Sprocket opinions
01-19-2005, 02:24 AM
#1
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Sprocket opinions
It's time to change my front sprocket and I thought I'd lose a tooth in the process. Since this means aftermarket, who's sprocket have people used and approved of. Google has turned up:
-Sprocket Specialist
-AFAM
Any others? Any preferences? Thx.../Dan S.
BTW, the stock front has 16 teeth right?
-Sprocket Specialist
-AFAM
Any others? Any preferences? Thx.../Dan S.
BTW, the stock front has 16 teeth right?
01-20-2005, 07:50 AM
#3
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Re: Sprocket opinions
Correct , 16T front .
I don't think quailty matters when using a new sprocket on a used chain so I would be inlined to buy at lowest cost . I use Sun Star with new chains . FWIW
The chain will usually last longer if you stay with 16 T front and go up on the rear though .
I would like to know if running a 16 front , 44 rear requires adding a link to a low mile chain w/o alot of stretch .
Anyone been there before ?
I don't think quailty matters when using a new sprocket on a used chain so I would be inlined to buy at lowest cost . I use Sun Star with new chains . FWIW
The chain will usually last longer if you stay with 16 T front and go up on the rear though .
I would like to know if running a 16 front , 44 rear requires adding a link to a low mile chain w/o alot of stretch .
Anyone been there before ?
01-20-2005, 10:39 AM
#4
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Re: Sprocket opinions
I have about 11k miles on my bike, and both sprockets and chain look pretty good. I have been wanting to loose a tooth on the front too, but am sort of waiting to do the whole thing all at once. With the current condition of my chain, I might have to just go ahead and change the front sprocket anyways and again redo it with everything else when the time comes.
BTW, I have heard good things both for AFAM and Sprocket Specialists.
BTW, I have heard good things both for AFAM and Sprocket Specialists.
01-21-2005, 06:00 PM
#5
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Re: Sprocket opinions
I have a 16t and a 43t rear and I love it. My chain is a little worn and it's a pretty tight squeez, I'm guessing it won't fit with a 44t and a newer chain. Only a guess though. I'd rather spend 20 bucks more for the rear sprocket than replace chain sliders more often. My 2cents
01-26-2005, 05:19 AM
#6
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Re: Sprocket opinions
Anyone thinking about changing sprockets on their bike might want to rethink changing to a smaller sprocket on the front. The smaller the sprocket the harder it is on the chain. The chain has to bend more and causes it to wear out faster. The chain will last longer if you put on a larger rear sprocket rather than a smaller front.
01-26-2005, 03:37 PM
#7
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Re: Sprocket opinions
I run sprocket specialist as they usually have a bigger selection of sprockets (# of teeth) then anyone else. I have several different variations of front & rear sprockets depending on what I'm doing and what track I may be at.
I've been riding for over 10 yrs now and I never have heard anything like that, not have I ever had any problems with chain wearing out.
Anyone thinking about changing sprockets on their bike might want to rethink changing to a smaller sprocket on the front. The smaller the sprocket the harder it is on the chain. The chain has to bend more and causes it to wear out faster. The chain will last longer if you put on a larger rear sprocket rather than a smaller front.
01-27-2005, 04:12 AM
#8
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Re: Sprocket opinions
All good information, thanks gents. More searching has turned up 15T front sprockets from AFAM, Sprocket Specialists, and Vortex. I've heard good about all of 'em so now it comes down to price and availability.
btw... can't say I've ever heard that dropping a tooth up front cuts short the chain life. I've been warned to keep an eye on the rubber slider/guide that wraps around the front of the swingarm as this can wear more quickly...but that's about all the caution I've been warned about.
cheers.../DS
btw... can't say I've ever heard that dropping a tooth up front cuts short the chain life. I've been warned to keep an eye on the rubber slider/guide that wraps around the front of the swingarm as this can wear more quickly...but that's about all the caution I've been warned about.
cheers.../DS
01-27-2005, 06:47 AM
#9
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Re: Sprocket opinions
I too have heard this and finally got someone to explain it via math (don't ask me to do it!). Basically, it's a smaller number of teeth to carry the same amount of force that puts more "strain" on the chain. How much? Something like 3% or so when you drop one tooth; that'slike getting 9,700 miles instead of 10,000 out of a chain. I still think this is the best bang for the buck you can do.
Personally, I'd worry more about chain maintainence than sprocket size when it comes to wear. I use olive oil (ducking and running.......)
Personally, I'd worry more about chain maintainence than sprocket size when it comes to wear. I use olive oil (ducking and running.......)
