So I gather from all of this that upgrading the sprockets will just annoy me. I'm very happy with my bike's current performance, I don't race (and if I did, I'd never win cuz, well, it's a 13 year old F3), and I do most of my riding at high speeds for long distances.

Buuuuuuuuuuttttt I still need to replace that bunk chain and sprocket. Whose do I buy? Is Vortex worth all that extra money, or is it just all looks? I see RK has whole kits. I know their chains are nice, but what about the sprockets?

 

RK is good stuff, I know some serious track guys who swear by them and say they wear great. I personally am going to spend 50 bucks on one of those cheapy ebay 530 chains just to see how well it holds up... unless anyone here knows right away that they are crap.

Yeah, the gear change will annoy you with raised cruising RPMs. If you aren't into wheelies and getting the most speed out of your bike, then just leave her stock.

 

So how about some color with and EK chain ?

 

I have a set from Driven on mine and they've been great.

 

In all honesty I would look for a cheap set of 530 steel sprockets and a chain. Cheap steel will outlast expensive alloys by years. I have had my chain on for so long now I lost count of the miles and years on it now.

The extra money you can put into sprockets and chains will only give you the ability to flick your bike into a turn faster due to losing like 5-10lbs in rotating mass.

My bike is hard to get from full lean left to full lean right on the track when I'm really moving, but on the street, I never noticed the difference between the expensive stuff and the steel, but my wallet did.

IF you do want to get some lighter stuff, then RK chain/sprocket kits are great. Vortex are good too, just don't expect it all to last long.

 

Awsome. I do believe I'll grab myself a light EK kit, just to add some of that cornering control when squidding around the backroads. I was thinking of grabbing a purple one initially to match the purple bike, but I've been seriously considering repainting to a solid color, possibly a dark metallic blue or black, and I think the purple would stand out a little TOO much. Maybe one of the gold ones? I dunno. The red would go good with the black, but not with the blue. . .

HHHHHMMMMMmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. . . . . . . . .

 

go gold

 

I say pink...

 

Dissevered, for the last time: STOP trying to get me to live out your personal Barbie Beach Bike fantasies for you.

 

Someone has got to do it!