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Message started by Kris01 on 10/13/15 at 16:02:49

Title: A decent 530 X-ring chain?
Post by Kris01 on 10/13/15 at 16:02:49

http://www.bikebandit.com/aftermarket-parts/motorcycle-wheels-and-final-drive/chains-universal/d-i-d-530-pro-street-vx-series-x-ring-motorcycle-chain

http://www.bikebandit.com/aftermarket-parts/motorcycle-wheels-and-final-drive/chains-universal/jt-sprockets-530-x1r-heavy-duty-expert-series-x-ring-drive-chain

I have no experience with chains. Are either of these any good? I don't want a "cheap" chain but I do want an inexpensive one. I know "cheap" chains can get you hurt!

Anybody got any links (no pun intended! ;D) that they prefer over what I linked?

Title: Re: A decent 530 X-ring chain?
Post by Dave on 10/13/15 at 18:11:40

Best thing I know to do, is go to Motorcycle Superstore website and read the reviews.....then buy it from whoever is cheapest. I can't buy from Motorcycle Superstore anymore....they opened up an outlet store in Louisville, and now they charge tax as well as shipping to my address in KY!

Title: Re: A decent 530 X-ring chain?
Post by Yoshi on 10/13/15 at 18:44:35

Do you want to buy quality and not overspend? Buy my kit
oem front and rear sprocket and a volar o ring chain, all barely used!

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g214/VduBpl/For%20Sale/20150706_185200_zpszrjeq5bz.jpg (http://s57.photobucket.com/user/VduBpl/media/For%20Sale/20150706_185200_zpszrjeq5bz.jpg.html)

Title: Re: A decent 530 X-ring chain?
Post by Kris01 on 10/13/15 at 18:51:30

Well, I have some sprockets in mind (45/17 [2.65:1] -- but I haven't bought them yet) and I'm wanting an X-ring chain for less friction. People that I've spoken with say that you can really feel the difference between O-ring and X-ring chains.

Title: Re: A decent 530 X-ring chain?
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 10/13/15 at 22:18:05

Thomas register
Cross reference of materiel, manufacturers and suppliers.

http://productsourcing.thomasnet.com/results.html?what=Sprocket%20drive%20chain&searchx=true

Technical description of the chain and you'll get suppliers and manufacturers.

Title: Re: A decent 530 X-ring chain?
Post by chzeckmate on 10/13/15 at 23:50:51

I've always been very happy with D.I.D. chains. I feel very comfortable recommending D.I.D.

Title: Re: A decent 530 X-ring chain?
Post by gizzo on 10/14/15 at 03:25:18

+ 1 for D.I.D. all my bikes wear t hem (but the Cabbage). Just put a new 530 x ring on my Enfield to replace the stock crap Indian one.

Title: Re: A decent 530 X-ring chain?
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 10/14/15 at 08:03:27

Never heard of X ring, so, went looking.
http://www.motorcycleforum.com/showthread.php?t=109305

And another
x-ring vs o-ring chains

Options, including diagrams.

Title: Re: A decent 530 X-ring chain?
Post by Kris01 on 10/14/15 at 21:03:11

I'm likely to but my sprockets from JT Sprockets. I posted a link to one of their brand chains. It's considerably cheaper at $82.95 (vs. $152.95 for the D.I.D. chain). Does JT make a good chain? I've never heard anything but positive reviews for D.I.D.

Title: Re: A decent 530 X-ring chain?
Post by chzeckmate on 10/15/15 at 00:03:00

The few times I used something other than D.I.D. I wasn't happy. A chain is something I'm not ever going to try to save money on...just saying.

Title: Re: A decent 530 X-ring chain?
Post by gizzo on 10/15/15 at 02:43:35

I'd be making sure I was buying steel sprockets,too. Aluminium lightweight ones don't last long.

Title: Re: A decent 530 X-ring chain?
Post by Kris01 on 10/15/15 at 16:13:38

754A4C4B5651793F0 wrote:

A chain is something I'm not ever going to try to save money on...just saying.

I agree. I thought maybe there were some that were "just as good" as D.I.D., but cheaper.

