OK. I admit it, I am the idiot that perpetuated this but I did not start it. Can we get back on subject again. You know, people actually read these threads to try and learn things. So
530 chains of today are not the 530 chains of our time. The modern chains are actually stronger than the chains that were put on the early Z1s. I think that Kawi just continued with the size even when they went to the "O" ring chains even though they could have downsized in the late 70s. Today's chains are even stronger than ANY of our bikes can handle. But I do like how much smoother and quieter the 530 really is. It puts a lot less strain on the bearings and sprockets and will extend the life of the drive components. The increased contact area and much lower centrifugal weight makes a big difference. It's just that with many of us, old habits are hard to brake. It took a few years of expert testimony to convince me. What the heck, Harley went to a rubber-band for crying-out-loud. But realistically, on my GPz, which is the most powerful chain drive bike I own. The 530 chain is doing a LOT better than the 630 chain did on my stock KZ900. I even lubed the 900 chain more but I still had to tighten it at least four times as often if not more.
Now when it comes to the 520 that some guys are talking about than I will draw the line there. The 520 should be fine on the KZ550 and smaller, and might even be OK on the 650 and 700 bikes but not for the 750/4 and larger. The big problem there also arises with sprocket selection. In most situations the selection is mostly aluminum for those, in what is actually available. But-- there are still guys that switch to them regardless.
74 Z1-A stock
76 KZ-900 Totaly stock vice MAC pipe
77 KZ-1000A stock
78 Z1-R 100%MINT 500 original Mi.
78 Z1-R Yoshi 1103 kit stage 1 cams Yoshi pipe. Etc
79 KZ-1300 (1400)
80 KZ-1300
81 Scratch built GPz1150R
82 KZ1000
