Time for a new chain and sprockets...Opinions on these choices?

[great white]

My 89 has been needing a chain since I bought it. It's just old and neglected, like most things on this bike. It has tight links in some spots and just general all around mungy condition. No idea on how many KM's on it either.

Sprockets look respectable, but I always replace chain and sprockets as a matched pair since they tend to wear to each other.

Choice for chain: RK 530 GXW Premium XW-Ring Chain. 110 links: https://fortnine.ca/en/rk-530-gxw-premium-xw-ring-chain

Choice for sprockets: RT steel, 17T front and 40T rear. I don't highway drone, it's just a popping around town bike and a the occasional local back road fun blitz (IE: long way home) so stock gearing suits me just fine. I'm a 20 min to 45 min rider on the FJ at best because of my back condition.

front: https://fortnine.ca/en/jt-sprockets-steel-front-sprocket 

rear:https://fortnine.ca/en/jt-sprockets-steel-rear-sprocket

I'm in Canada, so Fortnine is probably who I will order from (local shops usually can't match them). Here's my sprocket choices through them if you care to look: https://fortnine.ca/en/catalogsearch/result/?q=sprocket

I think the chain and sprockets are a good choice for my 89. Opinions?

[Canuck FJ]

I'm running the RK530GXW on my '89; only got about 5000KM on it so far, but it has yet to need adjustment, so initial impression is good.  I'm running it with JT sprocket in standard sizes.

[balky1]

I think 41 is the original on the rear (and should be better for stop-and-go city traffic).
Regarding the chain I have no idea about RK (I only know they are well known brand). In someones post some 2-3 ago I wrote down the tensile strengths for a couple well known brands, try to find it if you are interested.

[great white]

I think 41 is the original on the rear (and should be better for stop-and-go city traffic).
Regarding the chain I have no idea about RK (I only know they are well known brand). In someones post some 2-3 ago I wrote down the tensile strengths for a couple well known brands, try to find it if you are interested.

According to this document: http://www.fjcatalogue.com/f/FJ_gearing_sheet.pdf 1989 would have had the 40T:

The FJ1100 was classed as a sports  bike so had the  lowest gearing(meaning more revs per given speed) and came with a 41t. This allowed it to top out in top gear (5th) with a top speed of 144 mph .
Please remember these are true speeds  and you would  need to add approx 5% to make it a speedo  reading.

The FJ1200  1TX and 3CV (86-90) came  with a slight  smaller  sprocket of 40t .This was due to the slightly torquey nature  of the bigger 91cc engine.This meant  the top speed was increased to148mph.

Finally came the 3XW (91-95)  FJ1200.
By this time Yamaha  had made it into a full tourer so geared  it with a39t rear sprocket.   The top speed was, in theory,  151 mp h, but due to the less revvy nature  of the 1188cc  engine  and the extra weight ,it always  had difficulty pulling  to the 9500r  pm red line

My bike is just about right as it is for my uses, gearing wise. I still have to check and see if it actually has a 40T sprocket on it though. Lots of things could have changed on it since 1989....

[balky1]

According to this document: http://www.fjcatalogue.com/f/FJ_gearing_sheet.pdf 1989 would have had the 40T:

Ahh, '89, sorry, didn't read it carefully.

[great white]

According to this document: http://www.fjcatalogue.com/f/FJ_gearing_sheet.pdf 1989 would have had the 40T:

Ahh, '89, sorry, didn't read it carefully.

No worries.

[great white]

LOL! Just checked my rear sprocket: JTR859-38.

There ya go, never assume a used bike is what it should be.

Wonder what the front sprocket is?

Doesn't matter I guess, I'm just going to order the stock 17/40 combo.

[CutterBill]

According to the Factory Service Manual (for USA bikes):

Sprocket Gearing:
17/42 = 2.47  stock (84-85 1100)
17/41 = 2.41  stock (86-88 1200)
17/40 = 2.35  stock (89-95 1200)

My Owner's Manuals for my '85 and '93 bikes agree.
Bill

[aviationfred]

My recommendation for a chain is the EK530 ZVX3. It supersedes the EKZZZ chain. Many members here have reported that with proper maintenance and lubrication, that 20,000 miles of use is common.


Fred

[Capn Ron]

My recommendation for a chain is the EK530 ZVX3. It supersedes the EKZZZ chain. Many members here have reported that with proper maintenance and lubrication, that 20,000 miles of use is common.


Fred

I'm with Fred on this one.  Ran the EKZZZ chain for 30,000 miles with proper attention to maintenance.  Have now installed the ZVX3 chains on both '92 FJ's.  Good stuff!

[andyoutandabout]

Always an easy choice for me:

D.I.D.

[Bones]

According to the Factory Service Manual (for USA bikes):

Sprocket Gearing:
17/42 = 2.47  stock (84-85 1100)
17/41 = 2.41  stock (86-88 1200)
17/40 = 2.35  stock (89-95 1200)

My Owner's Manuals for my '85 and '93 bikes agree.
Bill

Standard gearing for the European spec 3xw's that Australia receives is 17-39. Just thought I'd mention it.

[great white]

I went with the JT sprockets and the RK 530 GXW Premium XW-Ring Chain.