2008 chain/sprockets sugestions

Discussion in 'Gear & Accessories' started by moco004, May 15, 2020.

  1. moco004

    moco004 New Member

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    I have a 2008 silver VFR; I’ve had the chain replaced twice but I never replaced either sprocket. Does anyone have any suggestions on brand and or style, I’m not looking to change sprocket ratio but maybe get better quality chain and sprockets. Thanks.
     
  2. 34468 Randy

    34468 Randy Secret Insider

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    Really surprised you managed to go through two chains and not having to change the sprockets. Most, but not all, believe in changing the sprockets every time you change a chain. The thought here is, why put a brand new chain on a worn sprocket. But regardless if you change the sprockets at the same time as the chain, always, always, always, change both sprockets at the same time.

    But anyways, to your question. I have almost always bought my chain and sprockets from the same place. I have always bought DID chains and I think DID also makes sprockets. The business I order from is

    https://sprocketcenter.com/.

    But I am sure just about any motorcycle parts business sells DID chains and sprockets.

    Also there are different types of chains, most popular are those with 'o' rings. Personally I prefer the 'x' rings. My thinking that the way the 'x' rings are made, is better than the 'o' type in keeping impurities out of the links. Some may have another opinion, wait to see what other say.
     
    Last edited: May 15, 2020
  3. 34468 Randy

    34468 Randy Secret Insider

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  4. raYzerman

    raYzerman Member

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    My go to has been JT sprockets, optional rubber damped front, black or silver rear..... Supersprox if you want more bling but they are good sprockets. Most any steel sprocket will do.
     
  5. sorenlaf

    sorenlaf New Member

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    I don't have a "go to" brand, but any name brand o-ring or x-ring chain is probably of adequate quality. That said, this is on place where I feel it's cheaper to spend up, as a good quality chain should last at least 20k miles. DID is what I last put on my F3. Have not replaced the VFR chain yet. Except for my race bike, which was a definite corner case, I agree with Randy. I always replace the sprockets with the chain. ALWAYS. Once the chain is worn, it has generally also worn the sprockets, and putting a new chain on worn sprockets tends to produce an instant worn chain. IMO, not replacing the sprockets is false economy. Just not worth it.

    I don't do a lot of chain maintenance. I check the slack, adjust as necessary, and brush the crud off when I adjust it. If I'm feeling virtuous, I will hit it with chain lube, or wd40, (and maybe even brush it off!) between adjustments. I feel the important part of the chain lube is inside the o or x ring, so external maintenance is mostly rust prevention.

    I also tend not to go to a lighter chain than stock - exception was (again) the race bike, where the previous owner had done a 428 conversion. Mind you, this was a 28-30hp engine, so little things like gutting the speedo drive, going to a lighter chain, and only using a NON o-ring chain, were incremental improvements that eventually added up. That quarter (or less) an mph improvement could be important when you just need to get half a wheel ahead of the other guy.

    The race bike experience is one reason I do not go to lighter chains on street bikes. I'd get about 2 race weekends out of a $15 bikemaster chain. I'd have bought up, but that's all my local shop stocked in a non-o-ring 428 chain. I'd start getting tight spots after about 2 weekends, thus the frequent replacement interval. I figure the engineers that spec'd the chain probably know what they're doing, and outside a race environment, I'm looking for longevity and low cost over incremental performance.
     
  6. mello dude

    mello dude Administrator

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