Hey y'all, my bike is due for a chain and new sprockets (rear one is wooooooorn down).
Has anybody found a kit or setup that they'd recommend? Preferably under $100.
Also, first time with chains, what size do I need?
I just went through a ton of research on all of it myself, for a 2007 GS500F. Didn't find any good kits, they were just as cheap to buy separately for my bike specifically (chain length, sprocket teeth number, etc). So look up what your bike's specs are or what you want to change to if you want to. Good luck with under $100, that's hard to find. I did find some Volar chain/sprocket sets on amazon.com for around $100 I believe, but none were the right tooth/length combination.
There's tons of good tutorials on the internet about how to buy a chain and sprockets, but not much for recommendations for brands that I could find. Sorry, I saved the links but I forget where I saved them at the moment. Check out my post http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=63019.0 (http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=63019.0) near the bottom for some responses about chains and sprockets from others. And do a search on the forum, there are a few other threads about chains and sprockets as well.
DID, Parts Unlimited and EK make a good chain. Spend some money and it will likely last the rest of your time with the bike.
Cheap chains are a bad idea, so avoid. Sunstar makes good sprockets, and I think is the OEM provider for at least the rear sprocket. The front sprocket tends to get the most wear.
Stock is 16/39 front/rear teeth sprocket and 520/110 link chain. Oring or xring are a good bet.
I have a 17 tooth front sprocket used for touring. Lower RPMs on the highway.
Parts Unlimited chain with JT sprockets are a good bargain I think. My current Parts Unlimited chain seems to be lasting as long as the many DID chains I've used on my 97&02 GSs. A quick check at Dennis Kirk looks like PU chain and 2 JT sprockets would run about $110.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v443/jcp8832/GSbrakeschains.jpg
Found a DID chain on amazon. "Standard roller chain." Is that what I want for stock performance?
http://www.amazon.com/D-I-D-STANDARD-ROLLER-CHAIN-LINK/dp/B008XLM8P8/ref=au_pf_ss_2?ie=UTF8&Make=Suzuki%7C1&Model=GS500%7C17990&Year=1996%7C1996&carId=001&n=15684181&s=automotive
Quote from: m_melen on February 05, 2013, 11:33:48 PM
Found a DID chain on amazon. "Standard roller chain." Is that what I want for stock performance?
http://www.amazon.com/D-I-D-STANDARD-ROLLER-CHAIN-LINK/dp/B008XLM8P8/ref=au_pf_ss_2?ie=UTF8&Make=Suzuki%7C1&Model=GS500%7C17990&Year=1996%7C1996&carId=001&n=15684181&s=automotive
I would recommend you try to go with chains that advertise as "o-ring" or "x-ring". It means that the lubrication for the rollers is trapped in the chain. With roller chains, lubing and cleaning is a more serious task. With o/x chains, it's more about cleaning the chain and keeping it rust-free. Easier upkeep, and supposedly longer-lasting (don't have comparative experience, so I can't speak on that).