Why a 520 conversion

why do super bikes convert to a 520 and we worry about the strength of the chain when a super bike puts out more power than a lot of built bikes do? i am a 530 convert and was wondering why not just go to 520?

i have been rolling a 520 for several thousand miles now and never had any worries,or problems.
for me there is no reason not to do it.

leon

When our bikes were new they came with 630 chains because they needed the bigger chains to deal with their horspower output. Since then chains have become much stronger and they stretch much less. so going from a 630 chain to a 530 chain is perfectly acceptable and there is a big difference in the weight of the 2 chains and since they are rotating mass this weight means more then stationary wieght. lighter chain equals better acceleration. That being said the difference between 530 and 520 isn't that much so I don't know how much it would mean.

My ZX-10r puts about 160 hp to the ground, and runs a 525 chain. I don't see why a 520 wouldn't work for a KZ that might put 65 hp to the ground in stock form. Just get a good quality o-ring or x-ring chain.

You can run a 220 chain if you don't mind replacing it every 500 miles:) 630 lasts a good long time because it's big and tough, a 530 lasts a certain percentage less, a 520 a certain percentage less yet. Stay big and tough is my advice. I really don't care a 150hp ninja has a 520 chain, they are made for speed, not longevity. Be a dark day in hell I get rid of the stock chain and put on a bicycle chain. Of course I'm biased to stock trim in paint and all else and stuck in my way for 40 yrs, you kids can run bicycle chain and gain that extra 1/2 HP.:laugh:

RonKZ650 wrote:

...[some stuff about chains]....

In Ron's corner here, preferring the big gnarly macho 630 chain as God and Kawasaki intended.

And not some sissy little girl's chain (like OMR's). :laugh:

Good Fortune!

testarossa wrote:

My ZX-10r puts about 160 hp to the ground, and runs a 525 chain. I don't see why a 520 wouldn't work for a KZ that might put 65 hp to the ground in stock form. Just get a good quality o-ring or x-ring chain.

Interesting, because my GB500 has oem 525 size chain.
Thinking sort of an unusual size.

Good Fortune!

i'm with ron and patton here.

I run a 530 on my 1105 and have had no issues in the 2 years I've been running it. I have only had to adjust it 3 or 4 times in that time and I've put probably 25K miles on it. The fact is that the newer chains have a much higher tensile strength than the chains that originally came on our bikes. The RK GB530GXW that I have has a tensile strength of 10,000 lbs and is rated for bikes up to 1400cc and is recommended as a replacement for the Hayabusa. The strength is there and it saved a lot of weight on my bike. Not to mention it was a lot easier for me to get a rear sprocket for my rear wheel in a 530 so I'm glad that I made the switch.

every body has very good points here...

IMO If you have a stock swing arm and tire, there is no reason to change from a 630, not a really big performance jump and over all pretty close to the same replacement cost as either a 530 520.

I just changed to a 520 from a 525 because like dejavoodo41 it was cheaper and easier to find for my wheel. It also clears the frame with my offset with no mods

And like testarossa I have a 05 zx10r with over double the H.P. that came from kawasaki with a 530 or 525.

So the same people that designed our vintage beasts decided that something with double the power didnt need the huge chain anymore...

A team of little ninja's cant be wrong

All in all as long as its street rated and a reputable company I think imo stock should be stock not stock do what ever works with your project

RonKZ650 wrote:

You can run a 220 chain if you don't mind replacing it every 500 miles:) 630 lasts a good long time because it's big and tough, a 530 lasts a certain percentage less, a 520 a certain percentage less yet. Stay big and tough is my advice. I really don't care a 150hp ninja has a 520 chain, they are made for speed, not longevity. Be a dark day in hell I get rid of the stock chain and put on a bicycle chain. Of course I'm biased to stock trim in paint and all else and stuck in my way for 40 yrs, you kids can run bicycle chain and gain that extra 1/2 HP.:laugh:

Does a 1/2 horse make that much difference on a 650? I don't think it would on a 1000 anyway the longevity makes sense. I guess i should have named the thread why not a 520 conversion.

all kidding aside thanks for the different perspectives (they seem to have their advantages and disadvantages)
thanks again
thius board has helped me a ton over the time i have beeen working on bikes. keep it up