New Chain And Sprockets - 02vfr

I am about to replace the chain and sprockets (front and rear) on my 02VFR. I have 18.5K miles at this time. For those of you that have experience in this area, what product(s) combinations have you installed that performed the best? Some seem to required "slight" mods to install, others seem to have created vibration issues. What chain and sprockets would you recommend based on your first hand experience?

Note: This posting is aimed at products only, not gear ratios (-1 front, +2 rear) etc.

Maybe I can reap the benefit of your good (and bad) experiences. Thanks in advance.

Hi, may I suggest you use the Search function and read through the dozens of threads on that same subject.
It's fairly easy to do and a big time saver for most issues! :biggrin:
I typed in chain and sprockets and got like 5 pages of threads on the subject. :cool:

Last year I installed a Regina X-ring and JT sprockets for my 4th gen.. I liked the set a lot and it's holding up well.

This year I replaced the stock set on my 6th gen. with a RK X-ring/sprocket set. It, too, is holding up well. A bit of lubricant seepage from the o-rings during first 500 miles (probably normal), but none since.

The Regina chain is top-quality IMO, and retains the peanut-shaped side plates (like stock), whereas the RK has more rectangular plates. The Honda OEM countershaft sprocket has a rubber damper on it, so I would imagine it does a good job isolating vibration and noise, though I really haven't noticed much different between OEM and aftermarket sprocket replacement as far as that's concerned. Also, from what I understand, if you decide to replace w/ OEM Honda countershaft sprocket, you will need a peanut-style chain (Regina, DID[?]). Rectangular sideplates interfere with the rubber isolation damper.

I would highly recommend the Regina chain w/ any name-brand OEM-style sprockets. The RK matched set is value-priced and appears decent, they even have a 20k mile warranty. I submitted the enclosed registration card to hold them to their 20k mile guarantee. We'll see how many miles it holds up, as I have put 3k on the set so far.

[image: View Post]hidesertmlb, on Oct 15 2008, 01:37 PM, said:

Last year I installed a Regina X-ring and JT sprockets for my 4th gen.. I liked the set a lot and it's holding up well.

This year I replaced the stock set on my 6th gen. with a RK X-ring/sprocket set. It, too, is holding up well. A bit of lubricant seepage from the o-rings during first 500 miles (probably normal), but none since.

The Regina chain is top-quality IMO, and retains the peanut-shaped side plates (like stock), whereas the RK has more rectangular plates. The Honda OEM countershaft sprocket has a rubber damper on it, so I would imagine it does a good job isolating vibration and noise, though I really haven't noticed much different between OEM and aftermarket sprocket replacement as far as that's concerned. Also, from what I understand, if you decide to replace w/ OEM Honda countershaft sprocket, you will need a peanut-style chain (Regina, DID[?]). Rectangular sideplates interfere with the rubber isolation damper.

I would highly recommend the Regina chain w/ any name-brand OEM-style sprockets. The RK matched set is value-priced and appears decent, they even have a 20k mile warranty. I submitted the enclosed registration card to hold them to their 20k mile guarantee. We'll see how many miles it holds up, as I have put 3k on the set so far.


I installed a regina zring chain, The zrings are reginas answer to the xring type oring, but they are very fragile and disfunctional, I had zrings blowing less than 10,000 mile. I luv reginas, but only run their standard orings like with the ors2

the zring chain I ran was a ZRP, outstanding chain, but with those zrings its a lost cause and it costed me 180 dollars, the last 2 chain have been the regina ors2's for $100

[image: View Post]hidesertmlb, on Oct 15 2008, 01:37 PM, said:

The RK matched set is value-priced and appears decent, they even have a 20k mile warranty. I submitted the enclosed registration card to hold them to their 20k mile guarantee. We'll see how many miles it holds up, as I have put 3k on the set so far.


I installed this same RK chain w/20k mileage warranty along with new sprockets and it was crap at around 8k miles, that's when the red dust of death appeared. I ordered a new DID X-ring pro yesterday and will install it as soon as it gets here and I will Never use another RX, they suc. The last DID X-ring I used lasted over twice as long as the RK and was maybe $20 more. :dry:

[image: View Post]Baileyrock, on Oct 15 2008, 01:20 PM, said:

I installed this same RK chain w/20k mileage warranty along with new sprockets and it was crap at around 8k miles, that's when the red dust of death appeared.
Holy cow! 8k on the RK?! Red dust o'death is a sure sign the chain reaper has come to visit. We'll see how long the RK set lasts on my bike. Don't mean to be :offtopic: here, but me thinks that RK might be junk if Bailyrock sez so.

