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520 chain conversion/sprocket identification

  • Thread starter Thread starter Natron037
  • Start date Start date
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Natron037

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I wanted to give a heads up for the guys thinking about doing a 520 chain conversion. I have an 80 gs550 and it only having 50hp, a 520 is the way to go to save some weight. It is very popular on modern sportbikes to go to a 520, and there are chain manufacturers that make a 520 strong enough for 100+ hp bikes, but most 520 chains are for under 90hp. The 100+hp chains are expensive! When I was looking around I read specs on all the different chains and got an EK SRX X-ring chain with an 8000# tensile strength and rated for 80 hp/650cc for about $45 US. That's a good deal. On the sprocket end I was having a harder time, I couldn't find 520 conversion sprockets for an 80 GS550.. imagine that! I went to JT Sprocket's site and I'll be!.. they list dimensions of their sprockets. I cross-referenced by dimensions between my bike and others that fit. I think the front was from a katana and the rear from a newer gixxer. The rear sprocket is steel but has a few spokes instead of being mostly solid. I didn't weight both but from feel it's alot lighter than stock! I did have to go down from a 15/50 (3.333) to a 14/47 (3.357) because the front wasn't available in 15T/520 but I've had no problems and everything fits great. I did find after the fact that powersportsuperstore.com has a listing for conversions for older bikes, although it was a little hard for me to find at first. Just thought I'd throw that out there for anyone thinking about doing it was well. All said and done the SRX chain and 2 sprockets AFAM front and Jt rear were about $115.
 
whoops.. that's from 630 to 530. you can always go through JT's site and see what fits but you have to get a chain rated for the HP of the bike.
 
I just gotta ask....whats this gonna do for me again? I see people talking about this swap but I don't think I understand what its going to do for me. The 82 1100e that I have from what I can tell has a pretty old chain, but since I have not had it on the road yet I don't know if I have to replace yet. I guess I need to know what the reasons are for not just buying replacement parts?

I'm kinda like a flourecent bulb...takes me a minute lol
 
530 is the way to go IMO and many others. it will take any hp a gs can throw at it even drag spec bikes. they are slimmer,lighter and just as strong as a 630, just smaller
 
Agemax said:
530 is the way to go IMO and many others. it will take any hp a gs can throw at it even drag spec bikes. they are slimmer,lighter and just as strong as a 630, just smaller
Click to expand...

Agree on going with the 530. Chain width is the same as 630, and wider than 520, so sprocket life will be good. 530 chain is lighter than 630, but more than 520. In my opinion, the 530 is worth it dispite the small weight penalty.
 
Yep, that'd be a good choice for a 750. 530 chain will be lighter, cheaper, and in many cases stronger than 630 chain and they're more readily available.

520 can be a good choice, depends on what you plan on doing with the bike. Pretty much all the 200+ HP racebikes you see on TV (MotoGP, AMA Superbike, World Superbike) and in club roadracing have 520 chains. Why? Less rotating mass means more HP is transmitted to the rear wheel. That's the upside. The downside is that the 520 chain doesn't last as long, and most but not all 520 rear sprockets are made from aluminum, which isn't as durable as steel. Not a big deal on a racebike where chains/sprockets get changed all the time, but on a streetbike it's less economical than 530 chain.

I did a 520 conversion on my 1000 because 520 chain is thin enough to thread between the frame and my much wider than stock 180 radial rear tire.

If you want to go 530, call Jeff at Z1 and he can hook you up with all the info and parts you need.
 
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