The awesome of 16-43
 

Just went to 16/43 on my bike. It rocks. Front end comes up very easy in first and clutches up nicely in second. The biggest improvement is how much harder it pulls on the freeway in 5th and 6th gear. Thats all I have to say.

wicked, how much higher is it revving at highway speeds now?

Not much diferent. 5000 on the tach is about an indicated 80 mph. 5500 is about an idicated 90 mph. Which is really more like 72 mph to 81 mph. It pulls very nicely and my fuel millage does not look like it has been affected to bad.

right on, i may have to drop a tooth in the front on mine over the winter. i think between that my k&n full bafflectomy and the jet kit thatarrived today i should be pretty damn happy :D

15/43 is even better!

4.88%

Just went to a 16-43 set up myself.
Change is quite noticable.
Scared myself at a few red lights on my commute last week ;-)

:iagree::wheelie:

I would love to do 15/43 but I do to much freeway comuting.

i know i went -2 +1 on my race quad and the difference was huge. although it felt like my 5th topped out where my 4th used to

i do 60mi a day, 52 of that is all highway. i have no problems. I cruise at 5000-5500. a little weird at first but after a while you get used to it. i get about 35mpg which is not bad for a hawk.

About how fast are you going at 5000-5500 with the 15/43 gearing set up?

I had 15/43 and now have 16/43... Prefer the 16/43...

I ride interstate, and lots of back roads, so it doesn't kill the mpg as bad at same speed, but it throws the front end up way better than stock...

When i got my tires swapped out, i went back to stock rear sprocket for about 3-4 day's... then decided i didn't notice enough difference in rpm to not have the better performance....

after doing some non mathematical math.. i reached the conclusion that i was only seeing about a 200-300rmp change in that gear swap...

im a big guy and ive got a hard enough time keeping the front end down with stock gearing. if i roll into it in first she comes up, if i snap it in first well she comes up but much much harder, lol. ill be doing a gear swap anyway just gotta hold on and enjoy the ride i guess. lol

So that would be what? Algicalculnometry?

works for me...

I have 16/43 set up. Like a dirtbike, I feel it is better to enlarge the rear sprocket for gearing rather than go smaller on the front. My reason is this; drag. The smaller diameter of the 15 tooth sprocket will cause more drag on the chain slider on the swingarm. Now how much drag and or power reduction is caused by this on the SH I do not know. So I opted to not to go that route and added two teeth to the rear sprocket instead.

+1, some folks say 15/43 is best, but if you run down the interstate during your commute/rides you'll get too much buzz, so I run the 16/43 is a nice inbetwix compromise. That's what I run and I suggest that the rest of you come on over to the dark side:evillaugh:

15/42 (-1/+1) is a good middle-ground. In terms of ratio, it's equivalent to going up 3.8 teeth on the rear sprocket, as opposed to 15/43, which is equivalent to going up 4.87 teeth on the rear. Dropping 1 on the front by itself is actually more of a hit than going up 2 on the rear. Thus, in order from tallest to shortest, here's the combinations that I understand will work with the stock chain:

Front/Rear (Equivalent teeth up on rear)
17/41 (-2.41)
16/41 (+0) -Stock
16/42 (+1)
16/43 (+2)
15/41 (+2.73)
15/42 (+3.8)
15/43 (+4.87)

Not sure, but I don't think there's enough adjuster slack to allow 16/44 (+0/+3) with the stock chain, but someone who's tried may be able to confirm or deny.

I'm using 16/43 and I think that is about the limit for the stock chain. Somewhere here is a spreadsheet that gives the numerical calculations and the MPH at various RPMs for different tooth set ups.
I recall that for 16/43 in 6th within a tenth or so 3000rpm=50mph, 4500=75mph, 6000=100mph. I don't run a speedohealer, but with numbers this easy I just use my tach and convert in my head

well considering there is only a 200-300rpm difference... its easy to have an idea how fast your going... drop 300rpm, and that should give you a idea

get a speedo healer and FORGETABOUTIT:)

78-84mph standard 530 chain 15/43 gears, rejet and micron exh

after loosing to that vetrte the other day im gonna regear with a 15/42 setup. question is what sprockets do i buy? am i safe with an ebay sprocket combo? ive got one on my race quad and its holding up great, id like something thats gonna last but that wont break the bank. what do you guys suggest?

also any word on this place?
http://www.sprocketcenter.com/c/1618...00f-97-06.html

sorry to thread jack not my intention :) your swap just has me excited for a new level of power :)

Any decent quality steel sprocket is just fine... If you go for an aluminium one, buy expensive and be prepared to do so often... A big twin eats aluminium sprockets as snacks...

Nope it won't work. You can run a 16/43 with a stock chain but any larger on the rear and you will have to add a link.

alright thanks, ill stick to steel then :)

Hey, just a warning. My buddy got one of the cheapish ebay chain and sprocket sets and his VFR ate them right up. They were a piece of junk; especially the chain. However, I didn't see who he bought them from or how they were even advertised. So, Caveat Emptor.