DID X-ring with AFAM sprockets did well for me. Hard anodized aluminum rear will last the life of the chain. Steel rear probably good for two chains. Just don't adjust your chain too tight or too often.

[image: View Post]Baileyrock, on Oct 15 2008, 03:20 PM, said:

[image: View Post]hidesertmlb, on Oct 15 2008, 01:37 PM, said:

The RK matched set is value-priced and appears decent, they even have a 20k mile warranty. I submitted the enclosed registration card to hold them to their 20k mile guarantee. We'll see how many miles it holds up, as I have put 3k on the set so far.


I installed this same RK chain w/20k mileage warranty along with new sprockets and it was crap at around 8k miles, that's when the red dust of death appeared. I ordered a new DID X-ring pro yesterday and will install it as soon as it gets here and I will Never use another RX, they suc. The last DID X-ring I used lasted over twice as long as the RK and was maybe $20 more. :dry:


Hey BR...thanks for the great info (too late)...buy my RK chain/sprockets setup TODAY and I will add as a BONUS EXTRA.....2 caramel apples and a Miller Lite .....OK?
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q138/DougFromIndy/Picture-1.jpg

[image: View Post]DougFromIndy, on Oct 16 2008, 01:44 AM, said:

[image: View Post]Baileyrock, on Oct 15 2008, 03:20 PM, said:

[image: View Post]hidesertmlb, on Oct 15 2008, 01:37 PM, said:

The RK matched set is value-priced and appears decent, they even have a 20k mile warranty. I submitted the enclosed registration card to hold them to their 20k mile guarantee. We'll see how many miles it holds up, as I have put 3k on the set so far.


I installed this same RK chain w/20k mileage warranty along with new sprockets and it was crap at around 8k miles, that's when the red dust of death appeared. I ordered a new DID X-ring pro yesterday and will install it as soon as it gets here and I will Never use another RX, they suc. The last DID X-ring I used lasted over twice as long as the RK and was maybe $20 more. :dry:


Hey BR...thanks for the great info (too late)...buy my RK chain/sprockets setup TODAY and I will add as a BONUS EXTRA.....2 caramel apples and a Miller Lite .....OK?
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q138/DougFromIndy/Picture-1.jpg


Sorry Doug,

I have just never had good or as good of results with RK chains vs the DID products, in fact I've only had one chain that was worse than the RK and it was some off brand that was the only thing my Dealer had in stock when I needed a chain in a hurry and it lasted less than 4k miles. I only ended up with a RK because when I went to Cycle Gear to get a new DID they only had the RX in stock. :dry:
Like everything I think I abuse things much quicker than most people so "your mileage may vary" ! :cool:

DID fo life... :fing02:

Got mine as a new-bike take off from a Florida dealer, the new owner wanted a huge swingarm/tire installed, and so they ebay'ed the stock new DID chain. Got it for $50. :fing02: :fing02:

I will probably go with a REGINA 0-ring....these I have torture-tested offroad..are sold under Moose racing and others...they really hold up well over time and thats with mud/dirt/sand/no lube/quarter-car-wash blasting/water, etc so these work in the dirt and are way good for street as well. My VFR800 oem is at 19,000 now so will pull it this winter. Maybe off my RK kit on ebay.

I am amazed at how much longer the OEM chains last than any of the aftermarket replacements. From what I read here this seems to be common. I got 40k miles off my OEM. It wore evenly and stretched to the red/green indicator mark on the swing arm. No red death.

I replaced it with the best DID x-ring chain available and OEM sprockets and got only 23K miles. In one day it red deathed on me and stretched unevenly shaking the bike as I had to ride it 400 miles to get home. This is better mileage than most of you are getting but not what the OEM did for me.

This time I replaced it with an OEM chain and sprockets from Servicehonda.com. At $250 I don't think many here are doing this but it pencils for me not having to change the chain every year.

