Chain Sprocket Questions
 

When I bought the bike I was told the previous owner had done a -1T conversion on the bike. The kid that I bought it from did not know if the rear sprocket was stock or not and he did not know the chain pitch or sprocket spline. I have ordered a 520 48T rear Vortex Aluminum sprocket and would like to get a nice light weight chain as well. How do I know what I have on the bike right now? Then how do I know what to buy? For instance, is it worth x-ring vs o-ring or even, is non-o-ring fine? also is there any reason to pay more for a gold chain other than the color?

Thanks!

Count the teeth to know, sometime people just go -1 in the front and leave the rear sprocket stock just to get a feel of things before moving into a full 520 conversion. Stock Gearing is 16-46 I think. (Correct me if i'm wrong.)

If you ordered the 48T, then regardless if the rear is stock or not, you'll have a 15-48 gearing and will be completely fine. Either way, if you replace a sprocket just replace the chain as well so you know you have the right one. Better to be safe than sorry.

Also, you may want to look into a Speedohealer since you'll be running higher rpm's..so you'll run up miles faster than you actually are plus speed will be off.

P.S: Did a search on this like 20 minutes ago haha, just search 520 Conversion or Chain and you'll get more information than you need.

Thanks for the reply. Counting won't help me here, I assume there are 46 teeth, but knowing that for sure does not tell me if the stuff on the bike is 525 or 520, which is the important part here.

You might want to find a part number on your front sprocket and see if it is a 520 or 525 sprocket, as if it is a 525 sprocket and you run a 520 chain it might not seat properly.
Not sure if /Burton knows but a 520 conversion isn't -1/+2.
Its the width of the chain.

Wait what? Hahah, if you have a -1/+2 sprocket set up you'd run a 520 chain right?

If you have -1/+2 520 sprockets then you would run a 520 chain.
If you have -1/+2 525 sprockets then you would run a 525 chain.
The 520 and 525 have to due with the width of the chain.
I believe they would still run a 108 link set-up though.

Oh gotcha, so I was somewhat maybe a little right but not really haha. I learned something!

Save all of the confusion and buy a whole kit. Change both sprockets with the chain. That leaves you with only a few questions, the old 520 vs 525 debate. And ratio/composition of the sprockets.

Basic consensus, I've seen on the size queston, is 520 if you race, 525/530 if you don't. Aluminum sprockets yields decent longevity for the street (if you don't thrash ride), steel lasts longer. Who cares about the weight issue on the street, really?

Assuming proper maintainence, ANY modern chain will work well for the street, x vs z (etc.) is mostly a racer discussion. Color is bling, given the above condition.

Thanks MadHattr! That is exactly the information I was after!