October 15th, 2018, 09:19 AM | #1 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Frank
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[2015 Ninja 300] 415 Chain Conversion Experience?
Anyone done this and can report on it? This is on a track day/race bike i.e. no street use. The stock chain actually doesn't seem to have any "slop" in it but it's time.... Any recommendations or advice appreciated!
Frank |
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October 15th, 2018, 09:49 AM | #2 |
Rev Limiter
Name: Jay
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October 15th, 2018, 09:57 AM | #3 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Frank
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Thanks, that's the one I was looking at although it wouldn't be hard to put together your own kit. Stock gearing works for my local track (top of 5th on longest straightaway). I was just wondering if folks have had any problems with lighter weight components. It's pretty amazing that a bike with 2600+ track/race miles has drive components in this good a shape; I'm 99% sure they've never been changed before.
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October 15th, 2018, 10:18 AM | #4 |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Pat
Location: SW VA
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a 415 will require more maintenance and care. I've had then come apart a few times.
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October 15th, 2018, 11:00 AM | #5 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Frank
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October 15th, 2018, 12:16 PM | #6 |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Pat
Location: SW VA
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don't remember who's chain I was using. It cost us abt 45min during an enduro and I was done with 415 forever.
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October 15th, 2018, 01:00 PM | #7 |
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Yeah, not very durable. I tried 415 couple years ago, lasted less than 1-season on my 250. That's with regular cleaning and oiling after every weekend.
Went with 428 conversion afterwards, lighter and stronger than stock. Lasted 2-seasons so far. Probably 3-seasons total. |
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October 16th, 2018, 09:21 AM | #8 | ||
ninjette.org sage
Name: Timm
Location: West Seneca, NY
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Quote:
Quote:
The best results I've had are with a high quality non o-ring chain in the 520 size. I extensively researched the chain weights and could not find a 428 chain that actually weighed less than the good non o-ring chains. I decided that the conversion to 428 wasn't worth the hassle. There is a very noticeable difference in friction between the o-ring and non o-ring chains. One spin of the back wheel by hand will show that. The non o-ring chains do require more maintenance to get the best out of them though. |
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October 16th, 2018, 09:50 AM | #9 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Frank
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What attracted me to the 415 was potential for rotating weight savings. I didn't even think about 428.
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October 16th, 2018, 10:46 AM | #10 |
ninjette.org sage
Name: Timm
Location: West Seneca, NY
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If you want rotating weight savings, look at the weight of the tires you are using. Since the distance of the tire from the center of rotation is much greater than the distance of the sprockets from their rotation centers, any weight savings in the tires has far more effect that the sprockets and chain. Not that I'm necessarily saying that Moto3 sized tires are the way to go, but I checked the weight difference between Dunlop A-13s and Dunlop Moto 3 sized slicks. Mounted on the correct rim for each size, the weight difference was six pounds lighter for the slicks! Even between different brands of the same size tire there are huge differences.
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October 16th, 2018, 11:52 AM | #11 |
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That's about 10-lbs in weight-savings at outer-edges going with lighter tyres and lighter-weight wheels like the v-Rossis. There's some Marchesinis that are even lighter, but costs 15x more.
I went with 428 due to unpredictable reliability issues with 415. That's nice in-middle solution between 415 vs. 520: 415ER = 1.92-lbs 428NZ = 2.99-lbs 425VM = 3.66-lbs (X-ring) 520V = 3.56-lbs Nice thing about smaller pitch is you can get finer control on gearing-ratios. I use 18x59t or 18x58t which lets me redline just at end of longest straights at Buttonwillow or Thunderhill. Both those gears are "in-between" 520 14x45t (too tall) and 14x46t (too short). |
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October 16th, 2018, 01:21 PM | #12 | |
ninjette.org member
Name: Frank
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Quote:
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October 16th, 2018, 01:32 PM | #13 | |
ninjette.org sage
Name: Timm
Location: West Seneca, NY
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Quote:
You're talking a 115 width rear with the Moto3 sized slicks too, so you'd be going through more tires. And grip will be different too, so proceed with due caution if you're going to try. When I tried them on my bike the grip was good until I really started pushing it and the back end would move a little but nothing really alarming. That was on new tires with a date code from 2007 Fresh moto3 sized tires are likely to be a good deal better for grip! |
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October 16th, 2018, 01:50 PM | #14 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Frank
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My bike has the Alpha 13's on it and they have enough grip for where I am with my riding ability now. They're a couple of years old though and it's getting time to replace them as well. They're 110/70 on the front (stock size IIRC) and 150/60-17 on the rear (up from 140 I think).
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October 16th, 2018, 02:19 PM | #15 |
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Good deals can be found on Q3+ MotoAmerica take-offs... Jr. Cup racers report they're 2-3s faster than Alpha-13s and 1-2s faster than last-year's Alpha-13SP.
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October 16th, 2018, 02:39 PM | #16 |
ninjette.org sage
Name: Timm
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Definitely the best bang for the buck. Only reason I have the A-13's is because I bought 2 sets last year and we didn't need a better tire to be competitive. If I keep my bike I'll need to go with a grippier tire.
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October 26th, 2018, 01:47 PM | #17 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Greg
Location: San Antonio
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I've used the 415 for a couple of years now, and never had a problem with it. The decrease in rolling resistance really is remarkable.
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October 26th, 2018, 01:53 PM | #18 |
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Multiple upgrades involved here. Putting stock-sized 520 non-O-ring chain makes just as much of difference in rolling resistance reduction. Majority of improvements comes from removing O-rings and their drag; less from weight-savings.
As tgold mentioned, weight-savings is minimal, more savings and better effect can be done with lighter tyres and wheels. |
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