whats the reason behind it?
some of the local guys i ride with say stay with 525..
i am wanting to re gear soon(-1 +2) and i dont need a new chain, and if there is no major benifit of a 520 vs a 525 why convert?

and what company makes steel sprokets? i dont want aluminum

 

you know what, it's absolutely hilarious that you posted this because i just got done emailing Driven Racing asking something along the same lines.....here is what they told me....

from the email:
"520 kits are lighter then 525 or 530 less weight is always
better for performance but longevity will suffer. 520 kits
don't come in steel sprockets
steel sprockets are heavy but last longer.
you can use a 525 alluminum sprocket and get the best of
both worlds.
With that said go to 525 alloy kit with 15-45"

That was in response to what to get for an '01 F4i for best performance.....
They quoted me $235 for a conversion kit with black front/rear sprockets and a red chain. Just FYI....

hoping to hear others' takes on it...also as to what is the best gearing for primarily street use wth occassional track riding (in the future)...-1 +2 seems to be the magic number...

 

The whole point is to reduce rotating mass which allows the motor to rev up faster as well as the wheel itself. Vortex makes a 520 chain coversion kit for almost any sport bike. The have it with the aluminum rear sprocket or with lighweight steel. The Aluminum does wear down faster than the steel. I did the kit on my F3 but I went -1 front and +3 rear and it was a huge jump. I was constantely shifting and had no top end. I would only go down one tooth in the front if I ever do it again on my new bike.

 

the change from 525 to 520 just isn't noticeable...it's the gearing that you'll notice. racers and trackers use 520 because they are trying to cut weight and get any type of advantage they can get...

so if you're not doing either, it doesn't benefit much...other then replacing parts. i have a 520...since the bike is for track and only some street...and i can't feel the difference from my 525.

ffingers...i can't believe they didn't try to sell you a 520 for more bling ;-) probably because their set seems steep as is...check out www.sprocketcenter.com and ask brian to hook you up! he may or may not...depending on his day i guess.....hahahahah

 

yeah i was sort of shocked too...i do primarily street riding at the moment with hopefully a few track days next year so i am thinking the 525 would be the best.....i will be brutally honest...i am doing it now only to gain a little performance and looks.....i have the stock stuff now and i am trying to fully customize my bike from bolts to paint so a black sprocket and red chain play into that...i only got 5k on my '01 (bought it with like 3.2) so it doesn't need to be replaced but since i am going to do it ayways, figured i would try to gain some performance out of it...

so Tahoe...what do you think....-1,+2 - 525 conversion.....good all around upgrade....won't mess up my street riding will it...(i ride in a LOT of traffic)

 

They do it to make the speedo read 10 over all the time and impress the ladies on the back! Woah this guy is crazy he's going 10 over!

 

FF...i say go out and just get the -1 now (fronts are cheap) and then install it and see how you like it. for me -1 was enough...+2 was too jerky for me.

 

okay so.....do the 525 and drop the front -1...or just get a -1 now to try it out before going to the 525....and 2) if i go -1, don't i need a need chain as it will need to be shortened?

 

Sprocket specialists make 520 in steel...

 

Think of a lightened chain as being the same as swapping out for a lighter flywheel in your car. I have stock gearing and from the reading i've done, i'd probably go down one in front and leave it at that. Any more and you start having to endure a zinging motor every time you go down the interstate.