About to order next week or 2, looking for opinions.

joebgd

joebgd

XS650 Junkie
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I was going to order a 12mm mc from ebay 50$ shipping, that's out.
I have this chain it's more tensile strength than caltric by over 3k pds

https://www.ebay.com/itm/164643805526?var=464172127454

I think it's 9600 ts?

Or this Izumi id prefer the red cause my bike is gonna be blue w flames, I think the red would be nice. I'm more concerned about quality. As it sits now my bike is red.

https://www.mikesxs.net/yamaha-xs650-izumi-drive-chain-es530hx104-oem-94580-05104-00-g.html
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And so far it's this 11mm mc which idk y the lever would go 90° away from grip
https://www.ebay.com/itm/376359209231
Or aa 12.7mm bore for about 1/3rd price from Amazon. I wanted a 12 but 12.7 might be to close to 14mm still looking if anyone has leeds on better priced 11 or 12mm.
 
NP2650 said:
I see that chain is only rated for max 450cc on a street bike. The RK Takasago chain I bought on Ebay was also rated for only 500cc. Considering that it's a 530 chain, that seems a bit on the conservative side.
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That's what I thought also, I see allot of 530 chains rated for smaller bikes and I'm sure there are 650s out there w 520s.
 
GLJ said:
If color is more important than quality go for the red chain.
If you're going to ride your bike you want a known good chain. I have bought 4 or 5 of these. No problems so far. Plus free shipping.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/324295450874?var=513368114290
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Honestly I am going for a look this time my bike was bone stock but I messed around w it and got enough miles on it I'm changing it up a bit. Only thing serious is going to be the paint and exhaust. That said, I've read and heard did chains are proper replacement. I'll do a little more searching before I go just for the look.
 
About bearings, I'm getting the seal oem because no one place has them all in stock so I'm going csl, or partzilla, or yhamabits, for oil seals.
I was a novice when I changed my front tire and it spins fine, I never added any grease, I feel the rear can definitely use new bearings. Can I pull a seal off new bearings and see what and how much grease is in them, if so I was considering using red grease cause I have 2 on hand a mobil red and a lucus red, I belive there might be some green in my small grease gun.
 
I see 650central, as one of the most trusted and respected xs guys, has 530 chains from 7040lb ts to 9810lb ts, as well as 520 conversion kits. I think I'll be fine either way with Izumi did or red 9600ts rated for 450cc. I have had a chain brake on me I believe it was a jc Whitney HD 530, could have been a one off because that's what I have on there now. My uncle gave me same chain he had jc hd 530 and didn't use yet. Im anxious to change it tho.Edit: I have the 2nd jcw hd chain on now. I'm anxious to change it to izumi or did quality. I think any of my above opinions is feel comfortable with.
 
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AUTOMAN said:
It's torque rating not HP rating.
If advertised as HP rated do not buy. It's a sales ploy.

Torque or really final drive force on chain is what matters.

Anyone broken a chain due to HP lately?
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Well, hp (kW) and torque have a rather close relationship. And if you want to dig that deep into detail, then primary gear ratio, first gear ratio, and countershaft sprocket size must be part of the equation as well.
Using a 2 valve Ducati 900 as an example is in fact very relevant, as those 80ish hp comes at around 7000 rpm, while Yamaha claimed 53 hp at 7200 rpm for the XS. Furthermore, both are twins with rather large torque pulses. So I believe a good 520 chain is plenty strong for any XS650 that does not run on nitro or is supercharged/ turbocharged.
 
joebgd said:
About bearings, I'm getting the seal oem because no one place has them all in stock so I'm going csl, or partzilla, or yhamabits, for oil seals.
I was a novice when I changed my front tire and it spins fine, I never added any grease, I feel the rear can definitely use new bearings. Can I pull a seal off new bearings and see what and how much grease is in them, if so I was considering using red grease cause I have 2 on hand a mobil red and a lucus red, I belive there might be some green in my small grease gun.
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Bump
 
arcticXS said:
Well, hp (kW) and torque have a rather close relationship. And if you want to dig that deep into detail, then primary gear ratio, first gear ratio, and countershaft sprocket size must be part of the equation as well.
Using a 2 valve Ducati 900 as an example is in fact very relevant, as those 80ish hp comes at around 7000 rpm, while Yamaha claimed 53 hp at 7200 rpm for the XS. Furthermore, both are twins with rather large torque pulses. So I believe a good 520 chain is plenty strong for any XS650 that does not run on nitro or is supercharged/ turbocharged.
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no shit?
 
For my wheel bearings and my general purpose greasing, I use Kendall Super Blu. It's very popular with boaters for the wheel bearings in their boat trailer wheels because it's highly waterproof (they routinely back them into the water). And when greasing wheel bearings, don't fill them completely, only about halfway. Filling them is too much and the excess will just ooze out and make a mess once they heat up, lol .......

SuperBluNew.jpg


For a MC, I prefer used Yamaha ones over those Chinese ones. They are usually the Nissin brand and very high quality. Of the several I've gotten, none have needed rebuild parts (seals), just a thorough cleaning and new screws in the tops.

MyTTR225MC4.jpg
 
5twins said:
For my wheel bearings and my general purpose greasing, I use Kendall Super Blu. It's very popular with boaters for the wheel bearings in their boat trailer wheels because it's highly waterproof (they routinely back them into the water). And when greasing wheel bearings, don't fill them completely, only about halfway. Filling them is too much and the excess will just ooze out and make a mess once they heat up, lol .......

View attachment 355005

For a MC, I prefer used Yamaha ones over those Chinese ones. They are usually the Nissin brand and very high quality. Of the several I've gotten, none have needed rebuild parts (seals), just a thorough cleaning and new screws in the tops.

View attachment 355006
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I would like a used oem 12mm or 11mm. Having trouble finding them. I found a new one I'm happy w comes w clutch lever as well. They both have a lever adjustment. Thought I might like that w the clutch side. I don't mind tightening the clutch cable at the lever as needed. Thought an adjustable lever would be fun to try.

Any tips on getting into a sealed bearing? Should I take one side or both off. Or none? Lol na I'm pretty sure I've heard of guys packing sealed bearings.
 
5twins said:
Well, you can only get into the bearings with rubber seals. If they are open or have steel seals, I just replace them. Normally I just open one side and add grease .....

View attachment 355011

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Just want to clarify I'm getting brand new sealed bearings. Plastic rubber type material seals on both sides. Even tho they are going to be brand new I beleive, good quality bearings I want to remove, one side as you stated, seal. Is that ok or recommended or frowned upon w brand new bearings?
I'm going to do it anyway because if I see settled wolf's head lube in their lol I'm packing them by hand w green, red or blue grease.
I used to ride in the rain allot. I've been in some downpours for n hr or more w my rain gear. One time without in regular rain. I must have dripped a gallon or more from clothes and boots. Thanks for the help.
 
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