how do i know what chain to buy?

[25knots]

hey guys and gals,

so i'm replacing the chain and sprockets on my 96 GS.  Can someone please...

1) Tell me what the specs are for the chains on the GS... and what those numbers mean.

2) What kinds of things I should consider when buying a chain.  It seems like there differences in how you install different types of chains... What are the pros and cons.

3)  What chains have you tried and which one's have proven good.

Thanks in advance.  In case I am blatantly repeating questions that have been asked a million times before (likely) just help me out by linking to where I can get the answers I'm looking for.

[slipperymongoose]

DID o or x ring chain 520, clean and line regularly and it will serve you well. Replace the sprockets as well. NRK is another brand I haven't used it but if it's good enough for Moto gp it's good enough for us.

[TheOzTurkish]

DID o or x ring chain 520, clean and line regularly and it will serve you well. Replace the sprockets as well. NRK is another brand I haven't used it but if it's good enough for Moto gp it's good enough for us.

^agreed

I went for the D.I.D 520 x-ring PRO in gold $99AUD
D.I.D 16T front sprocket and 39T rear $92.90AUD for the pair and couldn't be happier with them

I lube mine up after every tank full or after riding in the rain, mind you I've only had it on a week but the chain my bike came with I managed to extend the life of with that rutine

[mitch79]

I fitted an EK SRX http://www.ekchain.jp/product/street_bikes.html#srx Gold chain and new JT sprockets a couple of weeks ago. I used the clip link as supplied, if you do make sure the connecting link it is fitted properly facing the right direction.
I chose the gold chain purely for asthetics, the plating stops the side links going rusty.

I would suggest a o-ring or x-ring chain from a quality known manufacturer. You need a 520 chain with 110 links.
Post up what you have found, people here will tell you if it's a good one

[25knots]

Thanks guys.

What size chain am I supposed to get... how many links?

[25knots]

I fitted an EK SRX http://www.ekchain.jp/product/street_bikes.html#srx Gold chain and new JT sprockets a couple of weeks ago. I used the clip link as supplied, if you do make sure the connecting link it is fitted properly facing the right direction.
I chose the gold chain purely for asthetics, the plating stops the side links going rusty.

I would suggest a o-ring or x-ring chain from a quality known manufacturer. You need a 520 chain with 110 links.
Post up what you have found, people here will tell you if it's a good one

Thanks... 110 links.

[GS500F2004]

DID o or x ring chain 520, clean and line regularly and it will serve you well. Replace the sprockets as well. NRK is another brand I haven't used it but if it's good enough for Moto gp it's good enough for us.

^agreed

I went for the D.I.D 520 x-ring PRO in gold $99AUD
D.I.D 16T front sprocket and 39T rear $92.90AUD for the pair and couldn't be happier with them

I lube mine up after every tank full or after riding in the rain, mind you I've only had it on a week but the chain my bike came with I managed to extend the life of with that rutine

Wow, you must be rich! Even if I had the money I doubt I'd lube the chain that often. I stick to the recommended interval more or less. But tell me, how long did your previous chain last with that routine?

Forgot what the brand I'm using is called but it's a motorcycle chain specific lubricant, a less messy white gel application, the anti-fling type. It cost about $22 at Super Cheap Auto for a large can, probably around 750ml I'd say? Expensive stuff.

[TheOzTurkish]

DID o or x ring chain 520, clean and line regularly and it will serve you well. Replace the sprockets as well. NRK is another brand I haven't used it but if it's good enough for Moto gp it's good enough for us.

^agreed

I went for the D.I.D 520 x-ring PRO in gold $99AUD
D.I.D 16T front sprocket and 39T rear $92.90AUD for the pair and couldn't be happier with them

I lube mine up after every tank full or after riding in the rain, mind you I've only had it on a week but the chain my bike came with I managed to extend the life of with that rutine

Wow, you must be rich! Even if I had the money I doubt I'd lube the chain that often. I stick to the recommended interval more or less. But tell me, how long did your previous chain last with that routine?

Forgot what the brand I'm using is called but it's a motorcycle chain specific lubricant, a less messy white gel application, the anti-fling type. It cost about $22 at Super Cheap Auto for a large can, probably around 750ml I'd say? Expensive stuff.

I use Silkolene Titanium Chain Lube Gel I reckon you put me onto that lol well each tank is about 300-350 km's and I spray a bit here and there after each tank I don't take it off, clean it and re lube it, that way you end up with an even coating all the way around and it touches up after each tank, I was using a Honda motorsport lube with molly in it (don't ask I don't know what that means lol) the chain was well and truly rooted when I got the bike with tight spots all around it after a clean most of the o-rings were missing, found a heap hanging around the front sprocket all loose I got 3 months of daily riding out of a chain that well and truly shouldn't have been on there it had ground the rear sprocket almost to spikes, I could hear it grinding as I rode and slapping about by the end.......

[gsJack]

Get a good name brand o-ring or x-ring 110 link 520 chain like DID, RK, EK for example.  A cheap off brand will save you nothing and could end up being very expensive in the long run.  On three previous Hondas that came with RK chains I used mostly RK and on my GSs I've used mostly DID.  Last time I put on a Parts Unlimited chain that was less expensive than the DID and it's holding up as good as the DID.  Quad staked and solid rollers. 

I've never lubed by mileage or time, when the rollers get shiny I lube.  Could be quite some miles but in the rain for example the lube is gone in 10 minutes, if anything I over lube.  The lube for an o-ring chain is contained inside the seals and the lube we put on is for the sprocket wear.  I've never replaced a rear sprocket putting 80-100k miles on 4 of my 5 chain driven bikes.

The Parts Unlimited chain is my 11th GS500 chain:

http://www.gs500.net/gallery/data/500/GSbrakechainlog.jpg

The longer life of the OEM chains on both GSs might be attributed to the fact they were run on new sprockets only but can't say for sure.  Since I ride year around here in NE Ohio splashing thru a lot of salt water it could be because we tend to take better care of a new bike.    

[Dr.McNinja]

The longer life of the OEM chains on both GSs might be attributed to the fact they were run on new sprockets only but can't say for sure.  Since I ride year around here in NE Ohio splashing thru a lot of salt water it could be because we tend to take better care of a new bike.   

Might also be because they're continuous chains, right? No single point of failure like a clip/rivet.

Material also might contribute. I got almost 20k out of my OEM.