Chain changing
 

OK- all my parts are on order now. Biggest single expense was the chain break/press/rivet tool. Found deals on the sprockets and chain though.

Motion Pro Jumbo Chain Tool $133
RK XW 520 120link Chain: $75
SunStar Countersheft Sprocket 15tth: $14
SunStar Rear Sprocket 46tth: $43
K+N Gold Oil Filter: $13

Total: $280

I found the tool for $120 somewhere else, but the chain was $116 at Kneedraggers, and $90 something at Ron Ayers, so the few extra dollars on the tool were offset. I had planned to get the XR ring from Ron Ayers, but found the "premium" XW for $3 more at Chaparral. And Bike Bandit has the sprockets for $53/$28. I actually ordered them through the dealer for less! (and no shipping) For orders over $149, Chaparral has free two day shipping- so I figure that offsets any saving I could have had by buying everything different places. I better never have to replace that tool, so future replacements should be much less expensive.

One of these does not belong.

Yeah- but it's less than a thousand miles till my next oil change. May as well get it now and not pay shipping, or have to run for it. Just go to any dealer and grab two quarts.

You could dump that chain tool, get a dremel instead of the break and the cheaper motion pro press tool to put in the new link.

And sunstar sprockets??? WTF

yep multi use tools kickass

whats wrong with sunstar?

and your bike only takes 2quarts of oil?

Nothing wrong with Sunstar Steel. Stay away from the alum stuff.

Sunstar are OEM. Price was decent, and they wear great.

I have a dremel, but I'll get plenty of use from a chain tool- you only have to buy good tools once. I won't be loaning it out, but I can help out any other riders. Soon I'll have a tool set for everything on my bike- or basically any other import motorcycle (jap bike).

:panic: OMG- I've forgot to put in the other two quarts!? :lol: Nah- that little crankcase only calls for two. I feel bad for you guys putting in 4-5 quarts of synth every couple thousand. My 650R is completely happy with dino oil and 87 octane. P-Twin FTW!

I've had my Motion Pro chain tool set for over 15 years now and I just used it a couple of weeks ago! Btw my bike only holds 3 liters so it doesn't surprise me that your bike takes 2.

sunstar = crappy oem china knockoff

Get Renthol or GO HOME

Renthol good shit!

Oh yea? Tri-metal or fuck you! j/k

Yes tri-metal is good!

Yea only full Ti is better imho.

Quoted for Truth.

Considering they only have aluminum rear sprockets, that's a NO. I don't need super ultra lightweight with a million holes in it and pretty colors. I need something that's going to last another 17,000+ miles. And if the new sprockets aren't appreciably different from the stock, I'll have good sprockets for a lot more miles, without replacing them or worrying about wear. For the same price, and double the wear, Sunstar is fine.

I"ll take a standard STEEL sprocket that ISNT VORTEX crap, a good RK/DID 530 chain, and I'm good. buddies have the chain tool if I need it. I've heard Renthals are good pieces. long as you go STEEL. aluminum sprockets suck. period.

see everyone keeps saying Aluminum sprockets sucks... my old MSF instructor races a GSXR 1000 in texas (no idea what class) with aluminum Vortex sprockets on a 520 chain no less... and has absolutely no issues... :idk:

I know gas had some bad issue with vortex... I think they were aluminum too...


I'll stay with steel just for the peace of mind I think

Paging GasMan, that Vortex aluminum shit picture please? we've got one on the wall at my favorite shop in HORRIBLE condition, I think it had like 1000 miles on it, if not less, total shit. vortex is the shit that shit shits out.

Vortex Alum sprockets ftl!!!!! btw racing bikes only start once (typically),street bikes start over and over.

what does starting have anything to do with it? you still have down shifting and up shifting... they accelerate harder than on the street... (for most of us anyhow)


the only thing i can see is maybe he swaps them out more often as he'd does a full inspection before each race so more likely to catch things before they go BAD :idk:

taking off is usually the hardest time for sprockets.

really? never would have guessed that?

Gas Man here!!

Yeah..

Listen carefully...

DO NOT

I repeat...

DO NOT GET VORTEX!!!

JUNK!!

Don't believe me?

I won't waste another breath... picture is worth a thousand words...

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3.../GAP2K5109.jpg
http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3.../GAP2K5110.jpg

If you take proper care of chain. You can get some mile on the cheap stuff too.

Is that sarcasm? I'm just saying that that's the difference between street bikes using alum sprockets and race bikes.

naw... I was serious... I figured it'd be just as hard during acceleration out of a corner... but yeah when I think about it... the start is the hardest acceleration you do... for the longest usually too...