Sprockets & chain
Chain, sprockets, and the 520 conversion — the cheapest 'feels faster' money in the catalog. Minus one front or plus two rear wakes up gearing that was chosen for a brochure top-speed number.
The short answer
A 520 kit with a quality chain drops rotating weight and lets you pick gearing per track or per road. Steel rear sprockets last; aluminum saves weight and wears fast — a race consumable, a street compromise. If chain or sprockets are worn, replace all three as a set, always.
From budget to premium
Where each brand sits on price and reputation — not an endorsement. They're listed because they make parts for this category.
| Brand | Tier | Origin | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| DID | premium | JP | ERV-series race chains — what the paddock actually runs. |
| EK Chain | mid | JP | The chain half of the standard Vortex 520 kit, from SRX2 value X-ring to MVXZ2 race spec. |
| Vortex | mid | US | Grippiest pegs in the business, value clip-ons, and the sprocket half of the standard 520 kit. |
The parts riders compare
Typical US street prices. Most of these are model-specific when you check out — verify fitment for your exact year and market before buying.
| Part | Tier | Typical price | Fitment |
|---|---|---|---|
| DID ERV7 520 race chain | premium | $300 | universal 520 pitch — cut to your bike's link count |
| Vortex V3 520 conversion kit | mid | $280 | model-specific gearing — choose sprocket sizes and chain grade at order |
| EK MVXZ2 520 chain | mid | $180 | universal 520 pitch — cut to your bike's link count |
| Renthal Ultralight rear sprocket | mid | $100 | model-specific carrier fit — pick tooth count for your gearing |
| Driven aluminum rear sprocket | mid | $85 | model-specific carrier fit — aluminum wears faster than steel; track favorite |
| Superlite steel rear sprocket | mid | $60 | model-specific — series, chain pitch and tooth count depend on your bike |
| DID 520VX3 X-ring chain | budget | $180 | universal 520 pitch — cut to your bike's link count |
| Vortex steel front sprocket | budget | $35 | model-specific spline — the -1 tooth acceleration trick lives here |
Or search “motorcycle chain and sprocket kit” where you already shop:
Some links may earn Unstocked a commission at no cost to you. Prices shown are typical street prices — always verify fitment and price at the retailer. Model-specific parts (exhausts, rearsets, bodywork) can run 2–3× between bikes — the sheet shows a typical figure.
Drivetrain by model
What each bike's page says about drivetrain: the brands that fit, the year splits and the gotchas, quoted from the 28 bike pages that have a note on it.
Yamaha R6
520 conversion with -1/+2 gearing is near-universal on track R6s. DID or EK chains, Vortex or Driven sprockets — keep a couple of rear sprockets in the kit for different tracks.
Ducati Panigale V4
520 conversion with track-specific gearing is common on track V4s; stock gearing is tall for most US circuits. Regina/DID chains with Superlite or Driven sprockets are the usual combination.
Honda CBR1000RR
The RR-R's tall stock gearing is the platform's defining first-mod story — shorter gearing wakes it up at street and track speeds. 520 conversion kits (Vortex/EK class) are the track norm for both generations.
Kawasaki ZX-10R
520 conversion with -1/+2 style gearing is near-universal on track builds; Vortex/EK and Driven kits have dedicated fitments. Street riders mostly leave gearing alone and keep the cruise-friendly stock ratios.
Suzuki GSX-R1000
520 conversion (Vortex/EK, Driven) is standard race prep; -1/+2 gearing wakes up street riding but expect more chain maintenance and a speedo correction (flash or inline module).
Suzuki GSX-R750
A -1 front sprocket is the classic cheap thrill; 520 conversion kits (Vortex/EK, Driven) are standard race prep. The 750's torque tolerates taller gearing than a 600 if you commute.
Yamaha R1
520 conversion is standard track practice; -1/+2 is the common starting point. Keep the stock ratio for street — the speedo and electronics assumptions stay happier.
Aprilia RS 660
Stock gearing is long for track work; a 1–2 tooth rear sprocket bump is the cheap, reversible fix. Twins Cup bikes regear per circuit — 520 conversion kits (Vortex/EK, Driven) are catalogued for the 660.
Honda CBR500R
Stock is a 520 chain with a 15T front and 41T rear sprocket (Honda spec sheets 2019–2026; SprocketCenter lists 112 links). Honda's 2022 CBR500R dealer brochure misprints '#525 15T/44T'. SprocketCenter lists kits for 2013–2021 and 2022–2026; Vortex lists a V3 kit for 2013–2021.
