how much does a chain stretch?

I do not like rk chains. I had a 530 xso rk chain on my fzr and it would slack out of speck every time I road the bike. Granted my rear shock was blown but the chain on there before had been fine. I've been using ek on my 95 ninja and had zero issues. But yeah over tightening a chain will ruin it really quickly. You can also wear out your counter shaft seal and end up leaking oil. Also make sure you are adjusting and checking it at the tightest spot of the chain. Tightening if at a loose point will cause it to be too tight at the tight points.

how about DID 530VX Gold chains?

fleabay...17 mins to go...$41 + $12 s&h!

530 chains should be lasting you forever. 50 dollar chains last a little more than half the miles of 120 dollar chains.

yup...bike came with a 530, tried 520 once and it lost teeth, so now I only buy 530 chains...what I try to do is buy a $120 chain for $50...last time some dude was selling a new 530xso chain for a gsxr for $19 + $15 s&h on fleabay...looking to grab a deal like that

okay....going to try this again

this time I got a chain valued ~$220...ebay special @ $52 shipped

D.I.D. 530-ZVM2...going to get a new JT steel front sprocket JTF513.15 ($12) and steel rear JTR865.45 ($36)....so I'd be looking roughly $100 for parts

can anything about the installation mess up how long the chain lasts?

do rear sprockets have a direction?

would the bike wheel be on the right of this diagram?

http://www.jtsprockets.com/fileadmin...all/jtr865.jpg

If you run out of adjustment, can't you just remove a link? Maybe you had too many links to begin with.

they sometime have an offset, the one in your pic does, so it should only go on one way. You could bolt it on the wrong way but then the rear sprocket will not be in line with the front sprocket, then you'll get some real nasty wear.

It's critical to understand that you determine whether or not a chain is beyond it's useful life by how it interacts with the sprocket - not how much it "flops" around between the sprockets.

Pull the chain backward from the middle of the rear sprocket. If you can barely move it - it's perfect. If it pulls off the teeth by less than 1/3'rd of the teeth height, you're OK. If you can pull the chain backward and see 1/2 the sprocket teeth - it's time to replace.

I keep my chains on the loose side and rarely clean or lubricate (on street bike). Maybe 2 times per year. They last forever. (stock 530 chain)

half past a monkeys ass