Chains and Sprockets, drive chain

[DKC'sVFR]

conversions on an 86 VFR?

Hello, I am asking for some guidance on converting my 86 VFR 700 to a lighter chain (525 or 520). I've had it running since early September. I have put 1K miles on it (still needs carb rebuild/balance), and I have had to look at the chain. It's bad and the sprockets are also shot, but I have seen worse. Still, if I intend to ride the thing I have to change them for highway safety's sake. I use the bike for driving around town/errands etc now. But eventually I want to take it on some trips.

I have been looking on the Net and I have come to this conclusion, the lubricated and sealed chains are overbuilt and over priced too. Some of the sites give "wear indexes" of multiple hundreds times the life of an old standard style, unlubricated chain with tensil strengths in the >10K units. But I recently read a thread by another VFRWORLD member that told the story of his expensive lubed chain freezing up and how he got a warranty replacement chain. He got a warantee because he had purchased a package deal that included new sprockets.

So I know I am going to replace the sprockets and the chain, right? So I hit the net and I'm going through the various vendors and some of them don't have listings for a bike as old as an '86. But they do have kits for 90-97 VFR and they usually offer a conversion to a smaller and lighter chain like a "DID" or an "RK" X ring sealed and lubricated chain and the appropriate conversion sprockets. After I look through at least 10 or more sites that pop up first when I say I 'm looking for " chain/sprockets" I call a couple of them and ask if they can fit me with a conversion to a 520 chain. NO CAN DO! Impossible Senor!

So I don't get a warrantee with the package? No package deals for an old VFR. No one makes a conversion rear sprocket for the 80's Honda mid size bikes? I go to a site that has been put up by JT Sprockets, that has a computerized sprocket catalogue and I search for a 520 rear sprocket. NADA. However, I found a 525 conversion. Front and rear sprockets from the 2001-3 CB 750 F2-1 will convert the 80's Honda mid size (CB's, VR's etc) bikes to a 525 chain. Not quite the lightening I might have gotten with the 520 chain! But some weight reduction and some cost reduction too.

Seems like a no brainer. Just do it? I am not going racing. I was figuring on a mid priced x ring (DID vm or RK gxw). It will only have to carry my fat ass on some X x 100 miler trips and around town. Does someone make a 520 conversion rear sprocket? Is there a different brand of bike (Kawasaki, Yamaha, etc) with nearly perfect hole alignment that comes in the appropriate tooth count and the 520 size? Is it worth it to search more for a 520 rear sprocket conversion?

Any arguments about not converting to the 525 chain? All of the info on the new chains implies that they are multiple of 10 times stronger and better than the old standard chains and even the early O rings. What sort of experience have you had with chains and chain conversions? Thanks for any comments on making the change or selecting a chain. Also, has anyone gotten a vendor to warantee a chain purchase that was not a package deal?

Thanks for any responses regarding chains and sprockets

[fatso1277]

try motoheaven. if you search within this first/second gen category "520 chain conversion", another member posted the company and chain he went with. i think he went -1 up front/
+2 in back.

[Lgn001]

Personally, on a street bike, I wouldn't bother with a conversion. Yeah, you will save a little bit of weight, but you'll need to go through this exercise again when it's time to replace sprockets. And having dealt with both sealed and unsealed chains, I greatly prefer the sealed versions. It is extremely difficult to keep a non-sealed chain clean enough and lubed enough for it not to wear out rather quickly, compared to the sealed variety.

[midias]

I did the 520 conversion here is the thread on it

520 Conversion on 86VFR750 INSTALLED!!!!

[midias]

Here are some pics