Product overview
The Tsubaki Road Chain 520 RQ1 with 118 links is a high-performance sealed drive chain developed for modern road motorcycles with high power combines low-friction X-ring sealing, pre-stretched construction and gold-finished outer plates to deliver durable, efficient power transmission for sporty street and track use.
Key features and benefits
- High-performance RQ1 road series – engineered for powerful motorcycles with more than 150 hp, where strength, rigidity and reliability are critical.
- Low-friction X-ring sealing – reduces internal friction and wear while keeping lubricant inside the chain, extending service life between adjustments.
- Pre-stretched construction – minimizes initial elongation so the chain settles quickly after installation and requires fewer early adjustments.
- Gold-plated outer plates – corrosion-resistant finish that maintains an attractive appearance and makes wear inspection easier.
- Precision manufacturing – high-quality steel components and accurate tolerances for smooth engagement with sprockets and stable power delivery.
- 118-link length – suitable for many OEM gearing configurations using 520 pitch chains; length can be adjusted by removing or adding links where appropriate.
Technical specifications
| Brand | Tsubaki |
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| Series | Road RQ1 |
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| Chain type | Sealed X-ring motorcycle drive chain |
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| Pitch size | 520 (5/8 × 1/4) |
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| Number of links | 118 |
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| Recommended engine output | Designed for high-performance road motorcycles over 150 hp |
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| Outer plate colour | Gold-coloured outer plates with steel inner links |
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| Sealing | Low-friction X-ring |
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| Pre-stretched | Yes, to reduce initial elongation |
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| Included connector | Supplied with a connecting link for installation |
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| Primary application | Road, sport, naked and middleweight adventure motorcycles using 520 pitch chain |
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Typical use cases
This chain suits high-performance road motorcycles where strong acceleration, frequent high-speed riding and sporty use demand a durable and efficient final applications include supersport and middleweight sportbikes, naked bikes, sporty commuters and mid-size adventure models configured with a 520 drive chain.
Motorcycle compatibility (Tsubaki 520 RQ1 series)
The Tsubaki 520 RQ1 chain series is commonly specified as a replacement chain for the following motorcycles, subject to correct chain length and sprocket sizes for each model.
| Brand | Model | Year |
|---|
| Aprilia | RS 660 | 2020-2023 |
| Aprilia | Tuareg 660 | 2022-2023 |
| Aprilia | Tuono 660 | 2021-2023 |
| BMW | F 650 / ST | 1993-2000 |
| BMW | F 650 GS | 2000-2003 |
| BMW | F 650 GS | 2004-2007 |
| BMW | F 650 GS | 2008-2012 |
| BMW | G 310 GS | 2017-2020 |
| BMW | G 310 GS | 2021-2023 |
| BMW | G 310 R | 2017-2019 |
| BMW | G 310 R | 2017-2020 |
| BMW | G 310 R | 2021-2023 |
| BMW | G 450 X | 2009-2011 |
| Ducati | 600 SS | 1994-2000 |
| Ducati | 748 Biposto / SP | 1995-1999 |
| Ducati | 748 R | 2000-2001 |
| Ducati | 750 SS | 1990-1998 |
| Ducati | 750 SS IE Nuda | 1999-2002 |
| Ducati | 800 SS | 2003-2005 |
| Ducati | 900 SS | 1998-2002 |
| Ducati | 900 Super Sport | 1989-1998 |
| Ducati | Hypermotard 950 | 2019-2020 |
| Ducati | Hypermotard 950 | 2019-2023 |
