[InfiniteReality]

I know some swear by these people, but with my first dealing with them I know I'll never use them again.

When I did my Bandit 1200 rims conversion for a 180 tire I was recommended to called upon them to get a sprocket. I asked if they carried a Bandit 1200 steel 520 sprocket. They told me yes and I ordered & paid for it.
I recieved it, put the entire rear back together and went to go put the chain on only to find out that it's not a 520 sprocket. How aggrivating is that?!?! Not only do I have to pull it all apart, break red loc-tite, but the worst part is I will have ANOTHER week with no riding during the perfect time of the year!! I called them back, told me now that they don't carry a steel 520 sprocket, but they can make me a 520 aluminum one. I asked how long, they said 4 weeks!!! Not to mention the lady blamed the misinformation on another lady! I told them I just wanted a refund and I'll just order an already made Vortex from else where.
Now I'm ready to send it back, I called them Friday. The lady said that I had to use a certain form to send it back and they could either fax or mail it to me. Since I don't own a fax machine, I told them to mail it. Dawned on me today to use my office's fax machine, so I called this morning to get it faxed over and the lady now tells me I don't need it. All I need is to include a copy of the invoice in the package when I return it. Which one should I do??

How many times will I get different answers!??! I hope to hell they get it and I finally get my refund! I know I'll have to keep up on my refund or I'm likely to never get it!

Just needed to vent all this... Anyone else had problems with them?

 

[AvidSV650Rider]

You made no mention of quality of SS products in your post. I'll help you out on that.

I had two sets of "Titan Tough" Coated aluminum sprockets. I might as well have put cheese on instead. The sprockets were poorly machined from not so great quality aluminium. Each set lasted less than 10,000 (properly maintained) miles. And I did have to wait almost 5 weeks to get my first set. The second set came in a still-no-so-prompt two weeks.

I'll never buy from them again. I bought a set of Renthal Chain wheels and I'm extremely pleased with the quality. While they are aluminium, they've outlasted the sprocket specialists sprockets already without showing signs of wear.

 

[tonyjuliano]

10K miles out of a aluminum sprocket? That's almost unheard of, you've got nothing to complain about there as far as I'm concerned.

No one I know of (and Ive looked hard) makes a steel 520 sprocket. And if you think the SS alum sprocket wears bad, wait till you try the Vortex (talk about cheese).

 

[Nudist]

I am going to try Driven USA sprockets.... we'll see how that goes....

 

[AvidSV650Rider]

10K miles out of a aluminum sprocket?  That's almost unheard of, you've got nothing to complain about there as far as I'm concerned.

I should clarify, first set I got about 9k out. The second set was around 6k. The current set of aluminum sprockets I have from Renthal are looking great at 11k.

 

[NorCal Newbie]

I should clarify, first set I got about 9k out.  The second set was around 6k.  The current set of aluminum sprockets I have from Renthal are looking great at 11k.

Is the Renthal sprocket a 520 or 525? Where did you buy it?

Thanks!
Neil

 

[RandyO]

I know some swear by these people, but with my first dealing with them I know I'll never use them again.

When I did my Bandit 1200 rims conversion for a 180 tire I was recommended to called upon them to get a sprocket.  I asked if they carried a Bandit 1200 steel 520 sprocket.  They told me yes and I ordered & paid for it.  
I recieved it, put the entire rear back together and went to go put the chain on only to find out that it's not a 520 sprocket.  How aggrivating is that?!?!  Not only do I have to pull it all apart, break red loc-tite, but the worst part is I will have ANOTHER week with no riding during the perfect time of the year!!  I called them back, told me now that they don't carry a steel 520 sprocket, but they can make me a 520 aluminum one.  I asked how long, they said 4 weeks!!!  Not to mention the lady blamed the misinformation on another lady!  I told them I just wanted a refund and I'll just order an already made Vortex from else where.  
Now I'm ready to send it back, I called them Friday.  The lady said that I had to use a certain form to send it back and they could either fax or mail it to me.  Since I don't own a fax machine, I told them to mail it.   Dawned on me today to use my office's fax machine, so I called this morning to get it faxed over and the lady now tells me I don't need it.  All I need is to include a copy of the invoice in the package when I return it.  Which one should I do??

How many times will I get different answers!??!  I hope to hell they get it and I finally get my refund!  I know I'll have to keep up on my refund or I'm likely to never get it!  

