Replacing a chain and sprockets that were used almost to the limit on the V-Strom 250 with the much-hyped Sunstar chain!

The GW of 2021 is still under the declaration of the state of emergency, and it is the beginning of May that I think about maintenance. I would like to maintain the chain of V-Strom 250, which has already run 30,000km. Well, I changed the chain at about 15,000km, but the sprocket....
If you take a look at it, you will see that it is in a state of shuriken that surprises even Kyary. I have to replace this as soon as possible. Huh? Was it a black chain?

First of all, the time of replacement

There are many criteria for determining when to replace a chain, but to put it simply

The limit line is to think it's time to replace it when you feel a bad looking part such as It's best to schedule a replacement when you notice it, such as when you adjust the chain tension with an adjuster or when you're doing maintenance with a lubricator.

And about the sprockets.

We recommend that you replace it before this happens.

In either case, the car will last longer depending on the maintenance, so it's best to change the mileage as a guide and replace the parts according to their condition.

Stains like black chain, big shuriken and small shuriken. Get a replacement before this happens.

How to choose a sprocket

First of all, the sprockets, the drive (the smaller one at the front) and the driven (the larger one at the rear), if you assume that you will not change the number of teeth, you will want to check the car or look in the service manual or parts list to find out the stock number of teeth.
However, I'm sure it's been written about on many motorcycle websites, including ours Webic, so it might be a good idea to take a look at those.

In the V-Strom 250, the drive is 14T and the drive is 47T as standard, so I decided to keep the stock tooth number because acceleration and other things are troublesome.
And check the chain size and number of links as well: for the V-Strom 250, the chain size is 520 and the number of links is 116.

The sprocket of the drive side is good if it chooses the one that fits a car model, but for the driven side, the color, the material, and the shape (the hole to be cut out) become the point of concern though the fitment of a car model is natural. This is the world of preference, so you can worry about it as much as you want.
I don't want to be troubled.No. 1 global market share.The Sunstar duralumin 47T in 1 is a safe choice and goes into the cart.

How to choose a chain

You can also search for chains using keywords such as car name + chain and you'll quickly find the size and links, but it's hard to choose which chain you want. (Some people have fun)

Sealed chain or non sealed? You can choose this according to the stock, but then choose the grade. Depending on the grade, there will be differences in durability, weight and price. However, the higher the grade, the more expensive the chain size (width) will be. And now, the color of the chain itself. You can choose silver, gold or black. The other thing to consider is the type of joint that connects the chain. There are clip type, caulking type, and screw type.(BOTH GRUNTING)

Also, where to buy? It is also important to know. Because the chain is basically a general-purpose product, the number of links may be sold roughly divided. The chain I'm going to use this time has 116 links, but some motorcycle supply stores sell it with 120 links, so in that case you'll need to cut off 4 links to make it shorter. You will also need that tool, so you will have to check things out before you go out and buy it.(really annoying)

This is an important addition, but please keep in mind that Webike allows you to buy chains in increments of 2 links, so you can buy 116 links of chain without any problems.

With Sunstar, all I had to do was pick a car model and color.

Now, if you're wondering which chain to use...Sunstar offers a 3-piece set that allows you to simply choose the color of your chain: standard, silver, or gold.I had the I deleted the sprocket in my cart and selected the silver one without any trouble. I also put the gold on my favorites list for next time. Time saving is great. And it's kind of cheap. 21,450 yen for a set of chain and front and rear sprockets (May 2021).

If you buy it as a set, it costs 21,450 yen, which is a savings of 4,396 yen. If you have 4,000 yen, you can buy a pineapple slicer, which is a synonym for something you don't need but want, and have enough change.

What else you should buy.

This time, buy 5 washer engine sprocket (stock part number: 27513-48H00) 110 yen and absorber rear hub shock * hub damper (stock part number: 64651-20K00) 561 yen per piece, which was not replaced last time.
These are consumables, so don't forget to replace them when you replace the sprockets. If you think it's safe to change the bearings as well, do so while you're at it.

Here's another important addendum: Webike allows you to browse parts lists and quote and buy genuine parts 24/7. It's convenient.

Come on, let's change the sprocket and chain.

Once the 3-piece set and genuine parts arrive, it's time to replace them.
Open it, take it apart, cut it, caulk it.
In our company, if you leave the vehicle and the parts, the fairy will work on it, so you can be assured of many things.

So beautiful and light.

The black chain and sharp sprockets are now so clean.
The push and pull of the vehicle has also been amazingly light. With such a change, I would expect to see an improvement in fuel economy.

When I actually drove it, the poor gear entry that I was concerned about was better and the sound was naturally quieter. The biggest change I felt was when I started running.
It's not so easy to transfer the power to the car.
To be honest, it's a lot easier to buy oil when the sprocket manufacturer makes the chain and sells it as a set, than when you have to worry about buying oil by looking at reviews and rankings.
With a new, soggy chain and sprocket, you'll come home feeling good and the chain feeling good.

As a result of using it for commuting about 100km

This time, I bought a chain and sprocket made by Sunstar. The chain is a sprocket and the world No..The chain is made by a manufacturer that has the largest market share in the world, but what is the difference from other manufacturers' chains? When it is said, because the chain and the sprocket near the limit are exchanged, the difference with the other maker is not felt especially even if it runs 100km though various conditions are getting better.
But for me, I don't know how to choose a product, including the grade, I just need to choose the color of the chain because it is a Sunstar chain and it fits my car model. This is a big advantage. And even if the grade is taken into account, it is much cheaper than buying them separately. However, it would have been better if there was a set to raise the drive sprocket (front side) by 1T, as it is standard for Suzuki small displacement bikes.
The change that I felt when I actually used it for commuting is that the cali cali sound of pushing and pulling is reduced and it becomes a little easier, and the fuel consumption is 30km after a long time./I'm back on the road. The other thing is that the start of the run has become pleasant, but there is no oil splash of the chain, and unnecessary stretching is not felt, so it is indeed a chain of the later stage. It's a good chain, but it's a bit expensive.

The Sunstar chain used in this post is on sale right now for +10% points!

The Sunstar chain I used in this post is up for grabs right now for 10% off points!
If you're looking to change your chain for summer touring, Sunstar is the way to go!

Products featured in this issue

Sunstar｜Chain & Sprocket 3-piece set

All you have to do is choose a model and color!
Cheaper than buying a single item *As of May 2021
●Chain and sprocket are well-matched

Buy Chain & Sprocket 3-Piece Set