I've said it in the past and I'll say it again...You won't notice the difference on the street between a 530 and 520. I you're a racer and need to save that .2 seconds per lap, then go for it. If not, stick with the 530.

Mark
99 R1

 

+1

and wouldn't you think the 530 would last longer for the street miles

 

Thnx 4 the replies but,

Im not after performance gains. Never stated that I was.


The reason I want to fit a 520 chain is because I have the tools to rivet that type of chain.

Anything thicker and I will have to buy a new breaker and riviter. ( Although I grind the chain rivets when removing and binning anyhow.)

All my other bikes run a 520 chain cos I can service/rivet them myself. Ive never stuck a 520 type chain on a bike producing R1 type power.

Just wanted to know if anyone had any negative points when fitting to a 1000cc jap sports bike????


:thumbup

 

I've never had a problem with 520 chains,I got two riding seasons out of my last one all street riding no track :thumbup

 

Technically, no 520 chain has enough tensile strength to ensure that it can handle 130bhp+ liter bikes.

This is why whenever you look at how manufacturers list chain applications for bikes (Tsubaki, EK, etc...) You will never see them recommend a 520 chain for an R1. Simply put, the chain is so much thinner than a 530 that for liability reasons they cannot list it as being suitable to handle the power.

Will you snap a 520 chain with a stock R1? Probably not. You will wear it faster than a 530 though.

Given what you said, I would recommend a 530 setup. You will get a strong, long wearing chain. Stick with a steel rear sprocket as well.

 

All things considered most tend to agree that most quality name brand 520's can handle the load of a 1000cc bike just fine if kept clean and installed properly.

Will you notice the gains from 2lbs less rotating mass related to a chain chain wheel set? Prob not. Will you notice the gain from a 4lb less exhaust...and adding a pc....prob not.

At the end of the day most of the stuff we do to our bikes is not "practicle" or relevant alone......but maybe the sum of them all combined our bikes become better packages.

As for wear concerns, i question the validy of this concern for most guys. As we know the good majority of sportbikes live a life of 10,000 miles (prob less). Given the limited riding that "most" guys do the 520 with aluminum sprockets, one set of front brake pads and even 2 sets of tires will prob last the term of ownership. Yes there the guys that ride 20,000 a year...i was once that guy myself; but even today i figure i ride a lot and its only 7k or so a year.

-Bob