Title: Re: A decent 530 X-ring chain?
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 10/15/15 at 16:15:42

motorcycle chain comparison

Lots to see.
Of course, a poorly maintained, high quality chain may yield the same or less life than a well maintained mediocre chain. That's a big price difference, so, you might wanna see the comparison, maybe even go on a forum or two, where the bike they are riding is in our HP range, etc. And, your riding style and miles per year,

Title: Re: A decent 530 X-ring chain?
Post by smokin_blue on 10/15/15 at 20:37:43

I have run o-ring chains for many years before running x ring. I definitely like the x ring better. One thing I firmly believe in is using chain wax and not the old sticky chain lube. All the sticky stuff does is get dirt to cling to the chain. I clean all the stock grease off the faces of the side plates when I get it and then spray it with chain lube per their instructions.

Title: Re: A decent 530 X-ring chain?
Post by chzeckmate on 10/16/15 at 00:30:48

3C2220242621102D233A2A4F0 wrote:

Same here. I only Use Chain Wax. I swear by it. Chains are too expensive to use anything else.

Title: Re: A decent 530 X-ring chain?
Post by gizzo on 10/16/15 at 02:40:17

I just saw a thing on YouTube called a Grease Ninja.Looks like a brilliant way to lube the chain. Might get one..

Title: Re: A decent 530 X-ring chain?
Post by Kris01 on 10/16/15 at 17:18:11

So what's the difference between chain wax and chain lube (or any other lubricant)?

Title: Re: A decent 530 X-ring chain?
Post by Kris01 on 10/16/15 at 17:25:08

Grease Ninja: How to apply:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJW0ItMg9JE

Am I missing something? It looks just as easy to just spray the chain like normal.

Title: Re: A decent 530 X-ring chain?
Post by gizzo on 10/17/15 at 04:37:23

The grease ninja puts a bead of lube on each side of the chain,on the chain plates. Stops it flying everywhere or wasting the lube doing it freehand, is all. If I can find one in the shops here I might grab one to try it out.
Re: chain wax v. Wet chain lube, that's like starting another oil war. Everyone has their favorite and everyone who does it different is wrong. I'm not going there. ;)

Title: Re: A decent 530 X-ring chain?
Post by WD on 10/17/15 at 11:11:53

I've always switched back to standard chains once an o-ring chain wore out. My 99 VN800A that made 60rwhp on a dyno ran a cheap standard 530 that I saturated with chainsaw bar oil. Got over 20,000 miles before the chain started significantly stretching. My 63 Honda CL72 (248cc parallel twin) had a heavily waxed standard chain that lasted from 1973 until the engine locked up in 2009.

If you want top of the line chains and have the money to spare, go for it. Honestly though, the power output of our engines is low enough that a 428 standard chain would be fine. Our bikes make the same power as a 350 or 400 p-twin from the 1970s, chain swap accordingly.

Title: Re: A decent 530 X-ring chain?
Post by gizzo on 10/17/15 at 13:20:36

WD, are you sure you wouldn't prefer a leather drive belt, single speed? ;) :P
I'll agree with you on the standard chain thing: nothing wrong with them if you look after them. I've had one on my Pantah for 30,000 km with no observable wear on chain or sprockets. Just needs a lot more care than a sealed chain. And makes a world of mess during a ride. I only bought it because I was skint when I need ed a chain, otherwise would have bought a sealed one.

Title: Re: A decent 530 X-ring chain?
Post by Kris01 on 10/17/15 at 21:41:54

415B5F5D5C62534046405B565557320 wrote:

Re: chain wax v. Wet chain lube, that's like starting another oil war. Everyone has their favorite and everyone who does it different is wrong. I'm not going there. ;)

That made me laugh! ;D. So, they're basically the same thing depending on your POV.

WD:
I thought basically the same thing. This bike doesn't make enough power to warrant using an anchor chain. Truth be told, we could probably get away with using fishing line. So, in your opinion, any chain would be ok? Are there any I need to stay away from?

Title: Re: A decent 530 X-ring chain?
Post by gizzo on 10/18/15 at 00:40:43

665F445E1D1C2D0 wrote:

So, in your opinion, any chain would be ok? Are there any I need to stay away from?

Indian made chains. Run away, don't look back. Enfields come with an Indian made 530 chain. This is a size you see on litre bikes. It seems common for a 25hp Enfield to destroy one in as little as 3000 miles. So, any Japanese chain. 520 would be fine.
Here's a useful resource explaining chain pitch if you're interested.
http://www.gizmology.net/sprockets.htm

Title: Re: A decent 530 X-ring chain?
Post by Kris01 on 10/18/15 at 07:54:18

I've seen that site before. It's pretty informative on a lot of things.

The chain conversion thread listed in the tech section specifies a 530 chain (since that's what the '80 GS550 uses). Is there a 520 conversion that we could use? With such a low hp engine, the 520 should be more than adequate for us.