| Ducati | Monster (+) 937 | 2020-2023 |
| Ducati | Monster 600 | 1994-2001 |
| Ducati | Monster 620 I.E. | 2002-2006 |
| Ducati | Monster 695 | 2006-2007 |
| Ducati | Monster 696 | 2008-2009 |
| Ducati | Monster 696 | 2010-2011 |
| Ducati | Monster 750 | 1995-2001 |
| Ducati | Monster 797 | 2017-2019 |
| Ducati | Monster 800 | 2003-2004 |
| Ducati | Monster 821 | 2014-2019 |
| Ducati | Monster 900 | 1993-2001 |
| Ducati | Monster 900 IE | 2000-2001 |
| Ducati | Monster S2R | 2005-2007 |
| Ducati | Multistrada 620 | 2005-2006 |
| Ducati | Panigale 899 | 2013-2015 |
| Ducati | Panigale 959 | 2015-2019 |
| Ducati | Scrambler | 2015-2019 |
| Ducati | Scrambler 1100 | 2018-2020 |
| Ducati | Scrambler 1100 Special | 2018-2020 |
| Ducati | Scrambler 1100 Sport | 2018-2020 |
| Ducati | Scrambler Cafe Racer | 2017-2019 |
| Ducati | Scrambler Desert Sled | 2017-2019 |
| Ducati | Scrambler Sixty2 | 2016-2019 |
| Ducati | Streetfighter V2 | 2022-2023 |
| Honda | CB 300 R | 2018-2022 |
| Honda | CB 500 F | 2013-2015 |
| Honda | CB 500 F | 2016-2018 |
| Honda | CB 500 F | 2019-2020 |
| Honda | CB 500 F | 2019-2021 |
| Honda | CB 500 F | 2022-2023 |
| Honda | CB 500 X | 2013-2015 |
| Honda | CB 500 X | 2016-2018 |
| Honda | CB 500 X | 2019-2021 |
| Honda | CB 500 X | 2022-2023 |
| Honda | CB 650F | 2014-2016 |
| Honda | CB 750 Hornet | 2023-2024 |
| Honda | CB 750 Hornet | 2025-2026 |
| Honda | CBR 300 R | 2021-2022 |
| Honda | CBR 500R | 2013-2015 |
| Honda | CBR 500R | 2016-2018 |
| Honda | CBR 500R | 2019-2020 |
| Honda | CBR 500R | 2019-2021 |
| Honda | CBR 500R | 2022-2023 |
| Honda | CRF 300 L | 2021-2023 |
| Honda | NC 700 X | 2012-2015 |
| Honda | NC 750 X | 2013-2015 |
| Honda | NC 750 X | 2016-2020 |
| Honda | NC 750 X | 2021-2022 |
| Honda | VFR 800F | 2014-2018 |
| Kawasaki | ER-5 | 1996-2000 |
| Kawasaki | ER-5 | 2001-2008 |
| Kawasaki | ER-6F | 2006-2008 |
| Kawasaki | ER-6F | 2009-2011 |
| Kawasaki | ER-6F | 2012-2016 |
| Kawasaki | ER-6N | 2005-2008 |
| Kawasaki | ER-6N | 2009-2011 |
| Kawasaki | ER-6N | 2012-2016 |
| Kawasaki | KLE 650 Versys | 2006-2014 |
| Kawasaki | KLE 650 Versys | 2015-2020 |
| Kawasaki | KLE 650 Versys | 2022-2023 |
| Kawasaki | Ninja 650 | 2017-2019 |
| Kawasaki | Ninja 650 | 2020-2023 |
| Kawasaki | Versys X-300 | 2017-2021 |
| Kawasaki | Z 400 | 2019-2020 |
| Kawasaki | Z 650 | 2017-2019 |
| Kawasaki | Z 650 | 2020-2023 |
| Kawasaki | Z 650 RS | 2022-2023 |
| Kawasaki | Z 750 | 2004-2006 |
| Kawasaki | Z 750 | 2007-2009 |
| Kawasaki | Z 750 | 2010-2012 |
| Kawasaki | Z 750 S | 2005-2006 |
| Kawasaki | Z 800 | 2013-2016 |
| Kawasaki | Zephyr 550 | 1991-1992 |
| Kawasaki | Zephyr 550 | 1994-1999 |
| Kawasaki | ZX-6R | 2003-2004 |
| Kawasaki | ZX-6R | 2005-2006 |
| Kawasaki | ZX-6R | 2007-2007 |
| Kawasaki | ZX-6R | 2007-2008 |
| Kawasaki | ZX-6R | 2009-2012 |
| Kawasaki | ZX-6R | 2013-2016 |
| Kawasaki | ZX-6R | 2019-2020 |
| Kawasaki | ZX-6RR | 2003-2003 |
| Kawasaki | ZX-6RR | 2004-2004 |
| Kawasaki | ZX-6RR | 2005-2006 |
| Suzuki | DR 600 S | 1986-1989 |
| Suzuki | DR 750 S Big | 1988-1990 |
| Suzuki | GS 500 E | 1989-1995 |
| Suzuki | GS 500 E | 1996-2000 |
| Suzuki | GS 500 E | 2001-2008 |
| Suzuki | GS 500 F | 2004-2008 |
| Suzuki | SFV 650 Gladius | 2009-2015 |
| Triumph | Tiger 660 Sport | 2022-2023 |
| Triumph | Trident 660 | 2021-2023 |
| Triumph | TT 600 | 2000-2002 |
| Yamaha | FZR 400 | 1992-1995 |
| Yamaha | MT-03 | 2006-2012 |
| Yamaha | MT-03 | 2016-2019 |
| Yamaha | MT-03 | 2020-2022 |
| Yamaha | MT-03 | 2022-2024 |
| Yamaha | RD 350 LC YPVS | 1985-1986 |
| Yamaha | TT 600 | 1983-1985 |
| Yamaha | TT 600 | 1994-1995 |
| Yamaha | TT 600 E | 1996-2008 |
| Yamaha | XJ 600 Diversion | 1991-2003 |
| Yamaha | XJ6 | 2009-2013 |
| Yamaha | XJ6 Diversion | 2009-2013 |
| Yamaha | YZF-R3 | 2015-2018 |
| Yamaha | YZF-R3 | 2019-2021 |
