2002 VFR800 New Stage 2 520 chain and sprocket set

So I just got my new stage 2 520 kit from Phil at Moto-Heaven. I have used him multiple times before and am expecting great results. I will be installing the parts tomorrow and will give an update soon.

The stock sprocket set is 16 front and 43 rear.
New sprocket set is 15 front and 48 rear, with a gold MVXZ DID Chain.

 

........................................

Alloy sprockets suck ! They wear out 3-4 times faster than steel and seldom look healthy after 3500 miles.

Did Phil mention that ??

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I don't know who you have used in the pasts but I have never had any issues with the sprockets wearing out quickly from Moto-Heaven. I have always gotten at least 10k+ miles with no issues, that is why I recommend everyone to Phil for the 520 kits. I have heard the same thing about the 520 sprockets breaking and wearing fast from other people and other companies. I just give credit were credit is do and the guys at Moto-Heaven are awesome.

 

Phil is a great guy. He has done a couple of special HEL brake line kits for me and another member here. Customer service is top notch and his stuff is good.

As far as alloy sprockets go, the hardcoated Vortex sprockets have good wear characteristics. When it comes to 520 chains, there is no better than the DID ERV3.

 

Sorry for the delayed response. I have installed the new Moto-Heaven stage 2 chain and sprocket set. The results are simply amazing and the bike rides better, smoother, and faster than ever before. The speedometer is now about 20% off, but I have ordered a speedo healer to fix this problem. If you are looking to upgrade your chain and sprocket with big results this is the way to go. The bike is now a wheelie machine in first gear. I highly recommend Phil and the guys at Moto-Heaven!!!!!!

 

I can attest to NCB's statements. I switched over to a 520 using the hard anodized F5 from vortex and an ERV3 from D.I.D. 3000 miles ago and niether part is showing the least bit of wear. Not to say that an alloy sprocket without the hardening treatment would hold up as long, but I'm expecting to get somewhere in the vacinity of 10-12,000 miles from the Vortex. Which is OK by me, the added smoothness and freed up HP make it worth the $80 every few seasons. Not to mention the saved wear on the drive system by shaving 4lbs.

 

What does the different size sprockets make in the final drive ratio of the bike? Up? Down? and by how much? Does it reduce top end or increase it?

Reading this made me curious

 

Changing your sprocket sizes completely changes your gearing ratio's, and the RPM's at which your bike runs for a given speed. The changes can go either way by depending on how many teeth your sprockets have. In my case I was looking for acceleration and torque. This is why I choose a smaller sprocket in the front and a much larger sprocket in the rear. As far as my set-up I have lost about 20% top speed but have gained enough torque and acceleration to make stunting very easy. If you are looking to do a change let me know how you would like you bike set-up and I can help you decide what would work for you.
Kyle S.

 

Here is a link that describes what differant teeth counts will do to your bike. Just plug in your make and model and then start playing around with the tooth counts to see the differant effects at differant rpm's.The most popular gearing changes are either -1 tooth on the front sprocket or +2 or 3 teeth to the rear sprocket. This simple and inexpensive mod will take varying amounts of top end power and move more to the middle of the tach. It will cost you varying amounts of top-speed depending on how extreme you take it. CKSPARKS gearing for example, is very extreme and intended for stunting. If you're interested in trying this, which I highly recommend, try doing a +2 rear. For most people this set-up provides a good balance of increased acceleration and a high enough top-speed, around 150mph.

Gearing Commander: Motorcycle Gear Ratio Calculator for Sprockets RPM Speed Chain

 

What about a happy medium? Say -1 to front and +1 to rear. Taking one off the front is equivalent to adding 2-2 1/2 to the rear is it not? If you are going to the expense of a new chain and sprockets it might be a worthwhile option. Still giving the torque and acceleration benefits, without damaging top end speed/speedo reading or fuel economy as much. But us boys being boys, more BANG for the buck is better right! :wink: Back in the day when my daily commute was mostly highway I ADDED a tooth to the front. This lowered my engine speed by roughly 1000rpm at a speed of 100kph in top gear. It lost some punch down low off the mark but allowed you to hold gears longer and stretch shift points. Increasing fuel economy. Bottom line is changing your gear ratios gives you a different feeling bike either way.

 

10,000+ miles on my 520 DID ERV3 45T. Used a micrometer on mine a couple hundred miles after I got the bike, and teeth have worn 0.0125. If only they could make rubber that sticks like glue and wears the same.

 

Lube chain weekly , sprocket looks fine with 23,000. Is that unusual?

 

Of course once the sprocket anodizing is worn through the wear will accelerate, as the aluminum is now exposed.

Shoot, if I can't get 20,000-25,000 miles out of a chain, something is dreadfully wrong. And sprockets should be good for 30,000 miles or more.

 

my 520 chain is the longest lasting with vortex steel sprockets and did 3 chain. I only went to a 45 rear spocket, this gives me very fast 150mph+, it takes off a bit slower which is what I needed, I am a bit slow when I start off, saved about 10 pds and it does spin up faster and looks very nice. Th vfr is geared a bit high-I think this is the way it should have been. Next time the big chain just works too well-custom steel sprockets would make it last very long.

 

50,000+ ks on the chain and sprockets on my old CB Supersport and still no signs of wear and only been adjusted once, and that 50,000ks is what I have put on it since I have had it

 

13:52 510 rear wheel as far forward as possible, two brothers -
4-1 pc3 heli bars straight out. Ridged front and rear sets integrated crash cage & 6th gear pinned 65mph 10,500rpm. Takes off dead stop 1st-4th. But I can bastardize one like that cause my other 6th gen is a BAMF one of the best built most well thought out cyn bikes in SolCal.