chain conversion

[Tommo]

Is there a lighter weight chain conversion for the RD's?  530 chain seems a little heavy for these bikes; I see the newer 400's at the track with lighter chains on them, they look almost like bicycle chains, and those are a higher HP bike, so I was just wondering.

[Striker1423]

https://www.economycycle.com/product/group-520-chain-sprocket-conversion-kit-for-rd250-350-400/

[Tommo]

Ahh, sweet.  I'm pretty far from needing it at the moment but thanks.
Still looking for a set of Denco pipes and some other doodads.

[m in sc]

dencos are basically impossible to find,  give up on that. i actually am in possession of a set, took almost a decade to get. i plan on measuring thrm up so they can be reproduced, but they are, from what ive seen, the rarest street pipes for rds ive ever seen that weren't one offs

[quocle603]

Ive done the 520 chain conversion with different gearing. Non o and x ring chain too.

[kar1zma]

what are the advantages of goin to a 520 chain

[oxford]

what are the advantages of goin to a 520 chain

Less weight and less drivetrain loss.

[RDDave]

Not to be argumentative, but does it actually make any kind of measurable difference for anything other than racing?

[85RZwade]

I'll go ahead and say "probably not", at least as measured with the butt dyno. But chains and sprockets are wear items and need to be replaced periodically, so why not shed a little weight and rotating mass when it's easy? You're going to spend the $$ anyway.

[Dvsrd]

what are the advantages of goin to a 520 chain

You are asking the wrong question.

Rather: What is the point of 530 chain and sprocket on a 50 year old 350-400?

Answer: None whatsoever. 520 is fine on 100 hp bikes. So perfectly fine on even the hottest RD.

[1976RD400C]

Standard 530 vs O-ring 520

[teazer]

520 chain is more than enough for any RD. Why carry the extra weight.

[m in sc]

if i could have gotten away with a 428 on the lightweight i would have. i looked into it but ..