Title: Re: A decent 530 X-ring chain?
Post by gizzo on 10/18/15 at 13:10:08

You could either find sprockets to fit the 520 chain or have the 530 sprockets machined to suit the 520 chain. Pitch is the same, just chain width is less.

Title: Re: A decent 530 X-ring chain?
Post by Kris01 on 10/18/15 at 20:11:54

According to JT Sprockets these are bikes that use the JTF513 front and JTR816 rear sprockets that we would use. Sadly, none of them used 520 chain. All of them are 530.

78-79 GS550 E C/N
78-82 GS550 EC,EN,ET (Disc Brake)
79 GS550 L N
79-81 GS550 LN,LT,LX Chopper
80 GS550 E T, L T Cast wheel
81 GS550 L X
81 GS550 T X
81-82 GS550 M-X,Z Katana
82 GS550 M Z
83-85 GS550 E D/F
83-86 GS550 L D/F/G
83-86 GS550 ES D/E/F/G
84 GS550 E3S E

83-87 GSX550 ED,EE,ES,EF,EG,EU

81-82 GS650 E X/Z
GS650 E,S,XE

85 GS700 E F
85 GS700 ES F

83 GS750 E/ES D

76-77 GT750 A,B

80-89 GSX750 EE,ESD,ESE,EFE
84-85 GSX750 S,SS GS75X
84-85 GSX750 S-2,S2C GS75X
84-86 GSX750 SE,S3/4 Katana (pop-up h/light) GR72A
98-03 GSX750 W,X,Y,K1,K2,K3 (Retro Style)

90-91 GSX-R750 L,M GR7AC
90-91 GSX-R750 L,M Sling Shot GR7AD
90-92 GSX-R750 L/M/N
92-95 GSX-R750 WN,WP,WR,WSGR7BD
93-95 GSX-R750 W P/R/S

94-97 RF900 R R/S/T/V ## <<<< 530 Chain Conversion
94-00 RF900 R-R,S,S2,T,V,W,X ## << 530 Chain Conversion

88 GSX1100 F J Katana ## <<< 530 Chain Conversion
88-89 GSX1100 F-J,K ## <<< 530 Chain Conversion
89-93 GSX1100 F K/L/M/N/P Katana ## <<< 530 Chain Conversion
90-96 GSX1100 F-L,M,N,P,R,S,T ## <<< 530 Chain Conversion

99-00 GSX1200 Inazuma

95-05 GSF1200 S-T,V,W,X,Y,K1,K2,K3.K4,K5 Bandit
95-05 GSF1200 T,V,W,X,Y,K1,K2,K3,K4,K5 Bandit
97-05 GSF1200 S V/W/X/Y/K1/K2/K3/K4/K5 Bandit

89 GSX-R1100 K ## <<< 530 Chain Conversion
89-92 GSX-R1100 K/L/M/N ## <<< 530 Chain Conversion
90-92 GSX-R1100 L,M,WN ## <<< 530 Chain Conversion
93-94 GSX-R1100 W P/R ## <<< 530 Chain Conversion
93-94 GSX-R1100 WP,WR ## <<< 530 Chain Conversion
95-98 GSX-R1100 W S/T/V/W ## <<< 530 Chain Conversion
95-98 GSX-R1100 WS/WT/WV/WW ## <<< 530 Chain Conversion
96-97 GSX-R1100 WT/WV ## <<< 530 Chain Conversion

Title: Re: A decent 530 X-ring chain?
Post by gizzo on 10/18/15 at 22:27:33

Because you've looked for all the bikes that use a particular sprocket, and that sprocket takes a 530 chain, instead of other sprockets that will fit any of those bikes. If the bike uses the JTF513 sprocket, it's going to need the 530 chain that goes with it. Know what I mean?
Maybe smaller Suzuki's that run 520 chain will have the same bolt and splines as their bigger brethren.

Title: Re: A decent 530 X-ring chain?
Post by chzeckmate on 10/18/15 at 22:29:51

190A4E0 wrote:

Honestly though, the power output of our engines is low enough that a 428 standard chain would be fine. Our bikes make the same power as a 350 or 400 p-twin from the 1970s, chain swap accordingly.

100% agree. I have been contemplating chain conversion. If I go through with it I will use a 428. No need for overkill here. 428 is lighter, cheaper, and so much easier to change.

