530 chain

hello people; I'm new. 77 KZ 1000 project. How many of you Z1,KZ 1000 owners did the conversion and why?
IBBY

Cheaper, lighter, as strong and slightly more chain to frame/tyre clearance.

hello; Cheaper I believe as strong I don't know? Why do you think the factory went with it? About how much lighter is it? Did you convert?
thanks
IBBY

I have 4 Zeds, all with 530 chains, one is supercharged, one has a turbo and the other 2 are tuned. if a 530 is strong enough for a 175 + hp Hayabusa's drive train it is strong enough for a Zeds.
Kawasaki used 630 initially because it was probably the strongest chain at the time and decided that the Z needed it.
Time and technology has move on - stronger, lighter hence 630 has been largely superseded by 530 chain and others.
Just look at all the modern high performance sports bikes and ask why they don't run 630.

zed1015 wrote: Cheaper, lighter, as strong and slightly more chain to frame/tyre clearance.

slightly more chain to frame/tyre clearance :huh:

Isn't width of chain the same for 530 and 630 sizes, both being 3/8" wide?

Good Fortune!

It is a very common modification because it allows the use of modern o-ring and x-ring chains that are lighter, stronger and longer lasting than the old style chains.

And I type too slow!

hello people; What's you choice in a 530? Did you buy the combo kits I've seen? I mean sprockets and chain kits?
I suppose you would keep the same ratio and what would that be in a 530?
I'm a while away from needing a set but it's on my list and info is good.
IBBY

Patton wrote:

zed1015 wrote: Cheaper, lighter, as strong and slightly more chain to frame/tyre clearance.

slightly more chain to frame/tyre clearance :huh:

Isn't width of chain the same for 530 and 630 sizes, both being 3/8" wide?

Good Fortune!

Yes! the internal width of 3/8" to accommodate the sprocket is the same but most 530 tends to use slightly thinner side plates which results in a fractionally narrower external width.
This is the case with my preferred choice of DID 'O' ring.

Patton wrote:

zed1015 wrote: Cheaper, lighter, as strong and slightly more chain to frame/tyre clearance.

slightly more chain to frame/tyre clearance :huh:

Isn't width of chain the same for 530 and 630 sizes, both being 3/8" wide?

Good Fortune!

Get a hold of Rob at Z1 enterprises He'll set you up with everything you need, just make sure the front sprocket has a hole for the lock washer.
And don't forget the lock washer

NEW and OLD

hello; So exactly what is the number of teeth front and rear did you go with with the 530? Just curious. Thru the years
the number of teeth in the rear has changed with the big 4. Funny I just located a sprocket I bought years ago while noticing the number of rear teeth thru the years. It's a 39T and I forget why I got it. I'm about ready to look it up as it might be for a 530. It's a Sunstar K-1059R.
IBBY

Around 2.2 to 1 is the ratio on the earlier kickstart zeds.
It is the ratio that matters not the number of teeth required to get it.
You are limited by the front sprocket though which takes 19 teeth max on 530 pitch so with that you would have something like a 40 tooth on the rear .

The new H2 (200+ hp) and H2R (300 hp) both use a 530 chain. I would say they are plenty strong. One added benefit is they come in a variety of colors. Mine is nickel. Easy conversion and definitely puts more HP on the ground.