Honda CBR650R
Stock is a #525 chain with a 15T front and 42T rear sprocket (Honda US spec); SprocketCenter lists 118 links. SprocketCenter lists 525 kits and 520 conversion kits for 2019–2026.
Kawasaki Ninja 650
Stock gearing is 15/46 on a 520 chain. Driven lists it for the 2017 Z650 and the 2006–17 Ninja 650; check your chain length before ordering a kit. A tooth fewer on the front sprocket shortens the gearing.
Suzuki GSX-8R
Stock is a 525 O-ring chain with 118 links, 17T front and 47T rear (Suzuki spec; SprocketCenter lists the sprocket sizes). Driven lists a 520 kit and Vortex a 520 aluminum rear sprocket for the 8S/8R 2023–2026.
Triumph Daytona 660
Sprocket Center lists 15/51 on a 520 chain, 120 links, for 2024–26; it lists 16/51 for the Trident 660, so Trident sprocket advice doesn't transfer.
Yamaha R7
520 conversion with a couple of teeth added at the rear is near-universal for track R7s. Vortex/EK kits are the standard order.
Yamaha R9
Stock is 16/43 on a 525 chain (112 links), per Sprocket Center, Renthal and Drive Systems USA. A 520 conversion kit needs both sprockets replaced with 520 versions.
Aprilia Tuono 660
Same tall stock gearing story as the RS 660: +1 or +2 rear teeth wakes up a tight-track or city bike. 520 kits (Vortex/EK, Driven) are catalogued for the 660.
Honda CB500F
Stock is a 520 chain with a 15T front and 41T rear sprocket (Honda spec sheets 2019–2026 and 2023 brochure; SprocketCenter lists 112 links). SprocketCenter lists CB500F kits for 2013–2021 and 2022–2025.
Suzuki GSX-8S
Stock is a 525 O-ring chain with 118 links, 17T front and 47T rear (Suzuki spec; SprocketCenter lists the sprocket sizes). Driven lists a 520 kit and Vortex a 520 aluminum rear sprocket for the 8S/8R 2023–2026.
Triumph Street Triple 765
The triple loves gearing: a one-tooth-down front or two-up rear transforms tight-road and track response. 520 conversion kits (Vortex/EK, Renthal sprockets) are catalogued for the 765.
Triumph Trident 660
Sprocket Center lists 16/51 on a 520 chain, 120 links, for 2021–25. Triumph changed the gearbox ratios and final drive for 2026, so treat 2026+ sprocket fitment as its own listing.
Yamaha MT-09
A tooth or two at the rear sharpens an already eager engine; 520 conversions are common on track builds. Watch chain length when regearing — the stock length runs out fast.
Honda Grom
420 chain and cheap sprockets make gearing experiments nearly free. Street riders typically add rear teeth for punch; racers carry multiple sprockets per track. The most-changed part on any Grom.
KTM 390 Duke
Stock 520 chain means sprocket experimentation is as cheap as it gets. Standard advice applies: avoid going too small on the front sprocket; make changes at the rear when possible.
Kawasaki Ninja 300
Stock is a 520 chain with a 14T front and 42T rear sprocket (SprocketCenter lists 106 links). Vortex lists steel and aluminum sprockets for 2013–2017.
Kawasaki Ninja 400 & Ninja 500
Gearing is the Ninja 400 power mod: dedicated race sprocket/chain kits (Vortex/EK sell N400-specific 520 race kits) and one-tooth-down front experiments are standard paddock conversation.
Kawasaki Z400
Stock is 14/41 on a 520 chain (Driven lists the 2018 Ninja 400). A tooth fewer on the front or two more on the rear shortens the gearing. TST lists a captive chain adjuster for the Ninja 400, Z400 and Ninja 500.
Yamaha MT-03
Stock is 14/43 on a 520 chain (Driven lists the R3). Adding two or three rear teeth is a common track regear, and 520 chains are cheap and widely stocked.
Yamaha R3
+2 or +3 rear teeth is the standard track regear. Vortex/EK 520 kits list the R3 directly, including race-spec combinations.
Also in the upgrade order for: Kawasaki ZX-6R, Aprilia RSV4, BMW M1000RR, BMW S1000RR, Suzuki SV650, Ducati Monster, Ducati Streetfighter V4, Honda CB650R, Kawasaki Z650, Kawasaki Z900, Yamaha MT-07.
Prices are typical US street prices at publish time and drift with sales and supply — verify at the retailer. Fitment is advisory: always confirm the exact part number for your year, generation and market before buying.