Drive chain choices today?

[1200ts]

I have not needed to purchase a 530 drive chain in years so what are my choices today? Motorcycle shops will tell you whatever brand they sell is the best there is so can't be trusted.

I have had bad luck in the past with cheap chains which seem to keep stretching but expensive ones all seem to be the same. So what are your experiences? The common ones here are EK, DID, RK, Diamond and Tsubaki. And I still don't understand why a X ring chain costs more than a O ring chain even though the rubber part costs the same to make?

 

[The Sock]

DID 530ZVM-X
My first one lasted more than 20,000 miles.
Required very little adjustment over that distance. The other major advantage is that, since the chain doesn't stretch like the originals did, the sprockets also last much longer than back in the old days.
I only replaced it because I felt it deserved retirement, not because it was cream crackered.

 

[Ernesto]

DID 530 NZ (NZ is reinforced).
For an X-Ring chain I would rather change to 520,
as a 530 would scratch on the housing.
Some dealers stock 520-sprockets.
X-ring chain would be 520 VX3.

 

[Tippie]

DID 530 NZ (NZ is reinforced).
For an X-Ring chain I would rather change to 520,
as a 530 would scratch on the housing.
Some dealers stock 520-sprockets.
X-ring chain would be 520 VX3.

For Laverda? I understood we were all having to grind them down ourselves, at least the front ones.

 

[sfcpiet]

For Laverda? I understood we were all having to grind them down ourselves, at least the front ones.

I used to stock them, so did OCT.

Now only made to order.

piet

 

[piranha-bro2]

Yep, have seen them as a spare part. I've ground two down - woulda saved plenty o'time buying in 520!

 

[Max]

Using Tsubaki X-ring 530 on ‘79 triple with no issues.

 

[Vince]

Me too, They have a chrome one that doesn't rust. I use that one.