Ok, so I'm going with Rickey Gadson's theory that a 40 tooth rear makes it easier to launch a stock wheelbase 14R at the strip. Can I get away with a stock length chain, or is it too long? Can I cut down a stock chain and add a master link? The stock chain looks weird to me, not sure it will take an after market master link. Any advice appreciated. Thanks in advance.

That's only one tooth down on a Gen1 so I think the stock chain would work and give you a little extra wheelbase. Get the 40 T sprocket and try it out. As for removing a link and rejoining the chain, it looks like DID makes 530 master links. Get a quality chain breaking/rivet tool. Stay away from the snap ring master links.

That's a beautiful 08 you have there. Wish I had mine back (in one piece).

Thanks for the reply and the complement, but I traded in my 06 for a 2015 14R, haven't got around to changing my Avatar. 14R has 42 teeth which is why I was wondering if the stock chain would be too long. The stock chain on my new bike doesn't look anything like the chain on my old 06. I guess it's a 530, but it just looks wimpy, smallish links. I'd never use a snap ring master link, I like the EK screw type master links.

* Last updated by: jokacz on 3/26/2022 @ 9:58 PM *

Yes, I've been told the kind that that a nut that threads on each pin, then you torque the nuts and snap them off mushroom the pins perfectly. I guess you could try hacksawing the old chain off if and when when you need to. I only made it halfway through with a hacksaw. I guess a handheld grinder then. A bit brutish but it should work.

For reference, I had a 45T rear sprocket on my 2008. It required a 118 pin chain which is only one link more than a stock length chain on a Gen1. Even if you're going down 2 teeth on the rear with your Gen2, I think your stock length chain will still work. I'd have a look at gearingcommander. I'm sure they have a calculator for gearing and chain length although I'd only use that as a reference as well.

https://www.gearingcommander.com

* Last updated by: Rook on 3/27/2022 @ 8:55 AM *

I put 50,000 miles on my 06 ZX-14 and went through at least 3 chains. If you use an angle grinder on the rivets, just a Harbor Freight chain breaker is all you need to remove the pins. It will even peen a hollow point pin master link. You need a super high dollar breaker to peen a solid rivet the way the factory does. One of my concerns is that if I use the original length chain that it will put me at the extreme end of the adjustment range, if it works at all. I did look at gear commander and the answer was a bit nebulous.

Good luck then. All you can do is try the chain with the sprocket unless someone who has tried it chimes in.