530 Chain conversion

[Baatfam]

Chains are a little confusing for me. I'm reading on various places on the net that non O-ring chain is actually better than O-ring chain. Now I'm reading that 530 is better than 630 with some reasons stated. One thing that I'm sure of is that an OEM style 630 chain has a higher tensile strength than an OEM 530 chain. Since the pins are farther apart on a 630 chain, the sprocket teeth are cut slightly deeper which makes them stronger as well. So far what I'm getting is that the logic behind changing from a 630 to a 530 is 1. lighter 2. less costly 3. smoother running. In return I get less strength in the chain and sprockets on a like-for-like comparison. I'm thinking that's a bad trade off. Or am I missing something here?

TD...technology has advanced during the past 25-30 years and the 530 is plenty strong enough for these old bikes...in fact, you'll find them on modern bikes with far more power....

[Billy Ricks]

They are running 520 and 525 chain on modern sportbikes with 2-3 times the power of these old bikes with no problems. I'm running a 520 rather than the stock 530. I've got Vortex sprockets and a Regina chain. It's been the smoothest and best wearing combo I've ever used.

[tkent02]

Chains are a little confusing for me. I'm reading on various places on the net that non O-ring chain is actually better than O-ring chain. Now I'm reading that 530 is better than 630 with some reasons stated. One thing that I'm sure of is that an OEM style 630 chain has a higher tensile strength than an OEM 530 chain. Since the pins are farther apart on a 630 chain, the sprocket teeth are cut slightly deeper which makes them stronger as well. So far what I'm getting is that the logic behind changing from a 630 to a 530 is 1. lighter 2. less costly 3. smoother running. In return I get less strength in the chain and sprockets on a like-for-like comparison. I'm thinking that's a bad trade off. Or am I missing something here?

No, 530 chains today are much stronger than 630 chains of thirty years ago, strong enough for the biggest, heaviest and torquiest of modern bikes. 630 chains for motorcycles have not been improved much since the eighties as nobody buys them anymore. So to buy a 630 is to pay a lot extra for a heavier, crappier, obsolete product, much like buying a Harley Davidson.

Non O ring chains may be better for those racers who clean and lube correctly after every race, for the rest of us modern O rings and X rings which last thirty thousand miles with near zero maintenance are plenty good enough.

[Texas Don]

Thanks for the input to all of you. I'm feeling a lot better educated about chains. This forum really rocks.

[Mysuzyq]

Thanks for the input to all of you. I'm feeling a lot better educated about chains. This forum really rocks.

Here is some info., re. the actual rotational weight difference.

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showpost.php?p=966136&postcount=1

[verde]

I bought 2 kits from those ebay guys, for my '78 and '79 750's, and both the chains were too short. I think they learned their lesson after me, but double check first if you go that route. The concern with smaller front sprockets is increased chain wear from it making that extra tight turn. I'm not sure how much this applies to the 15 tooth/530, but I ordered the largest front I could from them(18), which needs 49 or 50 to be stock ratio, as you know, so that's how they messed up and sent the usual chain which was too short.

[bigbabee]

Yes, the Ebay kits feature a 106 link chain even with a 18T FS and a 50T RS
conversions. I think I will go with the Z1 setup. link to Ebay kit http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...=STRK:MEWAX:IT

[headsbikesmopars]

I have converted my '81 GS1100EX and my '85 GS1150EF both to 530 chain and sprocket setups. Couldn't be happier with the 530. And NO..it isn't your imagination about the smoothness and the power. Yes mine was 9.25 lbs lighter chain and sprockets together. But that weight isn't just poundage removed from the bike but reciprocating weight the engine has to accelerate into motion from an at rest position. MUCH less mass (9.25lbs) to get moving than the 630 chain. Enough to actually feel. I too got mine from Z1 and couldn't be happier with the service I received from them..as usual.

[Nicholaschase29]

I went with the 520 chain. You can see my link here:

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=153898&highlight=520+chain+conversion

I had to make a spacer on the lathe in order to get the sprockets to line up correctly.

I would've liked to have gotten larger sprockets in order to decrease the radius of curvature that the chain has to go around - but that was the largest that was offered on the site.

I also got an X-ring chain which is a little better than an O-ring. Both will do the job fine.

I had to jump through some hoops but I got a 530 to 520 chain conversion from a bandit 1200 and just like everyone on here said the mounting IS exactly the same (for an 1100 at least).

[Billy Ricks]

JT sprockets has all the dimensions and diagrams for their sprockets on their website. It helps determine what will work for these conversions, especially when going to 520. You can mix and match many of the GSXR, Bandit, and Katana sprockets to get what you need. Some of the Kawasaki sprockets will work too.