530 conversion

[Doze]

Okay so it's definitely time to put on a new chain and sprockets. I want to go to a 530 chain instead of my stock 630, but I have a couple of questions first.
1. When I checked the tensile strength rating for the 630 O-ring chain it was 11,000 to 11,500 depending on the brand, however the highest 530 rating was only 10,600. Is this a problem or do I not need to worry about it?
2. How do I figure out which sprockets to use? I'd like to keep the stock ratio 15/42 or as close to it as possible, so could I use like the sprockets for a 1200 Bandit? would the bolt pattern and countershaft diameter be the same? Is there a cross reference table somewhere? Amy help or insight would be greatly appreciated.
Doze. :-k

 

[AOD]

you should be able to get the sprockets the same size. i am not sure if you will be able to find steel sprockets (does the 1150 have steel? my 79 bike does) anymore.

you can use www.sprocketspecialists.com as a decent source. there may be cheapers ones out there. http://www.sprocketspecialists.com/html/suzuki10.shtml

~Adam

 

[biker66]

Check my site, click on 'My modifications' and '630/530 chain conversion'.

Bring your old sprockets to the shop to double check that the bolt holes and splines match the GSXR ones just to be sure.

And, the Hayabusa uses a 530 chain.... :wink:

 

[Anonymous]

And, the Hayabusa uses a 530 chain....

All modern sport bikes that I know of do. If it's good enough for them...

I didn't even need to try to figure out if it the differences in tensile strength would matter. It's more of a point of curiosity now. I would suspect that the 630 was overkill to begin with.

 

[Dink]

Doze my "liitle commuter"1150 has been running a 530 chain for over twelve months now, it made an instant difference to available low down power, I highly recommend it.
1 the chain is lighter
2 the bolt pattern is the same as a GSXR
3 when I did mine I was recommended to go to a 16 tooth front sprocket to reduce the angularity around the front sprocket.
4 you need a spacer at the front because the replacement sprocket dont have the big "cush rubber" that the stock 630 has.
5 as has been mentioned 530 chain is good enough for a 'Busa.
Dink

 

[Doze]

Dink, so if you went up one tooth on the front did you have to go up just one on the rear to keep the same ratio? I like the sound of more on the bottom end, but I don't want to cut too drastically into the top end either.
Doze.

 

[biker66]

Normally, 1 tooth on the front sprocket is roughly the same as three on the rear sprocket.

If you had 15 and 42 teeth sprockets before, that gives a ratio of 42/15=2.8
If you switch to 16 teeth up front and want to keep the gearing you reverse the eqaution: 16*2.8=44.8
A 45 teeth rear sprocket is what you want.

Although, I never had any problems running a 15 teeth countershaft sprocket.

 

[Anonymous]

Normally, 1 tooth on the front sprocket is roughly the same as three on the rear sprocket.

If you had 15 and 42 teeth sprockets before, that gives a ratio of 42/15=2.8
If you switch to 16 teeth up front and want to keep the gearing you reverse the eqaution: 16*2.8=44.8
A 45 teeth rear sprocket is what you want.

Although, I never had any problems running a 15 teeth countershaft sprocket.

I run one over on the countershaft sprocket and it wont hurt a thing. I hope to do the 530 thing one of these days. Its a great mod. Lots of the gang have done it.

 

[AOD]

the reason to go bigger on the front sprocket with a 'weaker' chain is to make the radius on which the chain turns bigger. this helps reduce stress on the chain as it bends around the sprocket.

 

[saaz]

The 530 is not actually weaker (the Busa uses it, as does the GSX1400, so I hope it is not weaker!), but the sprocket is physically smaller, so the angle change the chain goes through when going on the sprocket is tighter. I think the Bandit uses a 15/42 combination, so there is probably not much in it really.

At the time the GS came out the 630 chain was needed to get decent low maintenance life, but times have changed. I am going for a 530 when I need to as there is far more choice and availability, plus it is lighter. I just have to wear out the non-oring 630 chain I have..with a chain case on it may take a while!!!

 

[Anonymous]

I won't debate on the strength of the 530 vs, the 630, as the 530 is more than capable.

When looking at the old GS's, everything was over-engineered. (Maybe not everything - but read on). Take for instance the foot pegs and controls. The brake lever could be used as a pry bar if you like. The pivot that the brake is attached is close to an inch in diameter and SOLID. The bracket where the passenger pegs mount is massive. I could go on and on.

Now, go to your dealer and look at the same thing on a new sportbike. There is quite a difference. My point is that even thought they used a 630, I seriously doubt that there is any basis for continuing to use it - at least none that have to do with strength. That's just the way these bikes were made.

 

[mdole]

One thing I've notice on chains is that the wear index seems to give a little but more of an idea about how long a chain will last as compared to the tensile strength.

Mike

 

[saaz]

I remember back in 78 when the Gs1000 came out that the 530 chains were hard pressed to keep up with power increases. Just remember back 25 years to how things were (for those who can!) The 530 chain on my GT750K did not seem last that long, the original chain on the GS lasted 60,00kms..at the time I thought that absolutely amazing given that the GS made what seemd to be twice the power! The oring chain on the GS was a major innovation particularly for chain life, noise and strength.

Given advances since then, concerns about whether modern 530 chains may be ok are a bit funny to me. How about whether 100/90x18 tyres can go around corners..they always did and seem to now!!

 

[AOD]

we use a DID 530 chain on our formula car, powered by a GSXR600. we use a very short section of chain, 50-60 links, but our car weighs ~550 pounds...close or more then any GS motorcycle. we've had no problems.

~Adam

 

[mdole]

Doze my "liitle commuter"1150 has been running a 530 chain for over twelve months now, it made an instant difference to available low down power, I highly recommend it.
1 the chain is lighter
2 the bolt pattern is the same as a GSXR
3 when I did mine I was recommended to go to a 16 tooth front sprocket to reduce the angularity around the front sprocket.
4 you need a spacer at the front because the replacement sprocket dont have the big "cush rubber" that the stock 630 has.
5 as has been mentioned 530 chain is good enough for a 'Busa.
Dink

I have a chain and a set of sprockets to make the change on my 750 but haven't found a good spacer. I looker in the parts unlimited catalog and it says that a 6 mm spacer is required for my bike. I thought that I could find a couple of heavy washers to get the 6 mm but so far I haven't had much luck finding any with a large enough center that aren't too big in diameter. If I can't find any I may just cut a piece of tubing for a spacer.

I was wondering what you used for a spacer?

 

[biker66]

I had a spacer made from scratch.
If that's not possible you could always trim the original spacer so it doesn't touch the chain, simple and cheap :wink:

 

[Dink]

My spacer was supplied with the chain and sprockets as a set, all supplied by a specialist shop
Dink

 

[mdole]

Thanks for the information.

Mike

 

[Doze]

Thanks for all the suggestions and insights everyone. I've decided to go with 16/45 sprockets from Sunstar, and a DID X-ring chain.
Doze.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all the suggestions and insights everyone. I've decided to go with 16/45 sprockets from Sunstar, and a DID X-ring chain.
Doze.

Don if your original gearing is 15/42 and you go to 16/45 I believe you will be maintining the same grar rastio but getting the larger front sprocket which will be easier on the chain.
Is that your intention???