Tank Slap - Motorcycle Forum

So seeing as I've started finding stuff to buy for the Zed, and as the chain has been looking pretty awful for the last 3000 miles, it's looking like that'll be my next purchase.

But surprise surprise, I can't make up my mind.

Do I go for a black chain and black sprockets to go with the black (and a bit of green) bike?


Or do I opt for the gold chain and sprockets to coordinate with a similar coloured radiator guard I may have ordered at the weekend?


Or should I mix and match?


I'm leaning towards gold for both, but I'm not sure if that will look weird next to my wheels
(They're this colour)



Any opinions would be appreciated, I know we all love spending a slapper's money!

Mix and match

Gold chain on black renthal sprocket looks awesome

Go for a decent brand then work from that point. I like Afam and get good mileage from them.

can not beat the classic look gold renthal sprocket and a decent gold chain

I'm no good at making decsions too haha!! I like the mixed version in my opinion

What about a black anodised renthal sprocket with a Afam green chain. Now that would be well trick on the big zed

Damn it Blade, you're supposed to be making things easier!



As a side note, I got an email today to say that the gold radiator guard I ordered at the weekend has been discontinued and shouldn't have been on the website. So I'm not getting a gold one.

Not sure if that changes things or not.

Itchy wrote:Damn it Blade, you're supposed to be making things easier!



As a side note, I got an email today to say that the gold radiator guard I ordered at the weekend has been discontinued and shouldn't have been on the website. So I'm not getting a gold one.

Not sure if that changes things or not.

I have made it easier itchy mate just get the green with black sprockets

That was a good find Blade. I'm thinking of gearing down mine too, I was short shifting into 6th down the straight and still hitting 170 mph + well before redline, plus it was a bit low in the rev's thru all the 3rd gear section of the track. Just waiting to get home to see what gearing is on it at the moment and see what other ZX10 guys in sydney run (plenty on the Oz Kawasaki forum, incl. a handful of A graders), but I reckon it needs to come down a bit.

What do you reckon about dropping down to a 520 setup on the 10?

Common misconception that a 520 chain saves a big chunk of weight. Its saves next to nothing if you look at the difference in chain weight per metre. Where the weight saving comes from is the alloy sprockets.
And not sure about the gen3 but the gen4 only has a 525 chain as stock which is quite unusual as most powerful road bikes are 530 as stock.

Personally speaking unless you like wasting money and changing chains I would stay with OEM spec abd size of chain and buy alloy sprockets to suit the gearing you want.

A big improvement on the gen4 is -1 on the front and +1 on the rear keeps the same chain length and wheelbase too obviously. Take this into consideration if say planning on going just +3 of +4 on the rear as in theory you would need a chain 3 or 4 links longer otherwise your shortening the wheelbase which will effect stability. As with anything on a motorcycle its always a compromise and every thing effects everything else.

1 down 1 up seems to be the common choice, and good highlighting the other issues, stuff I hadn't considered.

blades got all bases covered ,1 down and 1 up at the rear feels perfect on the gen 4 ten

I think the green chain looks bloody awful. Gold, silver or black for me.

Gald to help kiwi. Just bought pb may and there is a buying guide for the gen3. If they mention gearing when I read it I'll let you know the details.

Haven't I got a gen 2? 2006

I'm going to gear it to suit Eastern Creek as that's the only place I ride it.

Oh yeah, sorry didn't realise. There is a paragraph on gen3 gearing though. I could take a photo of it and post it if you want kiwi ?

Wouldn't hurt. I'm going to check out what gearing is on it today and then I'll know my base.

My bad kiwi, its a gen2 buying guide.

Here's the comments on gearing.

Yep that's my model, cool, cheers mate. Is that the May or June issue? I'll download it, looks to be some good gen on there. I usually do get PB but I haven't for a few months. It's just not the same reading it digital.