So I called the shop and they said it'll be $42 for new tire installation and $186 (!!!) for new chain and sprockets. So I'm thinking for $186 I could work on the thing for 8 hours and also buy the tools I need for putting on a riveted chain.
Any ideas? Speed is an issue as well, if there is a good physical store to buy them in SoCal, tip me off.
Also, do I really need a grinder and a drift? Couldn't I just saw away at the old chain with a cheap old hacksaw?
i bought one on ebay compatible with a 520 chain... cheap 40 bux.
the whole thing took about an hour to do. (not including the time to realign the rear wheel)
^ this was for front/rear and chain replacement. if you were closer i'd loan it to y ou :p
Quote from: nightrider on April 08, 2009, 01:16:51 PM
Also, do I really need a grinder and a drift? Couldn't I just saw away at the old chain with a cheap old hacksaw?
A grinder is kind of important. You need to grind the tip off of the pin on the link you're going to separate. If you don't you run a good chance of either breaking the chain breaker, or compressing that chain link to the point it permanently kinks.
Your hacksaw trick would work to get an old chain off.
It wouldn't work if your new chain was too long and just wanted to take out a few links without running the risk of destroying the chain. I usually buy chains in 110 or 120 link lengths and shorten them to the size I want. A grinder is required to do that correctly.
Get a decent xring master link chain. There are posts about which ones people like... That way, you won't have to have a chain breaker/riveter. Just cut the old chain off and install the new one with master link as described by the manufacturer's instructions. From all I've ever heard, master link chains aren't less safe and they are a whole lot easier to work with...
Quote from: fred on April 08, 2009, 05:11:08 PM
From all I've ever heard, master link chains aren't less safe and they are a whole lot easier to work with...
+1 Thats a fact... you do not need to rivet the chain on a GS...
If travis Pastrana can hammer a CRF450 over a 80' jump doing a double back flip with a masterlink chain I think the GS500 is plenty safe w/ one.
I work for Cernics... We are the Kawasaki Supercross and MX team sponsors... all those bikes have master links :cheers:
This is actually for an SV650. Safety is an issue but so is ease of installation. Thx for the tips. But if I die horribly due to a chain failure then I am going to haunt u for the rest of ur days.
Dealer said a new sprocket was 200 DOLLARS for focks sake, then he 'found' a $33 one but had to order it. Same deal for the chain. Ridiculous. Anyway, maybe it's back to ebay or bikebandit or whatever... I hate maintenance but damn if it doesn't make the bike ride better... just replaced the fork oil tonight and holy fock, the whole front wallowy thing is gone and I feel like I'm riding one of those long front fork bikes in Easy Rider. And only about a quart or 2 of radiator fluid came out, it was no longer green, just kind of blue. Well that explains a lot. Cant wait until I have new tires on.
jesus christ.