Chain & sprocket

[Pakhan]

This is why you should check your chain (lubed & tensioned), sprocket, and rear axle.

Long story short:
Went for a trip with the guys 500+ miles this past weekend.  rear axle was loose, chain lost proper tension and I started loosing teeth.  Only realized it when I git there.  This is off of a 04 749s 520 chain 40 rear sprocket.

[CETME]

Holy crap thats awesome!

[DucHockey]

That's gotta be aluminum, right? 

[Pakhan]

I have no way to check if it's aluminum, but I would guess it was.

[Magnus]

nice...   hang that baby on the wall

[Pakhan]

If you want to get the whole story go here:

http://ducatimonsterworldwide.org/index.php?topic=816.0

[Howie]

I have no way to check if it's aluminum, but I would guess it was.

If a magnet sticks to it it ain't aluminum.

[Pakhan]

If a magnet sticks to it it ain't aluminum.

Well I just tried a fridge magnet, it didn't stick so I guess it's aluminum

[BastrdHK]

Run that by me one more time.......steel and magnets make sweet love as I recall

[Howie]

Run that by me one more time.......steel and magnets make sweet love as I recall

Correct.  The magnet didn't stick so it is not steel.

[DucHockey]

Ya, I saw a very similar looking one come off my roomate's bike.  Aluminum is way lighter, but after seeing that, I'll always use steel sprockets.  I know it's unsprung weight, but not like I'm a super racer guy.  I've seriously abused some sprockets and I've never seen that happen to steel.

[clubhousemotorsports]

I am not that good at adding photos yet but if you go to
clubhousemotorsports.com and look on the little shop of horrors page I have pictures of a steel front sprocket that looks similar.
Unless you are racing I would put the origional 525 chain and sprockets back on. The smaller 520 will wear out faster and there really isn't enough advantage other than bling to make it worth the cost.

[hypurone]

I am not that good at adding photos yet but if you go to
clubhousemotorsports.com and look on the little shop of horrors page I have pictures of a steel front sprocket that looks similar.
Unless you are racing I would put the origional 525 chain and sprockets back on. The smaller 520 will wear out faster and there really isn't enough advantage other than bling to make it worth the cost.

So true and the bigger HP/torque bikes will eat em even faster. Never been a real big fan of the 520. Only had em twice and both times the 520 didn't hold up well at all. Make mine a 525 steel/aluminum hybrid please! Stealth makes these, awesome sprockets.  wt:

[LA]

I've run two 520 drives with DID chains with both Al and Steel for a total of 35,000 mi. with no problems and my bike gets a pretty good flogging.

With the quick change you could put on a light weight rear sprocket in a few min. if you felt the need for a track day etc., but I do think the durability of the steel makes better sense for the street.

I did feel like I could tell the difference (by the seat of the pants) with the reduction in weight of the lighter chain and rear sprocket though.

LA

[mxwinky]

Now THAT'S a nice one!  I've only seen one worse, a 750 Honda years ago that had literally no teeth on the rear sprocket.  The chain was just spinning on the bare sprocket while the bike sat motionless.  We all laughed for days.  Meanwhile, 520 on my race bikes, 525 and good steel on the street.  If someone is a faster rider than I am, it's got nothing to do with the weight of my chain and sprockets.  My wallet can't take a hit like that too often so the reliability of the good stuff far outweighs (no pun intended) the unsprung weight disadvantage.  I think if I could really tell the difference it'd be like the princess and the pea anyway.  But bling-wise, I do like the gold DID 525 chain I just put on the Multistrada.