Chain and sprockets

Tue Aug 24 16:51:34 PDT 2021

My GPZ had 106,000 miles (170,000km) on the clock when I regretfully 
parted with it a few years back now.   (Although, seller's regret caused 
me to attempt to contact the buyer to buy it back.  No dice.)

It was on its second chain; the original went about 48,000 miles 
(77,000km) before I installed a DID X-ring.  That chain was still on it 
with 58,000 miles (93,000km) and still measured within spec, had no 
kinks, and ran smoothly.

It was still wearing the OEM sprockets when it left. They looked fine.

The answer to the next question is: PJ1 Blue Label every other tankful.

I've never had an X-ring go less than 40K.

On a different topic, we were able to take in the really excellent 
International Motorcycle Shows Chicagoland outdoor event this past 
weekend.  While I managed some ten demo rides (my wife only nine, 
skipping the Royal Enfields), my heart was absolutely stolen by the 
Ninja 1000SX.  Truly a worthy successor to the departed GPZ, which, I 
will say to my grave, was the best motorcycle I ever owned.

106,000 miles and absolutely no repairs.  Just tires, a couple 
batteries, and wear consumables like tires.  Lots of tires.  At my age, 
I will never match that number or pace.

Smooth as silk at 70-95mph, steady as a rock, perfectly reliable, 
comfortable, capable, and more confidence-inspiring than anything I ever 
tried.

I may have to sell almost my whole half of the garage to get onto a 
Ninja 1000 but it might be the right thing to do.  It's the GPZ a 
quarter-century later and updated.