Title: Re: A decent 530 X-ring chain?
Post by Dave on 10/19/15 at 04:47:43

5B646265787F57110 wrote:

[quote author=190A4E0 link=1444777369/15#19 date=1445105513]Honestly though, the power output of our engines is low enough that a 428 standard chain would be fine. Our bikes make the same power as a 350 or 400 p-twin from the 1970s, chain swap accordingly.

100% agree. I have been contemplating chain conversion. If I go through with it I will use a 428. No need for overkill here. 428 is lighter, cheaper, and so much easier to change.
[/quote]

I am not a chain expert....but a 428 chain seems awful small for the amount of torque that the Savage makes. My Ninja 250 is about the same HP (30) as the Savage and it has a #520 chain - but it doesn't have nearly as much torque....and torque is what really stresses the drivetrain. The only bikes I have ever owned that used #428 chains was a Suzuki TS90, a Suzuki TM125, and a Suzuki RL250 trials bike, and none of them made as much HP or torque as the Savage. My Kawasaki Super Sherpa 250 dual sport used a #520 chain. I would venture to guess that a #428 chain wouldn't last very long on the Savage.

Title: Re: A decent 530 X-ring chain?
Post by Kris01 on 10/19/15 at 15:22:39

That's all well and good but we haven't found a suitable sprocket that uses a 428 chain and fits the Savage/S40. ;)

Title: Re: A decent 530 X-ring chain?
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 10/20/15 at 21:47:56

I asked my backhoe mechanic about buying a small tractor. He said don't buy a twin. The power pulses were hard on u joints. I'm wondering if this big single doesn't yank the bel pretty hard. Think about the acceleration you feel. Sure, the rubber in the hub soaks up some of the bang, but I really don't know hoot about chain.
But, a twin putting out 30 hp won't beat on a chain the same as a single, I believe.

Title: Re: A decent 530 X-ring chain?
Post by Kris01 on 10/21/15 at 11:15:46

Yeah, our beloved thumper, as "torquey" as it is, would probably be harder on any drivetrain because it isn't as smooth as a twin.

Title: Re: A decent 530 X-ring chain?
Post by Dave on 10/21/15 at 13:17:23

063F243E7D7C4D0 wrote:

Yeah, our beloved thumper, as "torquey" as it is, would probably be harder on any drivetrain because it isn't as smooth as a twin.

It has a whole lot of flywheel to help to soften the power pulses. The crankshaft has a lot of weight in the large round circles on either side of the rod, the flwheel has a large diameter, the balance shaft is heavy and spins twice the speed of the crank, and the rotor for the electrical system is very heavy......all of this helps to absorb some of the uneven power/compression strokes and even things out a bit........and the rubber cushion in the rear hub helps as well.

Title: Re: A decent 530 X-ring chain?
Post by gizzo on 10/21/15 at 19:15:48

Back when I were younger a bunch of my friends rode 600 thumper dirt bikes. XR, TT that kind of thing. You could almost see the chains stretching on those things. Destroyed tyres, too. Especially the guys who used to like to lug the engine. My little DR250 (which I still have), much less torque and more RPM, the chain lasted years.

Dave, I don't remember whether your cafe' has a chain or still running the belt and kwak pulley? If you have chain, how smooth is the belt v chain? I think the belt absorbs a lot of snatch. The Cabbage is smoother at low RPM than other thumpers I've ridden (including DR 500, 650 and 800 Big, pretty similar engine there).

My 2c, YMMV etc

Title: Re: A decent 530 X-ring chain?
Post by chzeckmate on 10/21/15 at 23:58:15

657F7B797846776462647F727173160 wrote:

I think the belt absorbs a lot of snatch.

:o I have a terrible mind :D

Title: Re: A decent 530 X-ring chain?
Post by gizzo on 10/22/15 at 01:21:31

Yeah me too. I always giggle on the inside when we're four wheel driving and someoneneeds to use a snatch strap. Makes me think of a fat chick's g string :D

Title: Re: A decent 530 X-ring chain?
Post by Dave on 10/22/15 at 03:24:05

504A4E4C4D73425157514A474446230 wrote:

I run the belt....it is clean and tidy. I resolved the need for taller gearing by using the Kawasaki front and rear pulleys. The increased compression of the Wiseco does make the bike less smooth to ride in some ways....when you let go of the throttle the compression braking is much stronger than on a stock engine, and when you roll on the throttle the acceleration quicker and the power pulses more noticeable. I have learned not to close the throttle all the way when slowing down.....you just need to be a bit less aggressive about how you use the throttle.