouble finding a steel rear sprocket other than stock though.

[The Snowman]

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

Finding the right combination is proving frustrating. I found a steel aftermarket rear sprocket from Sprocket Speciaities, but I can't find one for my CBR larger than the stock 43 tooth.

Stock combination is 16/43. In order to get just a little more acceleration, what would you suggest for a good combination? Would simply dropping the front sprocket 1 tooth be enough? Or should I increase the rear 1 or 2 teeth as well?

If I go the latter, I can't go with the steel rear.

I've decided to go with the same type chain as stock, a DID 525, but buying the Premium X-Ring VM instead of the lower model.

[Degsy]

1 down on the front is roughly equivalent to 3 up on the rear. 1 down on the front AND 3 up on the rear will put you in stunta-land as far as wheelies go.
Go with 1 down on the front and the 43 tooth steel rear.
derek

[The Snowman]

Originally posted by Degsy
1 down on the front is roughly equivalent to 3 up on the rear. 1 down on the front AND 3 up on the rear will put you in stunta-land as far as wheelies go.

We wouldn't want that, would we? Especially when my wife's riding along.

Will the chain need to be shortened at all if I drop down a tooth in the front?

[The Snowman]

Damn, am I a newb at this or what? More questions....

I'm also confused at what length chain to buy. I look at the Shop Manual and the stock chain(s) are:

DID: DID525HV GC&B - 120ZB
or
RK: RKGB525ROZ1 - 120LJF

Which I take both to be 525 chains at 120 links.

But looking for sprockets, I find ion the Sprocket Specialists site that the standard stock chain for the bike is a 525-108.

Talk about confusing. The difference in price between a 120 link and a 110 link DID VM chain is $20 or more, depending on the distributor.

I'd hate to buy a chain that's too short.

And, I assume I'll have to buy a new master link. So which type is better, rivet link or master link?

[Doc]

Umm... I just count my links and buy one to fit.

The rivet type link is "better" but I have never had a problem with a master link.

[Awesome]

buy the chain and take out the number of links you need to to make it fit.

[Billy]

Have a dremel and a chain tool ready to go if you need to remove some links.

[OreoGaborio]

Old thread bump

Derek, what is it about DID that makes you suggest it over RK, EK, etc?

I just found this bad boy but found a couple RK & EK chains as well for slightly less. Example

(it's for the Tuono)

[Pigman]

Driven has some nice stuff....

Driven Sprockets Rear 520 Sprocket - Yamaha R1 - KneeDraggers.com

[RyanNicholson]

an EK chain sent me cartwheeling across the grass by T11....I now use a DID.

though it was also the fact that i was dumb enough to let a friend put on the master (clip), which let go....so I guess it wasn't EK's fault....but it was still enough to sell me on a DID haha.

[Jim]

I have Sunstar steel 525 sprockets, which are OEM for Suzuki and i believe Honda....which will be going on soon