15/43 is what I've always heard - although I have seen some different reference numbers here and there. I go by the Honda microfiche on bikebandit.com and servicehonda.com. Both say 15/43 as OEM part numbers. OEM chain is a 530.

I bought my chain from Moto-Heaven on ebay - http://stores.ebay.com/moto-heaven cause my bike has a 520 conversion and I wanted one of the highest power-rated 520's I could find. I'm using an EK MVXZ.

I wanted to run steel sprockets, and found what I needed from DennisKirk.com - Vortex steel front, and I think a Sunstar or Parts Unlimited rear.

 

Thanks for the reply adrenaln. What does the '520' or '530' mean?

 

Chain size designator - the "5" tells you how far apart the pins in the chain are, in eights of an inch. The last 2 numbers "20" have an imaginary decimal point in there - "2.0" This is again a measurement in eights of an inch - the width between inner plates. Basically the smaller the last 2 numbers, the narrower the chain. In sportbikes, typically you see 530, 525, or 520 chains. Generally more HP means you need a bigger chain to properly deal with the power.

Some people do what is referred to as a "520" conversion - thinner chain, sprockets (usually aluminum) - on a bike that was equipped with a thicker chain to reduce rotating weight, and hoping for some discernable increase in throttle response now that they've shaved a half pound off their chain and sprockets.

Narrower chains wear faster, and the lower cost 520 chains aren't usually rated for more than about 70hp, so even the older CBR600's are exceeding that figure. So - higher strength chains are a little more spendy. Sprockets typically run similar in price to 530 counterparts.

Aluminum sprockets also wear faster than the heavier steel. I'd rather have something that lasts longer.

Only reason I'm running a 520 on mine is it was already on it when I bought it, and thought it had new sprockets on a badly worn chain. I tried getting away with just putting a new chain on - but then had to turn around and buy matching new sprockets.

 

Sorry for hijacking this thread guys.

Ah that makes sense. So I want to stick with the 530. I saw the vortex steel front sprocket on bikebandit says 'conversion: 5xx to 5xx' is that all it takes to convert to the smaller chain size is the smaller sprockets?

 

correct - you have to have the right thickness sprockets to match whatever chain size you're running.