How do I know what motorcycle chain to buy?
3 min read
Asked by: Andrew Alvarez
Check your owner’s manual and it will tell you the size of chain you need, in three numbers. Typically, if you ride a dirt or street bike, those numbers will range from 415 to 630. Let’s take a 630 chain as an example: The first number (6) refers to the pitch.
How do I know what size chain I need for my motorcycle?
So if you look at the chain. It will say five two five five thirty five twenty. So the first five of the number is the pitch of the chain. Five five-eighths of an inch.
How do I know what size chain I need for my chain?
If You Have The Chain and Need The Chain Size
If you have the chain, the chain size is often stamped into the side of the chain link.
How do you know what number your chain is?
Most roller chain has the size stamped right into the side plates. You may see something like “40”, “C2080H” or “10B” stamped in, which the industry number that represents the chain size.
What do the numbers mean on a motorcycle chain?
The first digit represents the pitch and the last two digits represent the width. Chain pitch is measured in eighths of an inch. Motorcycle and ATV chains have a pitch number of either 4, 5 or 6. If the distance between the centerlines of the two pins in a link is 4/8th of an inch, the chain has a pitch number of 4.
What is the standard chain size?
Chain standards
| Size | Pitch | Maximum roller diameter |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | 0.625 in (15.88 mm) | 0.400 in (10.16 mm) |
| 60 | 0.750 in (19.05 mm) | 0.469 in (11.91 mm) |
| 80 | 1.000 in (25.40 mm) | 0.625 in (15.88 mm) |
| 100 | 1.250 in (31.75 mm) | 0.750 in (19.05 mm) |
What does 520 mean on chain size?
(3) The size of a chain is designated by a three-digit number (520, for example). The distance from the center of one pin to the center of the next is called pitch. Pitch is represented by the first digit, which is 4, 5 or 6.
What the difference between a 520 and 525 chain?
The 5 part just describes the distance between the centers of the link pins (or wherever on the links, basically how long a link is) and the next two numbers describe the width of the chain. So a 520 chain is going to be narrower than a 525(and thus require a narrower front and rear sprocket) and lighter
Are motorcycle chains universal?
Yes, it’s safe to say that motorcycle chains are universal. However, keep in mind that chains come in different sizes and they fit only specific sprockets. For instance, if your bike features a 525 chain, it means any 525 chain will work on your bike (with the right number of links of course).
Can you use any chain on a motorcycle?
Manufacturers fit sealed link chains as standard equipment on most modern motorcycles, while chains with unsealed links are used on older bikes and some small capacity bikes.
How can you tell if a chain is an O-ring?
You look at an o-ring type. And you can actually see a little black disc. Here and all the way through the chain how those are actually little earrings.
