520 chain VS 530 chain on a KZ1000?

Not to beat a dead horse I've read a lot of threads so far but no one has given any real proof or stats that the 520 is a bad or poor choice for a KZ1000. The Hayabusa is able to use this conversion does this bike have less torqe,horse power than the KZ1000, If the new and modern bikes can use it why not the old please need help with this question from all and I know even between the (2) that the sprocket choice kinda limited that is not the question it is more the strength and reliability.

It's not just hp that matters, it's also load.

Look at it this way, if you have a 200 hp motor hooked to a bicycle wheel on a stand, a bicycle chain would probably work. Hook that same motor to a 4000 lb flywheel and it may take two chains of the highest tensile strength you can find to accelerate it without breaking.

And then there's shock loading, like dropping the clutch when drag racing. I doubt you would find a 520 chain on any Busa that was regularly drag raced.

My plan is to use a 520 chain on my 750 project bike, but that bike is fairly light (around 425 lbs dry), but I wouldn't use anything smaller than a 525 on a KZ1000.

If you never drop the clutch or use WOT then a 520 chain might be ok on a KZ1000, but why take the chance?

There are a wide range of tensile strengths available in the various sizes of chains, the above is based on using the highest tensile strength available for the specified chain size.

The rated tensile strengths for the various chain sizes from all the manufacturers are all available online, so look them up and make your own decision. How can anyone offer any real "Proof" or "Stats" here?

It's your butt that's on the line here, you are the one that will have to deal with any injuries caused by a broken chain (or your family if you get killed), so you're the one that has to do the hard research and make the final decision. All I or any others can do is offer our $0.02

Yeah. What he said.

Motorcycles that make in excess of 150 bHp (that's measurable horsepower at the ground, on a dyno) come factory with 520 chain. These bikes (the liter bikes) weigh 100lbs less than the typical stock KZ1000.

Factor in a Hyabusa / ZX14. They weigh roughly 30lbs less than a stock KZ1000 (J model specifically).

We all have friends who ride who are barely over 100lbs and some who are over 300lbs. That's a 200lb difference just in riders and I think all the little Asain engineers probably factored that in when designing motorcycles.

Weight certainly has an impact, however, judging by the strength of todays top-end 520 chains and the power ability of a KZ1000 I think the 520 would be just fine.

Side bar: on several of my bikes I've shedded massive weight by using late-model wheels, forks, triples, and swing-arms. Although I have a 530 on my current bike the Z1R will absolutely be getting a 520 at the same time the 1260 goes in; the suspension will be gratis of a FZR1000...and I ride hard enough to take it to the track. I also think that Solumnruss is going 520 on a big block kaw he has.

.02 rendered, and much respect offered to the opinions of others.

-KR

Bad Kaw, I think you forgot to add something to this:

Factor in a Hyabusa / ZX14. They weigh roughly 30lbs less than a stock KZ1000 (J model specifically).

Reading your post, it seems to me that there should be some link in that sentence referring to a chain, like this:

Factor in a Hyabusa / ZX14. They weigh roughly 30lbs less than a stock KZ1000 (J model specifically)and they use a 530 chain.

And I have no argument with your opinion, I may simply be more cautious than most

2005 GSX 1300R Hayabusa
Dry weight: 217.0 kg (478.4 pounds)
Seat height: 805 mm (31.7 inches) If adjustable, lowest setting.
Overall height: 1,155 mm (45.5 inches)
Overall length: 2,140 mm (84.3 inches)
Overall width: 740 mm (29.1 inches)
Ground clearance: 120 mm (4.7 inches)
Wheelbase: 1,485 mm (58.5 inches)




1977 KZ1000
Dry weight: 241.0 kg (531.3 pounds)
Overall height: 1,180 mm (46.5 inches)
Overall length: 2,220 mm (87.4 inches)
Overall width: 830 mm (32.7 inches)
Ground clearance: 155 mm (6.1 inches)
Wheelbase: 1,505 mm (59.3 inches)




So that looks to be about 53lbs difference... I would think that the stress put on the chain from the monster Busa power would be a greater threat than 50 pounds.

So that looks to be about 53lbs difference... I would think that the stress put on the chain from the monster Busa power would be a greater threat than 50 pounds.

Ok, I don't think that anyone here is saying 530 might not work (according to everything I have found, the Busa uses 530 chain), 520 chain seems to be the topic.

Unless you are talking about a 520 conversion for a Busa, in which case "I" sure wouldn't convert a Busa to 520.

I was a little concerned about running 520 on my 750E

i'm in the 520 chain on a 1980 z1r boat,ported head,stock bore,pistons & cams 200mm tire 2" over swinger.700 miles so far,sometimes i leave at 8500 and start feeding it gears at 8500 rpm intervals.letcha know when/if something brakes.built my own offset countershaft sprocket too.

Personally, I'd much rather you let us know when you wear the chain out, I'd "really" not want to hear that it broke and you got hurt.

Like I said somewhere above, I may just be overly cautious, seems like every time I'm on the leading edge, I end up on the bleeding edge, and I'm getting a little tired of the bleeding part

yes steel you and i sound like we have the same kinda luck.i have ran 520 chains on my 400lb yamaha banshee with a measly 60hp hookin two ten inch wide twenty inch tall rear tires and twisted the chassis enough to crack paint and have never had a chain failure.i maintain my chains well and replace when needed.i understand my banshee is not my z1r.what i am saying is that i have enough experience with the chain to feel confident in my use of the chain.everyone needs to decide for themselves if they have that cozy feeling with every piece they change or modify.it is your and or your loved one's life riding on it.don't just run the same thing someone else does because they have gotten away with it.they could have better luck than you.:laugh:

Steell: Yeah, you're right, I should have prefaced the Busa / 14 with their 530 assignments, I just think that it is interesting that 520 'kits' are offered and sold for them.

HarkrOck68: I used "J" model (not a 77 Z) stats and I used NADA statistical weight references and the bikes are close to 30lbs apart (not at my house right now to pull my NADA down for reference).

I don't use NADA as an "end all" reference, and I will say that I've had my 78 Z1R on the scales and it tanked in at about 550 (it's been a while and I can't remember the exact figures) and I think my "J" in pre-modified form was about that, also. And what it weighs when my butt is on it is all that counts, anyway.

And with that last point I'd think that manufactures would account for large weight discrepancies due to rider/passenger sizes, so I'd think a good high-quality 520 on a bike that weighs what this bike will probably weigh and make the power that this bike might make would probably be just fine.

Steell: massive respect to you; it should be clear by now that I don't know:laugh: . But, I am going to put a 520 on my Z1R when I put the 1260 to it and I'm not concerned...but now after kicking it around here I'll be watching for stretch and wear.

-KR

I don't "know" that a 520 chain won't work on a big horse bike, nor do I know that it will, and I can't tell someone that it's ok to use it if I don't know for a fact that it is. So I just say what I do know, and express my opinion (best guess) on what I don't know.

Others here have experience with 520 chain, so are able to say with some authority rather or not it will work.

As to the 520 conversions for the Busa and the ZX14, are they being used by touring riders, road racers, or drag racers? Maybe it's fine for street use, or maybe road racing, but won't handle the stresses of drag racing? I simply don't know, I don't even know anyone that rides a Busa or ZX14

This thread has been a pleasure to follow, all the disagreements were polite and not even any heated arguments. Wish it was like that in the real world