SOHC.co.uk Forums > CB500/550
What length chain do you CB500 owners fit: 98 or 100 links?
deltarider:
I may have found confirmation for what I have once read some 45 years ago. It is in this site for chains and sprockets sets: https://www.kettingkits.nl/nl_nl/route
I find most chain sites next to useless, but this is actually a good one. It's in Dutch, but don't let that stop you. It's all about digits, not words.
Select 1. Honda, 2. 550 and 3. CB550. This site suggests what these Honda's originally had; for the CB550 100 links and sprockets 17 and 37. Now this site offers you options to varify the size of sprockets [configureer uw kit] and now comes the interesting bit: if you have the CB550 selected and change the original rear sprocket from 37 into 34, the program reacts automatically by reducing the 100 link chain to a 98 one. Maybe this is a confirmation for what I have read long time ago. Can you guess what it is?
Bryanj:
Our point is that it is easier, and cheaper, to buy a box chain at 110 and cut a bit off, when Reynolds still produced motorcycle chain dealers bought it in 50ft rolls and sold you whatever you wanted, now bean counters say it isnt worth stocking all the different lengths just one the longest needed and shorten it
mickwinf:
deltarider that agrees with what i said, i changed from a 37t to a 34t and had to shorten from 100 links to 98.
deltarider:
Here is the confirmation I was looking for. With a final reduction of exactly 2 (17/34) and a 100 link chain, you run the risk of uneven wear, as always the same link 'lands' in the same spot on the sprocket. Going to 98 links changes that and wear will be spreaded equally. So the CB500 had 98 links and when Honda decided to market the CB550K3-ED as a touring bike and therefore changed the 17/37 into 17/34, Honda consequentely changed the chain to a 98 link one. Does this make sense or am I overlooking something?
K2-K6:
--- Quote from: deltarider on March 14, 2026, 08:20:27 AM ---Here is the confirmation I was looking for. With a final reduction of exactly 2 (17/34) and a 100 link chain, you run the risk of uneven wear, as always the same link 'lands' in the same spot on the sprocket. Going to 98 links changes that and wear will be spreaded equally. So the CB500 had 98 links and when Honda decided to market the CB550K3-ED as a touring bike and therefore changed the 17/37 into 17/34, Honda consequentely changed the chain to a 98 link one. Does this make sense or am I overlooking something?
--- End quote ---
Does that in reality stack up to give the outcome suggested ? I'm not immediately convinced that's the case.
If it were a pair of gears, then the 1/2 ratio could have some impact , possibly.
With a chain of X no links, you'd divide the links by the tooth no, wouldn't you ?
And so, 100/ 17 or 100/34 doesn't divide equally to give a repeated engagement "wear pattern" anyway.
Taking the 100/17 would see the repeated engagement through the two at 5.88 ..... and so would see the chain effectively cycle through all of the links in rotation.
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