ok. new question. i'm replacing my chain, i think i'm going to go w/ a 520. i found some vortex sprockets and was considering going to some lower gearing, but only a tooth or two. i'm looking for some feedback from anyone that has gone to a 520, anything good bad or ugly about it? also if there are any issues w/ the vortex sprockets that would help also. thanks ahead of time.

 

520 is lighter than 530, therefore there's less spinning mass and it should accelerate a bit faster.
I've had RK 520 14-43 conversion kit for about 4000 miles( The previous owner installed it)
I do lose a bit of top end, but it's still not too bad.
The Negative:
1) The chain seems to stretch a lot. I had to tighten it about 8 times already and soon I'll run out of space.
Now, I've had this bike with 520 chain only so I can't really compare how bad it would stretch with 530.
2) I get about 6800-6900rpm at 75miles/h which is not too bad for highway cruising, butisstill a bit high, so I would prefer stock 15/43 set up.

You do get a bit quicker acceleration with conversion, but you could compensate it with higher revs, and since you don't rev way up there on the street anyway, I don't see any point of this upgrade unless you race on the track.
I'm really considering getting a 530 standard 15-43 for my next chain/sprocket set up.
I want it to be durable and I don't like to be overreving it on the highways.
I do attend track days and I noticed that I don't red line it anyway, since I use a taller gear, and if I were to want to use my max torque, I could use a lower gear in a given turn( 2d instead of 3d)

 

I like a +2 rear on the street....when you go to a track day, put a -1 in front.

The aluminum rear sprockets will wear out significantly faster than the steel sprockets do....but in just light street use, you will still get 7-9K before the teeth start looking thin.

Afam and Renthal hrad anodize their sprokets, so have a little longer life than vortex.

 

ok, so as i understand it, just some chain stretch and may have to replace sprocket earlier. thanks for the info. i'll let you know how it turns out.