Just needed to vent all this...  Anyone else had problems with them?

your creating your own problems, if you want to go to 520, you need to get BOTH sprockets and a new 520 chain or get what comes on a bandit, is it a 530 or 525?

 

[evilbologna]

I am going to try Driven USA sprockets.... we'll see how that goes....

I used them. Good looking, lasted OK for aluminum sprocket. Looked about 50% worn at 6k, so it should be good for 10k or so.

 

[AvidSV650Rider]

Is the Renthal sprocket a 520 or 525? Where did you buy it?

Thanks!
Neil

I'm currently running a 525 setup (15/44). It's a DID Gold somethin' chain with Renthal alumnium rear and steel front. Bought them from KneeDraggers (an online store that I am EXTREMELY pleased with.

 

[wacky_woodchuck]

You made no mention of quality of SS products in your post.  I'll help you out on that.

I had two sets of "Titan Tough" Coated aluminum sprockets.  I might as well have put cheese on instead.  The sprockets were poorly machined from not so great quality aluminium.  Each set lasted less than 10,000 (properly maintained) miles.  And I did have to wait almost 5 weeks to get my first set.   The second set came in a still-no-so-prompt two weeks. 

I'll never buy from them again.  I bought a set of Renthal Chain wheels and I'm extremely pleased with the quality.  While they are aluminium, they've outlasted the sprocket specialists sprockets already without showing signs of wear.

I agree... 6k out of a rear titan tough (520) and 7k out of a rear regular aluminum. Crap I tell yeah. Great for the racer crowd, but not for the street crowd. Renthal or AFAM are the only sprockets I will buy from now on.

 

[NorCal Newbie]

I'm currently running a 525 setup (15/44).  It's a DID Gold somethin' chain with Renthal alumnium rear and steel front.  Bought them from KneeDraggers (an online store that I am EXTREMELY pleased with.

Awesome, thanks for the tip!

Sorry for the thread-hijack Infinite!

 

[Northwind]

I just took my Renthal 45 tooth hard-anodised rear through it's 12,000th mile and it's got life to go... Though it will wear faster as time goes on I think, since the hardened surface probably only goes so far. I'll likely never find out how long it'll last, got a B12 wheel in the garage

Supersprox don't make a stealth 520 for the Bandit/GSXR1100 yet- at least not in usable sizes, I think the biggest is 38. But apparently it's on the development list. Someone on Oldschoolsuzuki told me that GS500Es use the same sprocket spacing but with a 520.

Ally sprockets are pretty vulnerable to tearing up if the chain's not well maintained... Not saying that's what happened here of course, but it's something to bear in mind. I run a Scottoiler and look after the chain better than most, so the chain's going to last s well as any will... But a chain that's even slightly stiff can damage them stupidly fast, even a good quality one.

 

[vtwinheaven]

Damn Avid, you must have been terribly bored. I was reading the first post and thought I remembered his story. Thread revival at it's finest

530 is stock on the Bandit.

 

[AvidSV650Rider]

Damn Avid, you must have been terribly bored.  I was reading the first post and thought I remembered his story.  Thread revival at it's finest

530 is stock on the Bandit.

Hmm, I didn't notice the date. Topic was towards the top of the first page when I was viewing it.

 

[mstingray]

okay, why would you use red loctite?

i've been happy w/ AFAM so far. they also make hard anodized sprockets.

but FWIW, i've never had problems w/ sprocket specialists either.

 

[AndrewF]

can one order or find 520 rear sprockets made of something more wear resistant than aluminum... such as stainless or titainum.... just curious.

 

[mstingray]

i believe stealth sprockets makes a 520 sprocket that has an aluminum carrier and steel teeth. apparenlty best of both worlds but i've never used em. sounds like what you're looking for tho'

 

[Morpheous]

Why would you run a 520 setup on a 1200? Thats a bad proposition for longevity no matter what you buy.... :dontknow:

 

[lkm]

after using aluminum :BangHead: I'll stick to stock steel. It's not worth the money for the bling.

 

[DingerJunkie]

can one order or find 520 rear sprockets made of something more wear resistant than aluminum... such as stainless or titainum.... just curious.

Contact Sidewinder. They have great stainless sprockets in 520, as well as their "tri-metal," which is aluminum center, titanium conection point, and stainless outer...I think.

They will custom-fab quickly for street applications if needed, and I've never had a failure of one of their products in the dirt...much harsher on drive components.