[image: View Post]Bad Boy, on Oct 16 2008, 06:51 PM, said:

I am amazed at how much longer the OEM chains last than any of the aftermarket replacements. From what I read here this seems to be common. I got 40k miles off my OEM. It wore evenly and stretched to the red/green indicator mark on the swing arm. No red death.

I replaced it with the best DID x-ring chain available and OEM sprockets and got only 23K miles. In one day it red deathed on me and stretched unevenly shaking the bike as I had to ride it 400 miles to get home. This is better mileage than most of you are getting but not what the OEM did for me.

This time I replaced it with an OEM chain and sprockets from Servicehonda.com. At $250 I don't think many here are doing this but it pencils for me not having to change the chain every year.

If they are stetching you have reddust(rust), you just arent seeing it for some reason, thats how the chain stretches is with pin wear. Soon as the internal lube dries up wear begins and stretching. But the redust(rust ) has to blow out through the orings to see it. Most cases it does.

I've not had to adjust the oems or any after market ors2 reginas at my replacement intervals of 17 to 19,000 mile, First time I see alink with some reddust , I start the plan to order a new one as kinking generaly follows soon.

old chain comes off, new chain goes on , no adjustment required


the heavy lube I run, sprocket wear doesnt exist, so its a simple chain swap

[image: View Post]spud786, on Oct 16 2008, 07:13 PM, said:

[image: View Post]Bad Boy, on Oct 16 2008, 06:51 PM, said:

I am amazed at how much longer the OEM chains last than any of the aftermarket replacements. From what I read here this seems to be common. I got 40k miles off my OEM. It wore evenly and stretched to the red/green indicator mark on the swing arm. No red death.

I replaced it with the best DID x-ring chain available and OEM sprockets and got only 23K miles. In one day it red deathed on me and stretched unevenly shaking the bike as I had to ride it 400 miles to get home. This is better mileage than most of you are getting but not what the OEM did for me.

This time I replaced it with an OEM chain and sprockets from Servicehonda.com. At $250 I don't think many here are doing this but it pencils for me not having to change the chain every year.

If they are stetching you have reddust(rust), you just arent seeing it for some reason, thats how the chain stretches is with pin wear. Soon as the internal lube dries up wear begins and stretching. But the redust(rust ) has to blow out through the orings to see it. Most cases it does.

I've not had to adjust the oems or any after market ors2 reginas at my replacement intervals of 17 to 19,000 mile, First time I see alink with some reddust , I start the plan to order a new one as kinking generaly follows soon.

old chain comes off, new chain goes on , no adjustment required


the heavy lube I run, sprocket wear doesnt exist, so its a simple chain swap

Interesting. How many miles are you putting on your OEM sprockets if each chain is getting replaced at 17K to 19K miles?

I replaced the very old (and stretched) DID chain this spring with an RK chain and sprocket set. It was "silver" - kind of looks like stainless really. So far, no problems to report but I don't think IMO it is as good as the DID - I've only put 4K on it. The bike saw rain briefly about three times this summer and I was shocked to see rust spots on what I thought were stainless links! This is surface rust only and came off with a good cleaning - not the red dust of death. I'm playing watch and see with the RK, but next time I'll definitrly go with the DID.

i had a good experience with sprocketcentre.com.
here's a link to the VFR chain and sprockets. they were reasonably priced and were great with shipping - they even cut the chain to the proper length for you.

[image: View Post]superfunkomatic, on Oct 17 2008, 02:43 PM, said:

i had a good experience with sprocketcentre.com.
here's a link to the VFR chain and sprockets. they were reasonably priced and were great with shipping - they even cut the chain to the proper length for you.

http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/%201.gif Yep, these guys are great!!!!!!!!!!!

I just put on my 3rd aftermarket vfr chain at 50,000 mile

I had a zring chain that had to be replaced early becuase the zrings broke down and there was no way I could keep it lubed with out much trouble, it only got about half life to 10,000 mile.

The information provided so far has been very interesting. I have read most (if not all of the threads out there), however, it is easy to get lost in the many tangents posts can often take.

The focus on brands and chain life has added some clarity to my situation. So far, no complaints about sprockets. Any issues with vibration and/or sprocket life when it comes to brands? So far, it sounds like it is only the chain that has caused some dissatisfaction.

Go with a steel sprocket instead of aluminum, it'll last a lot longer. Sure it weighs more, but we're not talking pounds here.