Chains and Sprockets

Hey All,

Need some advise. My Chain has developed a 'tight spot'. I noticed my chain had way too much slack, about 3 inches! so i adjusted the chain to a normal 1-1.5inch flex, as i turned the wheel the flex was all the same except for this 1 spot where it was very tight and had no flex.
(yes the back wheel is on straight)

I reckons i need new chain and sprockets, i've put about 12,000kms on the bike in the last 2.5 years (second hand before that so i've no idea when the chains and sprockets were changed)

So questions are.. 1996 ZX6R ninja

1. Trying to find exact size of front and rear sprockets - i think its 40 tooth rear 15 tooth front with 525 108 link chain- Can anyone confirm this for me at all???

2. Was thinking it would be cheaper buying the chain and sprockets online then taking to mechanic for installation, what brand would you recommend?? RK or DID ?

3. Whats the best chain type? X-ring o-ring?

4. How much should i expect to pay for a mech to install?

5. And Finally if i wanted say.. more bottom end power / torque what rear / front combo would you recommend and what chain would suit the number of sprocket links suggested?

Awesome thanks!!!

1. Dunno
2. Buy from the States - E-bay or online dealer. Alternately befriend people in the industry as I have done and never pay retail.
3. Neither IMHO longevity the same - Maintain them though with regular lube and a clean. When it comes to lube a little often is better than alot every now and then.
4. No more than 1 hr labour
5. Easier to drop a tooth on the front. If your not happy with it then $40 will have you a standard front again without having to remove a link.

1. Dunno
2. Buy from the States - E-bay or online dealer. Alternately befriend people in the industry as I have done and never pay retail.
3. Neither IMHO longevity the same - Maintain them though with regular lube and a clean. When it comes to lube a little often is better than alot every now and then.
4. No more than 1 hr labour
5. Easier to drop a tooth on the front. If your not happy with it then $40 will have you a standard front again without having to remove a link.

i think you will find that most shops would charge a minimum of 2 hours (even if it did take less than 1 )

Found an Rk kit with chain, fron and rear sprockets for $250 which sounds ok, trying to find it cheaper, by the time mech adds on 2 hours work, it'll be $500 !!!!

and thats the best reason to do it yourself. Its dead easy.

Found an Rk kit with chain, fron and rear sprockets for $250 which sounds ok, trying to find it cheaper, by the time mech adds on 2 hours work, it'll be $500 !!!!

you really need to say what sort of chain it is, I usually pay nearly that for the chain only. Then again I only buy the best chains as I dont want to be adjusting and changing them every 5 mins. also is it 520, 525 or 530 ?

And as the Gos says, do it yourself, its not hard and can be done in about 3 beers without stressing

Here's what im thinking of getting :

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... 54926&rd=1

Shipping is another 60 but its still cheaper than anything here.

Send them a message and see if they have what you need.

Yep, I'm with Soundguy. Go the 520 with the alloy rear. Probly worth a couple of RWHP with the reduced weight on the drive chain.
Look after it and will last as long as a steel std set up..

Had em on all my race bikes, no probs.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Kawasaki ... enameZWD1V

and do it yourself, you don't need anything fancy, just a grinder to to cut the top of the stud to resize the chain... and vice grips to squeeze the new link on (even though it says not to use vice grips, i do. No probs yet.. ) or get the rivet link...

You might not need a rear sprocket because they wear less. The two front sprockets I've bought have only cost me $20 each and are easy to replace. Getting the chain off is a bit more work, but then again I've completely stripped one of my bikes so I don't think it's a big deal

MadKaw instead of vice grips use 2 hammers to peen the pin over works even better, but whatever works for ya.


