520 chain VS 530 chain on a KZ1000?

Why does anyone want to put less HD equipment on their motorcycles, the extra 1/2HP I guess? Maybe 520 chains can be bought for $20 vs $75 for a 630? I'll stay 630.
Back in the old days when Honda CB750 was king one of the major things to watch out for was damaged cases from broken chains. I'd assume a CB750 used a 530 chain and it frequently broke. I suppose technology has got stronger, but wouldn't bet on it.

Steell: very well said, sir.

And I don't know of any Busa/14 riders with 520s either. Ha! :laugh:

RonKZ650: I think the CB probably came with a 630 like most every larger bike of that era; and 'era technology' is really the key of this discussion. I'll be using the 520 b/c I need the space between the 6" rear wheel and the frame, the 1260 motor will be strong but I'm still confident. As I noted before, I'll be keeping an eye on it, but I think I'll be good. ...aaaaaand I'll probably do some more research just to be safe .

-KR

PS> Side note: 530s are as strong or stronger than pretty much most all the 630s. I'm all geekin' on the 520/530s lately b/c a friend of mine that I teach motorcycle safety school with just made buddies with the top guy at Regina chains and he's been a WORLD of useful info about metalurgy (did I spell that right?) and a bunch of other deep-geek stuff on chains...very cool.

I'll be using the 520 b/c I need the space

I'm with you on that one! That's why I need to use a 520 chain on my KZ750E project, with a 530 chain I have maybe 1/32" between the tire and the chain with the tire centered in the swing arm, and I'm not comfortable with it being that close. I could have used a countershaft sprocket with more offset, but I wanted to stay as close to stock as possible to keep from applying more load to the output shaft bearing.

I'd be happy with a 530, but it's just not going to fit.

520 offset sprockets are readily available from AFAM for the 520 chains, they're listed for Suzuki 750's but the dimensions suggest they will work on KZ's.

I'll know for sure soon

Question...

Out of curiosity, where you going to get a 520 "Offset" counter sprocket for this? I researched and contacted both PMFR and Kosman (see posting) with no such luck for a 530 let alone a 520 cc sprocket.

A 520 spline match shouldn't be that difficult but one being a 520 (530 hard mostly 630 out there) with the desired offset (1/2" to 5/8") is going to be hard to find.

Tire to chain 1/32"... Other than desire, any reason not just drop down ~ 10mm in tire size width?

OMR

You just have to know how to search

530 offset sprockets

The 520 offset sprockets are there somewhere, just can't find them at the moment.

They offer up to 13mm (little over 1/2") offset 530 sprockets on their website for the Z1 etc.

If I can't find the sprocket I need, I'll just have to make one out of two

Son of a Biatch....

Damn it, where where you last month when I was going crazy on this subject...LOL!

I couldn't find a 1/2" offset 530 18 tooth for the life of me.

ah well, I stuck with the 630 15 tooth 13.5mm offset from Americanclassix...and so far so good...

BTW, YEN...:blink: Hell, I had a hard enough time with buying parts from American companies... I can only imagine.

Thanks for the updates, Bookmarked... maybe next time...

OMR

some where we lost site of where this thread was going with no disrespect to all the above individuals and not wheather or not a busa or zx14 used or can use a 520 chain but that there are conversion for them so why not a kz1000? I'm also dealing with a clearance issue with a 190 tire on a 6" wide wheel unfortunately I did'not address this issue with the frame prior to haveing it powder coated now the only option I see is a high quality 520 chain.

If the tensile strength of a high quality 520 compares favorably with the oem 630 (i.e., the 520 tensile strength being equal to or higher than the 630), seems to me the 520 would be okay. Good Luck!

BigBlockT wrote:

some where we lost site of where this thread was going with no disrespect to all the above individuals and not wheather or not a busa or zx14 used or can use a 520 chain but that there are conversion for them so why not a kz1000? I'm also dealing with a clearance issue with a 190 tire on a 6" wide wheel unfortunately I did'not address this issue with the frame prior to haveing it powder coated now the only option I see is a high quality 520 chain.

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.

Everything except the recent posts (3) by OMR and I about sprockets has been on the topic of 520 chain on a KZ1000. Much more on topic than the usual threads I think.

Take it for what it's worth and make your decision.

Ah tire clearance issues, I didn't think of that. One way to fix it is get rid of the 6" wheel, install a 2 1/2 with a 4.00-18 tire. No problem then and you can use a 630 chain. Now that's easy! OK, one too many beers as usual, just kidding and good luck.

I'm also dealing with a clearance issue with a 190 tire on a 6" wide wheel unfortunately I did not address this issue with the frame prior to having it powder coated now the only option I see is a high quality 520 chain.

unfortunately this is the same dilemma I faced when researching the offset counter sprocket...

Since you have the powder coat already accomplished I see one of several alternatives or a combination of the four that may work for you...

1) Frame Clearance: If already purchased, have your 5/8" offset counter sprocket milled down slightly to gain the 4-6mm (1/8" to 1/4") clearance. Or if this isn't already purchased, find a 1/2" offset.

NOTE: I'm using a 13.5mm offset, seems fine but as I mentioned to you in the PM, I still have final adjustments yet. As it stands right now, I have 1/4" to the frame and 1/4" to the 180mm tire so should be good to go. I have a 5.5" rim versus your 6", this alone could be your biggest Challenge.

2) If I remember correctly as Mark1122 accomplished, have your rear hub milled down the same distance.

3) Considering the above, this will move the chain closer to the tire. Decrease your tire size 10mm.

4) Decrease rim and tire size.

Seems to me this may provide you more than enough clearance without having to destroy your powder coat or take a chance with the 520 chain concept.

KZ 630 chains ~ 10,000lb (plus) tensile strength range.
530 chains ~ 9000-10,000lb.
520 chains ~ 8,000lb-9,000lb.

Others have made their own cc sprockets in welding two sprockets together (520/530 sprocket on 630 spline) but that just seemed a little much for me. Not sure I could pull it off in getting it balanced correctly and strong enough using a MIG welder VS. TIG.

If you find the 520 offset sprockets please let us all know for as mentioned, this has been one huge obstacle we've all faced in these street fighter modifications.

OMR

531BlackBanshee -how's that chain holding up? and how much offset on your sprocket did you end up with?