I know the standard philosophy is to replace all parts at the same time, and if any wear was showing I would agree. You do need to know how to read the rear sprocket. I have a spare rear for the GS, so it will go on. It will shorten the life of the sprocket but not the chain.
I have never heard any noise from the GS chain during the 16k I have put on it, so I can't comment on that. But I also do not ride balz to the walls on that bike either, so that may have something to do with it. And guessing when it was installed would be a swag, at best. Personally, I would estimate closer to 15k for a 1983 chain, but that is also a swag.
AFA the GPz, the rear sprocket is in excellent condition and was probably replaced when the chain was replaced. With only 15k on the clock, that could not have been that long ago, mileage wise. I just don't like the way the chain looks and I have a spare. This bike will be ridden hard, so I want the chain to be just right. Once that goes away I will be looking to go to a smaller chain, since weight does matter on that machine. Dropping 5 pounds of unsprung weight would be worth it to me.
The sad fact is that most riders do not maintain their chain and sprockets correctly. At rallies I have attended I have seen examples of that, not to mention bikes I see in parking lots. (You should see the chain on Brian's new-to-him KLR, yuchh! And it only has around 13k on the clock.) This is why the philosophy of replacing everything at once works the best, IMHO.
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