Weight difference in 520 and 525 chain & sprockets

[GOODRODE]

I changed my 03' z1000 chain and sprockets today. It had 20130 miles on it and was starting to show signs of kinking. I am running 17/43 gearing.

I went with the 520 chain and sprockets since I have it on my 05' zx10r and have had zero problems with chain wear/stretching.

I bought the EK 520MVXZ chain from Indysuperbikes.com and was $83 plus shipping which is overpriced IMO. They were kindof slow shipping it off and it is only a 2 hour drive for me to get it from them but it took 4 days to get to me.
The front sprocket came from sprocketcenter.com and was $24 plus $7 for shipping. I ordered the front sprocket Friday morning and it was in the mailbox Monday!!!! Awesome!!!
The rear is a 07-08 zx6r rear 43 tooth rear sprocket, got it off ebay for $9 bucks with hub and everything.

I took the stock z1000 #525 chain & sprockets and the #520 chain & sprockets to the Post Office. I wanted to know REALLY how much weigh U are loosing with doing this conversion. I also had a Vortex 40 tooth aluminum sprocket so I took that along with me also, just to see how light it is.
525
525 chain 112 links 4 lbs 11 oz
525 42 tooth rear 2 lbs 1 oz
525 17 tooth frt 9 oz

520
520 chain 112 links 3 lbs 14 oz
520 43 tooth rear 1 lbs 13 oz
520 17 tooth frt 7 oz
Vortex 520 40 tooth rear sprocket 11 oz !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Difference
13 oz chain
4 oz rear sprocket
2 oz front sprocket
1 lbs 6oz Vortex rear sprocket over stock

Total weight of chain and sprockets were:
525 stock weight 7 lbs 5 oz
520 conversion 6 lbs 2 oz (Steel rear sprocket)
520 conversion 5 lbs (vortex Aluminum sprocket)

[Jason 306]

Thats very interesting. Now if you hold on to the bike long enough, lets see if it lasts as long as a #525, that should be interesting too.

My Rc51 came with a #530 chain, if I have time I'll have to see the weight difference when I order a #520 setup in a couple months

[Rhinotheking]

Wow! I had no idea it was that big a difference. Now I know why everybody is changing.

[ballsdeepracing]

Now you tell me I just bought a new 525, haven't even put it in yet!!! how do the Aluminum sprockets hold up compared to steel?

[GOODRODE]

Originally Posted by ballsdeepracing

Now you tell me I just bought a new 525, haven't even put it in yet!!! how do the Aluminum sprockets hold up compared to steel?

I have only 3000 miles on my new set and it shows no signs of wear. I will find out when the weather becomes warmer.

[RS117]

I will have to take my stealth sprocket off and weigh that, thanks for the info Mr Goorode!!

[Compstall]

So now imagine the physics of that 2 lbs, slinging around while running WOT.

[GOODRODE]

Originally Posted by RS117

I will have to take my stealth sprocket off and weigh that, thanks for the info Mr Goorode!!

I would like to know if U do, that was another option when I did mine. But decided against it because of the price and the deal I got on my Vortex rear sprocket.

[GOODRODE]

Originally Posted by Compstall

So now imagine the physics of that 2 lbs, slinging around while running WOT.

The 525 chain looks huge compared to the 520 chain.

[RS117]

Originally Posted by GOODRODE

I would like to know if U do, that was another option when I did mine. But decided against it because of the price and the deal I got on my Vortex rear sprocket.

I will get a weight on Monday at work on the rear sprocket. I paid $205 shipped for my Ek chain and Stealth rear sprocket, steel front. My bud spent a Vortex on his GSXR 1000 in only a couple thousand miles,granted he was not easy on his setup BUTT I am not always either.

[Plane Dr]

If it is the right grade aluminium it can wear well. some 7XXX series aluminium have a bearing strength up near steel. Properly hard anodized they could easily outlast steel.

Now the comparison is difficult cheap steel or good? Which aluminium is used? So much variance you pay your money and take your chances.

Part of it is how the teeth are cut and if they are well cut. Add in the chain for stretch it gets really tough to be subjective.

I went with the stealth and a DID chain. It seems alright, we shall see.

[Throttle_monkey]

Aluminum doesn't have nearly the wear resistance or hardness of steel. Anodizing oxide layers are not thick enough to last long. I quit running aluminum sprockets on my crf450, they are junk. I ended up with a iron man sprocket on my 450. Weighs only 4oz more than aluminum and is hardened 4340 steel. I'll check if the make streetbike sprockets.

ETA: Iron man sporckets are only available for dirt bikes. boo.
They look awesome. here's the link for any of you offroaders:

http://www.dirttricks.com/ordering_sprockets.htm

[RS117]

46 tooth 520 Stealth rear weighs in @ 1.619lbs

going to a 520 saved me 1.675lbs

[Plane Dr]

Originally Posted by Throttle_monkey

Aluminum doesn't have nearly the wear resistance or hardness of steel. Anodizing oxide layers are not thick enough to last long. I quit running aluminum sprockets on my crf450, they are junk. I ended up with a iron man sprocket on my 450. Weighs only 4oz more than aluminum and is hardened 4340 steel. I'll check if the make streetbike sprockets.

ETA: Iron man sporckets are only available for dirt bikes. boo.
They look awesome. here's the link for any of you offroaders:

http://www.dirttricks.com/ordering_sprockets.htm

Most aluminiums don't match steels. Like I say some 7XXX series aluminium are better than steel. That being good aluminium vs medium and crappy steel. So read very expensive aluminium and dime store steel. With that the cheap steel wears quickly and the teeth are usually poorly cut. So you pay twice.

Hard anodizing is not the typical light surface anodize you see. It is almost a ceramic coating and has awesome wear and hardness properties. Not a cheap or easy process. that is why I am suspicious of the hucksters. It's not that it isn't possible. It usually isn't possible for what they charge.