I am thinking of upgrading my chain and sprocket set up. but i have no idea what the difference between a stock set up which i have now and the 520 option is. both sprockets sizes are stock as well but i am going to drop one tooth in the front (15) and keep the same rear.

I have seen a Vortex kit on ebay but it looks cheep. can i just buy a 15 tooth AFAM and get a 520 chain? or do i have to find a complete kit somewhere...i need some guidence.

where do they sell setups like this that are either AFAM or something other than Aluminium. do i need to know the amount of links as well or am i overthinking all this?


I am a 70% commute and 30% canyon rider

after all that being said maybe i should just throw a 15 tooth on there and be done with it...the added spunk will keep me happy for a while i bet!! plus i can do that mod at home with limited tools. what do you think?

 

520 is a different size chain, and so if going that route you would need both sprockets. The idea behind using a 520 pitch chain is less weight.. both over all and how that less rotating mass effects acceration, and suspension.. There is nothing wrong with the Vortex sprockets Sum Of All Parts sells in the 520 Kit. Keep in mind, those pre packaged kits from Sum of All arts,, are a lower gearing. So more acceration, less top end. You could call and get what evey ratios you want I'me sure.

 

With the sum of all parts kits the chain is not cut to length so you'd need the tool to break the chain and to put the link together. I have the set up from them and while I was happy with the results the rear sprocket only lasted a little over a year. With that said it was also abused, I did about 12 track days with it as well as many street miles. The front sprocket they give you is steel and you can get any ratio you want but if you do a lot of miles I would ask if they'd supply a steel sprocket for a little more money. The kits they sell aren't prepackaged so I would think they could do it. If you search the various parts suppliers I'm sure you could find others but not at that price.

 

Vortex suck. Spend the extra $$ and get Afam sprockets. Chain doesn't matter. They're all pretty good. I like stock gearing, but that's me.

 

So how can I buy 520 pitch sprockets and ensure that they will fit the Super Hawk. All the web vendors seem to default to the 530 sizes.

 

Front sprockets are the same as for CBR 900, 929, 954, 1000RR, RC51.
Rear sprockets (bolt pattern, center hole, etc.) are the same as CBR 600's 91-98. Other models will probably fit as well. I got this information from JT Sprockets website. Using this information, you can put together a 520 conversion kit for yourself for about $120.00, but you may have to go with an aluminum sprocket unless you want other-than-stock gearing.

 

The part number for the hardened rear Al sprocket with stock gearing is 11509-41. I ordered mine from kneedraggers.com and it took a while to get. It's not very common and I think AFAM had to make a batch.

 

I'm also in the process of going to a 520 chain with the 15/43 sprocket combo. The Sum of All Parts [http://www.sumofallparts.net/product_detail.aspx?item_guid=deb82064-e7b9-4592-9f7e-0caed8b5eca1] seems to be the best price for their RK & Vortex package. Though, I did find this place [http://www.hardracing.com/Sprockets/Sprockets.htm] that sez they will beat other legitimate offers (as in published websites, no e-mail quotes, no E-bay, etc). They also say "We can also substitute with AFAM or Renthal for a small additional charge."

My problem is the Dymag wheels. Beleive it or not they are not as common as the VTR wheels... Didn't think about that when I purchased them. The Talon sprocket that came with them has worn well. My problem is that it's not cheap to get a replacement here in the US as directly from Talon just the shipping is $45.

So far I've struck out with Vortex (they don't have them for the old Dymag bolt pattern), Sidewinder Sprockets (Costly - $120 for hard anodized), Talon (High shipping costs). One place looks promising... Sprocket Specialists. They have the hard anodized for $75, are made here and the local honda dealer says they wear well.

Ok... enough of my story... Here is the real reason for my post. After doing the research, I thought I'd share what I've discovered regarding the conversion from a 530 to a 520 chain. Now keep in mind that this is not absolute... It just the info I've found so far.

- The RK GB520GXW chain seams to be the only 520 chain I've found recommended for a 1000cc application. (8800 tensile strength)

- The weight savings between a 530 and a 520 chain is ~1.5 lbs.

- 520 chains and sprockets are cheaper than the 530 parts.

- 520 sprockets wear faster than the 530 parts.

- Hard anodizing is recommended to extend the service life of aluminum sprockets.

 

I just bought a 520 chain and sprockets for mine from Bike Bandit.
The chain is an EKSport Quadra SRX X-ring (8400 lbs. tensile strength) $63.00
JT 43T 520 steel rear sprocket $27.03
JT 15T 520 countershaft sprocket $19.17

I have seen much more powerful bikes (including full-on superbikes) than the Hawk with 520 chains, so I don't think chain strength is an issue. They probably do wear out faster, though.

 

Good deal! The steel weighs more but will last a LOT longer.

 

I think I'm running 16/43 with my 520 conversion. I went to a local high performance bike shop and they ordered up the right stuff.

I think the 16/43 is right between stock ratio and that of "dropping a tooth" on the front which was a 15t. Nice compromise with a good cruise rpm on the highway and the highest top speed I've seen so far. -1 on the front made first gear very low, easy to wheelie, high rpm on highway, and a lower top speed because I ran out of revs.