StromTrooper banner

What think you of this 525RTG1 SunStar transmission kit (chain/sprockets) for $334?

2K views 17 replies 13 participants last post by  greywolf 
#1 ·
Hi folks:

I finally made it to Ushuaia, Argentina! End of the road... and now time to head home.

I'm evaluating this kit (sprockets, chain) for purchase in Chile. It's not exactly a steal for $332.00, but then again, I'm not sure if I'm going to do much better anywhere in Argentina. Plus my chain it's on its last legs: My chain has 36,000km on it now and is deformed as one part is tighter than the other... and I'm on my last adjustment mark on the swing-arm.

I hope that this is a decent kit as I spent 4 hours today calling every large-ish motorcycle shop I could find today.



Many thanks in advance! And thank you to everyone who was patient enough to answer my noob-ass questions as I turned this trip from a dream into reality. Thank you Stromtrooper!
================================================== ==========
Here's what I posted on Facebook and I thought I'd share it here as well since I don't have a ride report and this forum has been so helpful to me in making the journey happen and arriving here safely.

"Finally made it to Ushuaia, Argentina from Seattle Washington, USA today, March 18th, 2013. 576 days since I started, 1 year, 6 months, 26 days. I've visited 14 countries (all of Central America plus Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile & Argentina).

In terms of the bike: I drove about 26,500 miles which included 2 front tires, 4 rear tires. 6 oil changes. Fell off the bike about 30 times. Luggage rack broke and re-welded 5 times. The transmission died on an off-road road in Mexico and trucked to La Paz where it was replaced. Battery died and replaced in Bolivia.

All my electronics broke in one way or another (Kindle screen, laptop hard drive, GPS buttons, cell phone screen, camera died, Chinese GoPro video cameras died).

This has been the trip of a lifetime. I am so lucky to have had this opportunity to see so much of the world on a motorcycle. I'm I've met amazing people.

I've eaten amazing food (tacos, asados, estufados, cochanita pibil in Mexixo).

And I've pushed myself to do new things I've never done (climbing Cotapaxi in Ecuador at 5890 meters, 11 days in the Bolivian jungle, 8 days trekking in the mountains of Peru on the Huayhuash trek), and serving as a deckhand on a sailing vessel through all the locks of the Panama Canal.

Now I'll be headed home on Rosie the V-Strom, but first there's there's Torres del Paine, Buenos Aires, Uruguay, Brazil and Venezuela). Here's to the adventures ahead!"

 
See less See more
2
#2 ·
If that sprocket is Aluminum, it won't last very long.

One idea would be to pick a destination and have a chain and sprockets shipped there. Not sure how long that would take to arrive, but may be a more permanent solution.

SVRacingParts.com

Looks like a pretty exciting trip. Have fun and ride safe.

A 530 chain and sprockets may give you more mileage too.
 
#6 ·
Excellent chain. US$230 list price.
"For a top of the line, premium level roadracing chain, Sunstar offers the RTG1 series. This Works level chain features our TripleGuard sealed ring technology where there are 3 sealing lips and lubrication pools per side of the ring which is recommended for high heat, extreme conditions as the TripleGuard ring type is the best for lubrication and protection."

Sunstar makes very good sprockets. The OEM Suzuki rear sprocket is a Sunstar. Be sure the rear sprocket is dished as the original sprocket is, and that it is steel, not aluminum. Could you travel another leg of your trip if necessary on your old rear sprocket to find the right rear sprocket? An aluminum sprocket will work, but might not live for the ride all the way home.
 
#7 ·
Hi, Love the photos and great ride, I am sure many of us would like to be there with you riding,

I have your Email and I am replying to it directly for you, That is best,

I have shipped Express all over South America for a lot of Adventure Tourers with my parts like Mike Kneebone and many others with groups like the Iron Butt Association so I can help you out as I have many others in need on Adventure touring trips,

Email me Directly at b.layton@svracingparts.com and I am all over getting you looked after right away,

Enjoy the ride, and best regards,
Blair
 
#8 ·
caveat emptor

I doubt that rear sprocket is really a Sunstar.

None of Sunstar's sprocket look like that:
Sunstar Downloads

The Sunstar part number for a V-Strom is 2-449947. Sunstar doesn't have any part numbers starting with 1 (see the label on the package in your picture).
http://www.sunstar-mc.com/pdfs/Part-Number-Description.pdf

I looked at the cross-references on Sunstar's site and didn't find anything that matches the p/n in your picture.
SunStar - Technical Information

The sprocket in your picture may be okay, but I suspect it's brand-x, not Sunstar. I did a Google images search on "rear sprocket" and didn't see any that look like the one in your picture. There are hundreds, so I could have missed a matching picture.

The part number of the front sprocket agrees with Sunstar's references, so it's more likely the real thing.

I didn't research the chain.
 
#11 ·
The sprocket is shown right on their European site, and they are in fact steel. A quick crosscheck on the part number revealed that.
I'm pretty sure I searched on "sunstar sprocket" and on the part number in the picture. I got lots of hits returning "2-449947". So I tried searching on 1-449947 and lots of variations but didn't come up with anything matching the part number in the picture. Not sure how that happened. I know that Google can be flaky; I also know that I'm fallible.

In any case, I'm glad that you were able to verify that the sprocket is a Sunstar steel spocket.
 
#12 ·
Any thoughts on whether to get a 15/14 tooth front sprocket? From here on out I'm planning mostly highway miles, so I wouldn't see a need to get something is more off road oriented?

Also would you think it better to get a 530 chain instead of a 525 chain?

Thanks!
 
#13 ·
On a Vee the 530 is great, you should get good life from a 525 on the Wee.
If you're running on the highway, mostly, I'd put the larger front sprocket on.

The 530 won't hurt a thing on your Wee and may last a really long time. Perhaps you can find a better deal on the 530 than the 525.

My recommendation is to NOT put an aluminum sprocket on, regardless of chain size, and don't let anyone bullshit you about "it's aluminum but it's got a really hard coating" it's still aluminum underneath and well...
 
#14 ·
Having botched my first attempt to contribute to this thread, I'm reluctant to jump back in, but what the heck...

I wouldn't assume that a 530 chain can be used safely with 525 sprockets, even though the pitch is the same. The rollers are different widths. Seems like a bad idea.

Here's an opinion that carries more weight than anything I might say:
http://www.stromtrooper.com/855054-post2.html
 
#15 ·
If you choose to use a 530 chain you must also purchase and use 530 sprockets.
 
#17 ·
If I want to switch between a 15 and 14 (or a 14 to 15 ) tooth sprocket, will I need to cut the chain at all, or can I just swap it and that's it?

Thanks!
 
#18 ·
If I want to switch between a 15 and 14 (or a 14 to 15 ) tooth sprocket, will I need to cut the chain at all, or can I just swap it and that's it?
No cutting required.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top