Phil three stubbies for me is an hours work, if a workshop charges 2 hrs tell them to get stuffed - particularly if they are doing it sober.
Break it down
1. Remove rear wheel and sprocket carrier. - 5min
2. use rattle gun to remove sprocket nuts - 5 mins
3. Replace with new sprocket using rattle gun - 5min
4. grind through old chain and pull through new chain - 5min
5. remove front sprocket cover - 2min
6. remove and replace front sprocket 5 min
7. replace front sprocket cover - 2min
8. join new chain - 5min
9. replace rear wheel - 5min

These are conservative estimates but even still comes in well under an hour.
I agree that they will try to charge 2 hours labour - whats the going rate now $85 - still tell them to get stuffed.
1 hr is more than enough to pay for.

MadKaw instead of vice grips use 2 hammers to peen the pin over works even better, but whatever works for ya.


Phil three stubbies for me is an hours work, if a workshop charges 2 hrs tell them to get stuffed - particularly if they are doing it sober.
Break it down
1. Remove rear wheel and sprocket carrier. - 5min
2. use rattle gun to remove sprocket nuts - 5 mins
3. Replace with new sprocket using rattle gun - 5min
4. grind through old chain and pull through new chain - 5min
5. remove front sprocket cover - 2min
6. remove and replace front sprocket 5 min
7. replace front sprocket cover - 2min
8. join new chain - 5min
9. replace rear wheel - 5min

These are conservative estimates but even still comes in well under an hour.
I agree that they will try to charge 2 hours labour - whats the going rate now $85 - still tell them to get stuffed.
1 hr is more than enough to pay for.

i agree thats a fair estimate, but a shop will try come up reasons why it takes 2 hrs......hence why i rarely go to a shop

Looking at RK Chain and Sprockets,

Normal set up: 15 front 40 rear, 525 chain 108 links

Found this: 95-97 ZX6R QUICK ACCELERATION CHAIN & SPROCKET KIT WITH SILVER CHAIN US $147.95 + $39.44 shipping

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-ZX6R ... 0100191963" target="_blank

Quick acceleration being a 14 front 40 rear

Info: Fits ZX6R 95-97 models. This is a chain and sprocket kit with a silver chain.

Chain: 520XSO-108

OEM Gearing: 15-40 Quick Acceleration Gearing: 14-40

Product number: RK2067958R

Retail: $171.95

•Feature lightweight wave design, 520 pitch steel sprockets

•Made from S45C induction hardened high-carbon steel, shot peened and zinc plated

•Slightly heavier than aluminum, these rear wave sprockets last three times longer than aluminum


If I get the "quick acceleration' being 14 / 50 does the chain become a 520? or stay 525? (i've no idea what that number refers to anyway)

Does going 1 down on the front give you more bottom end? and greater ability to wheelie?

Could some check that ebay link please and tell me if its any good? I'd like to buy it if so

thank!!!!!!!!!!

Yep, I'm with Soundguy. Go the 520 with the alloy rear. Probly worth a couple of RWHP with the reduced weight on the drive chain.
Look after it and will last as long as a steel std set up..

Had em on all my race bikes, no probs.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Kawasaki ... enameZWD1V" target="_blank

and do it yourself, you don't need anything fancy, just a grinder to to cut the top of the stud to resize the chain... and vice grips to squeeze the new link on (even though it says not to use vice grips, i do. No probs yet.. ) or get the rivet link...

Hey wow, that ones an even better price!!
Is that for the chain, front sprocket and rear sprocket?

Drop one tooth on the rear - based on your standard gearing - equals going up 2.66 teeth on the rear. Greater accelaration, more wheelie factor and lower top speed. Speedo will read higher than road speed - adding k's to your oddo, unless you use a speedo healer device.

Drop one tooth on the rear - based on your standard gearing - equals going up 2.66 teeth on the rear. Greater accelaration, more wheelie factor and lower top speed. Speedo will read higher than road speed - adding k's to your oddo, unless you use a speedo healer device.

You Mean drop 1 tooth in the front?

was going to get the 14/40 conversion kit but that ebay website that Mad Kaw posted
suggested that the optimal gearing and sprockets for my ride are:

14/42 apparently only affects speedo by 2% increase