Bill Zeller
Lemont, IL

On 8/24/2021 2:00 PM, gpzlist-request at lists.micapeak.com wrote:
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> Today's Topics:
>
>     1. Chain and sprockets (Bill Denton)
>     2. RE: Chain and sprockets (dominatr37)
>     3. Re: Chain and sprockets (Art Johnson)
>     4. RE: Chain and sprockets (William K Denton)
>     5. Re: Chain and sprockets (Charles Scappaticci)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Mon, 23 Aug 2021 18:34:11 -0400
> From: Bill Denton <wkdenton at verizon.net>
> To: discussion Kawasaki <gpzlist at micapeak.com>
> Subject: Chain and sprockets
> Message-ID: <2E56378B-5E24-4019-BAFD-AC2AD3214DEB at verizon.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>
> Hey all,
>
> Now, I know that many of you have put tons of miles on your GPz1100s, and more than a few of you no longer have your GPzs.  But, as I've been splitting my mileage across four motorcycles for the last 23 years, I've only now gotten to the point where I'm nearly out of spec on chain wear with 37,000 miles on the original equipment.
>
> So having just experienced major sticker shock by looking up the prices for OEM replacement sprockets and chain @ $360 before tax, I'm looking for experience based opinions on where you high milers may have sourced high quality replacement parts with good success. Opine away and as always, TIA for your sage advice.
>
> Bill in Yardley, PA
> William K Denton
> wkdenton at verizon.net
> 267-980-7788 cell
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Mon, 23 Aug 2021 19:43:59 -0400
> From: dominatr37 <dominatr37 at optonline.net>
> To: GPZ List <gpzlist at lists.micapeak.com>
> Subject: RE: Chain and sprockets
> Message-ID: <69.39.21802.FB234216 at mta3.srv.hcvlny.cv.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>
> Hi Bill, I always go with DiD X ring chains and Sprocket Specialist sprockets.
>
> Ralph L. Angelo Jr
> Author of cool stuff
> RLAngeloJr.com
>
> From: Bill Denton
> Sent: Monday, August 23, 2021 6:34 PM
> To: Ralph
> Subject: Chain and sprockets
>
> Hey all,
>
> Now, I know that many of you have put tons of miles on your GPz1100s, and more than a few of you no longer have your GPzs.  But, as I've been splitting my mileage across four motorcycles for the last 23 years, I've only now gotten to the point where I'm nearly out of spec on chain wear with 37,000 miles on the original equipment.
>
> So having just experienced major sticker shock by looking up the prices for OEM replacement sprockets and chain @ $360 before tax, I'm looking for experience based opinions on where you high milers may have sourced high quality replacement parts with good success. Opine away and as always, TIA for your sage advice.
>
> Bill in Yardley, PA
> William K Denton
> wkdenton at verizon.net
> 267-980-7788 cell
> ______________________________________________________________________
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>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Mon, 23 Aug 2021 20:15:52 -0600
> From: Art Johnson <arthjohnson270 at gmail.com>
> To: GPZ List <gpzlist at lists.micapeak.com>
> Subject: Re: Chain and sprockets
> Message-ID: <60AD6CC0-5703-4C3F-B639-3DF13D48030F at gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>
> Hey Bill, did chain a few years back 2015 maybe, at about 40,000 kms. Went with an o-ring type with stock sprockets.
> Here’s where it came from, though x-ring/O-ring chain not listed. Guessed at sprocket sizes.
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>
>> On Aug 23, 2021, at 5:44 PM, dominatr37 <dominatr37 at optonline.net> wrote:
>>
>> Hi Bill, I always go with DiD X ring chains and Sprocket Specialist sprockets.
>>
>> Ralph L. Angelo Jr
>> Author of cool stuff
>> RLAngeloJr.com
>>
>> From: Bill Denton
>> Sent: Monday, August 23, 2021 6:34 PM
>> To: Ralph
>> Subject: Chain and sprockets
>>
>> Hey all,
>>
>> Now, I know that many of you have put tons of miles on your GPz1100s, and more than a few of you no longer have your GPzs.  But, as I've been splitting my mileage across four motorcycles for the last 23 years, I've only now gotten to the point where I'm nearly out of spec on chain wear with 37,000 miles on the original equipment.
>>
>> So having just experienced major sticker shock by looking up the prices for OEM replacement sprockets and chain @ $360 before tax, I'm looking for experience based opinions on where you high milers may have sourced high quality replacement parts with good success. Opine away and as always, TIA for your sage advice.
>>
>> Bill in Yardley, PA
>> William K Denton
>> wkdenton at verizon.net
>> 267-980-7788 cell
>> ______________________________________________________________________
>> GENERAL GPZList MAILING LIST INFORMATION:
>> This is from the GPZList mailing list. GPZList at lists.micapeak.com
>> https://lists.micapeak.com/mailman/listinfo/gpzlist
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>> mail that you receive from this list. Therefore, ANY mail that you
>> receive from this list is, by definition, NOT Spam, and if you report
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> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2021 12:40:27 -0400
> From: "William K Denton" <wkdenton at verizon.net>
> To: "'GPZ List'" <gpzlist at lists.micapeak.com>
> Subject: RE: Chain and sprockets
> Message-ID: <000001d79906$bf1ab110$3d501330$@verizon.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="utf-8"
>
> Ralph,
>
> Thanks for the reply.
>
> Question for you: Sprocket Specialists list all their sprockets as made from(7075-T6) aluminum. The OEM Kawi sprockets are steel, which I believe to be S45C medium strength steel. Now I'm not a metallurgist (and I don't play one on TV, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night lol), but needless to say I'm a little concerned about wear of aluminum vs steel over time
>
> So mu question is: How many miles have you put on the replacements from Sprocket Specialists and can you give me some feedback ion wear characteristics so far?
>
> Thanks very much Ralph!
>
>
> William K. Denton
> Lazarus CycleWorks
> “We Breathe New Life into Old Bikes”
> wkdenton at verizon.net
> 267-980-7788 office/cell
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: GPZList [mailto:gpzlist-bounces at lists.micapeak.com] On Behalf Of dominatr37
>
>
> Hi Bill, I always go with DiD X ring chains and Sprocket Specialist sprockets.
>
> Ralph L. Angelo Jr
> Author of cool stuff
> RLAngeloJr.com
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 5
> Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2021 11:00:56 -0600
> From: Charles Scappaticci <scapco at ecentral.com>
> To: GPZ List <gpzlist at lists.micapeak.com>
> Subject: Re: Chain and sprockets
> Message-ID:
> 	<CAAxb4Ddon6znwqrV3y9gAMztWhyoFjVxxxY=Cdpt6ymKULCY2A at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
>
> Bill,
>
> I have replaced mine a couple of times, and have gotten similar good wear
> out of my chains, but have stayed away from aluminum for reasons of wear.
> I have always used the OEM front sprocket and have had good luck with cheap
> Sunstar steel sprockets on the rear.  I currently have a DID chain on it
> and have a fresh one to install on it at some point.  YMMV with aluminum,
> but I stick to steel.  And as far as prices go, the new chain and sprockets
> I just put on my Ducatio were $$$, but I went with a DID X ring chain as
> the OEM Ducati chains are known to be shit.
>
> Charles S.
>
> On Tue, Aug 24, 2021 at 10:40 AM William K Denton <wkdenton at verizon.net>
> wrote:
>
>> Ralph,
>>
>> Thanks for the reply.
>>
>> Question for you: Sprocket Specialists list all their sprockets as made
>> from(7075-T6) aluminum. The OEM Kawi sprockets are steel, which I believe
>> to be S45C medium strength steel. Now I'm not a metallurgist (and I don't
>> play one on TV, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night lol),
>> but needless to say I'm a little concerned about wear of aluminum vs steel
>> over time
>>
>> So mu question is: How many miles have you put on the replacements from
>> Sprocket Specialists and can you give me some feedback ion wear
>> characteristics so far?
>>
>> Thanks very much Ralph!
>>
>>
>> William K. Denton
>> Lazarus CycleWorks
>> “We Breathe New Life into Old Bikes”
>> wkdenton at verizon.net
>> 267-980-7788 office/cell
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: GPZList [mailto:gpzlist-bounces at lists.micapeak.com] On Behalf Of
>> dominatr37
>>
>>
>> Hi Bill, I always go with DiD X ring chains and Sprocket Specialist
>> sprockets.
>>
>> Ralph L. Angelo Jr
>> Author of cool stuff
>> RLAngeloJr.com
>>
>>
>>
>> ______________________________________________________________________
>> GENERAL GPZList MAILING LIST INFORMATION:
>> This is from the GPZList mailing list. GPZList at lists.micapeak.com
>> https://lists.micapeak.com/mailman/listinfo/gpzlist
>> You subscribed to this mailing list. Therefore, you solicited all
>> mail that you receive from this list. Therefore, ANY mail that you
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>>
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