520 chain brand and cost

[Tt069]

Looking to purchase a 520 chain . Any one experience on a decent brand at a reasonable price. So many choices any help would be appreciated
Thnxs.....

[Megadan]

Do you want standard or O ring style? What is your budget? There are a few good chains out there, so it mainly comes down to preference and cost. I use a DID VX2 X ring chain, and they can be had in 120 links for about 70 bucks, then just shorten to what you need.

[Tt069]

It's gonna be for off road riding would an o ring chain be better than an non o ring I know mantanance is less just wondering about durability.

[2LZ]

I know I'm in the minority here but a good quality stock sized chain would be fine with these 15 HP fire breathers. I put Unibear chains (stock sizes) on all my bikes and they are awesome. No problems at all and I'm 250 pounds.

[Tt069]

Thank you for all the reply and help.
Just ordered an x ring chain gonna replace wheel bearings while I have it down for a rear sprocket swap too

[Megadan]

Originally Posted by 2LZ

I know I'm in the minority here but a good quality stock sized chain would be fine with these 15 HP fire breathers. I put Unibear chains (stock sizes) on all my bikes and they are awesome. No problems at all and I'm 250 pounds.

I don't disagree at all, especially if it is going to be used mainly on road. I just prefer overkill to barely adequate, which is why I did mine. Plus cost wise it was exactly the same to do both sprockets and the chain at the time I did mine.

[Wild Dog]

Originally Posted by Megadan

I don't disagree at all, especially if it is going to be used mainly on road. I just prefer overkill to barely adequate, which is why I did mine. Plus cost wise it was exactly the same to do both sprockets and the chain at the time I did mine.

Cost wise? Depending where you live the a 428 chain is 1/2 or 1/3 of the price of a 520 chain. Same goes for sprocket, usually they are cheaper.
Also 428 can be found with O rings too.
Durability wise, the 428 are durable, usually people change them at 20.000 km and some people even goes as far as 25.000 km.
These engine have low power output a 428 is more than enough. Hell in the 80s and early 90s, some 2T that made around 30 hp came with 428.


The main reason why most japanese mfg are selling smaller cc motorcycle with 520 chains is because they have to stockpile less type of chains. So they can save money that way.

[Megadan]

Originally Posted by Wild Dog

Cost wise? Depending where you live the a 428 chain is 1/2 or 1/3 of the price of a 520 chain. Same goes for sprocket, usually they are cheaper.
Also 428 can be found with O rings too.
Durability wise, the 428 are durable, usually people change them at 20.000 km and some people even goes as far as 25.000 km.
These engine have low power output a 428 is more than enough. Hell in the 80s and early 90s, some 2T that made around 30 hp came with 428.


The main reason why most japanese mfg are selling smaller cc motorcycle with 520 chains is because they have to stockpile less type of chains. So they can save money that way.

In my experience, the difference in price is almost nothing, or at most 10%. My EK Sroz 428 chain and DID VX2 520 chain both $70.

The sprockets are close to the same, depending on tooth count and seller.

Like I said. It is all personal preference. I won't actively steer anybody toward the 520. It will be more durable in the long run assuming both chains are properly maintained.

Honda has stockpiles of 428 chain too, yet they chose to use a 520 on the crf230. Not because.of its massive 19hp, but because of the application. It will see a lot more stress than a road bike, just by its nature.

Even most chain manufacturers will recommend a 520 over a 428 chain for most 200 to 250cc off road applications, although they will even state a 428 will also work.

[Ariel Red Hunter]

Originally Posted by Megadan

I don't disagree at all, especially if it is going to be used mainly on road. I just prefer overkill to barely adequate, which is why I did mine. Plus cost wise it was exactly the same to do both sprockets and the chain at the time I did mine.

Perhaps the stock chain is "barely adequete" but Unibear and other higher quality chains are more than adequete.. And they are priced in the $20.00 neighborhood. I would be afraid of any O-ring $20.00 chain...ARH

[Megadan]

Originally Posted by Ariel Red Hunter

Perhaps the stock chain is "barely adequete" but Unibear and other higher quality chains are more than adequete.. And they are priced in the $20.00 neighborhood. I would be afraid of any O-ring $20.00 chain...ARH

Just like a 428, a 520 can be had as a standard non o ring chain. The unibear 520 standard chain is only a couple bucks more than the 428.

I also don't trust cheap O ring chains.

[NzBrakelathes]

My suggestion and take it how you will.
eBay has a good deal on a Unibear 520 O ring chain about $35 shipped (these cost $25 in china and it’s over 2kg so cant ship or match the price)
I’ve had local chain n sprockets sets fail n break in 428 and looking at your USA costs for say a fair DID O ring you are at or more expensive then a decent unibear chain and that’s plenty strong enough on air cooled Chinese bikes.
I had a customer in China fit 1 and that lasted very long and I’ve had 428 break.
My suggestion is 520 unibear o ring chain and sprockets even with say a cheap chain breaker and chain cleaning brush from china you’ll not be up for much more then say a DID 428 chain.
USA has sprocket options n China has a bit more maybe not as good quality but good enough to replace as a set etc
I believe this is the better bang for buck way to go and that’s what I do in China on air cooled motors.
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?m...2F222121202245

Think 110 or couple extra links is fine and cheap chain breaker sorts the length out easily enough.

My RX3 has like a unibear chain but that’s not good enough so I buy an imported chain for that to avoid it stretching but the NC300 is another animal.