01-27-2005, 12:05 PM
#10
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Re: Sprocket opinions
I too have heard this and finally got someone to explain it via math (don't ask me to do it!). Basically, it's a smaller number of teeth to carry the same amount of force that puts more "strain" on the chain. How much? Something like 3% or so when you drop one tooth; that'slike getting 9,700 miles instead of 10,000 out of a chain. I still think this is the best bang for the buck you can do.
Personally, I'd worry more about chain maintainence than sprocket size when it comes to wear. I use olive oil (ducking and running.......)
Personally, I'd worry more about chain maintainence than sprocket size when it comes to wear. I use olive oil (ducking and running.......)
01-27-2005, 09:52 PM
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01-29-2005, 07:15 PM
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Ok here is why using a smaller sprocket will put more wear on your chain according to CycleWorlds answer mechanic. Look at your chain as it rounds the large sprocket on your bike. Notice that the chain links barely move, infact they almost stay straight. Now, look at the chain as it goes around the small spocket and notice how much more the links move. The smaller the sprocket the more the links have to move to go around on it. This is why it is better to increase the size of the rear spocket verses decreasing the front and causing the links to move even more than they do on the stock front sprocket.
This is also the reason to increase the size of the front sprocket if you want to lower rpm verses decreasing the size of the rear sprocket.
This is also the reason to increase the size of the front sprocket if you want to lower rpm verses decreasing the size of the rear sprocket.
02-01-2005, 05:23 AM
#13
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Re: Sprocket opinions
The reason I want to change the front sprocket is two-fold. One, it's worn. Two, I want to step thruogh the gears quicker to make more use of the gear box. Currently I spend 90% of my time in 4th. 5th only sees use when I'm really pushing my luck and 6th still has dust on it from it's days at the Honda factory. Since the rear sprocket is in good shape and the front is pooched, the decision was simple.
As for the logic about a smaller front sprocket decreasing chain life, I'm not convinced. The OD of the smaller sprocket can only be marginally smaller the the OD of the 16T OEM unit. Now each link must rotate maybe 1 or 2° more than before. Can't see that pushing the design tolerances, can you!? (rhetorical question, my mind is made)
As for the logic about a smaller front sprocket decreasing chain life, I'm not convinced. The OD of the smaller sprocket can only be marginally smaller the the OD of the 16T OEM unit. Now each link must rotate maybe 1 or 2° more than before. Can't see that pushing the design tolerances, can you!? (rhetorical question, my mind is made)
02-14-2005, 01:25 PM
#14
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Re: Sprocket opinions
I dropped a tooth on the front a couple of weeks ago on mine and love the difference. I have only done one track day and i didn't use 5th or 6th gear. Granted it didn't have any really long straights. My only problem is that the speedo is off now. Does anyone know of a place to get a fix for that?
02-15-2005, 04:48 AM
#15
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Re: Sprocket opinions
Don't we all agree the speedo as set by the factory runs a bit rich? By my calculations, losing a tooth up front should bring the speedo into a more realistic reading. Anyone want to second this motion?
I was hoping this would be a desirable side effect of the front sprocket change
I was hoping this would be a desirable side effect of the front sprocket change
02-15-2005, 07:24 AM
#16
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Re: Sprocket opinions
I do agree that the factory speedo setting is a bight higher than actual speed. As far as the reduction on the front sprocket making it better it would depend on where the speed sensor is. On my Suzuki it is on the main crank shaft that the front sprocket bolts to. There for dropping a tooth will make the speedo reading off even more. I do not know where the speedo sensor is on the hawk so I don't know exactly what the effects are. I tested my bike with another bike with a digital speedo that is pretty accurate and my bike seems to be about 5mph off at 100mph. The difference would be a percentage so the faster you go the further off the speedo will read. If the speed sensor where at the rear wheel changing out the front sprocket wouldn't make any changes to the readings.
02-15-2005, 02:53 PM
#17
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Re: Sprocket opinions
The 15 tooth sprocket will cause your speedo to be more off than before.
If you ride on the freeway alot, you will get tired of the 15 tooth really quick.
Been there, done that...
If you ride on the freeway alot, you will get tired of the 15 tooth really quick.
Been there, done that...
05-05-2005, 01:42 AM
#18
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Re: Sprocket opinions
Yep. 16 to 15 will make you read 7% faster on the speedo than you're actually going, so 50 mph will read 53.5 mph. 100 as 107 and so on, as well as your odometer. It'll look like you're getting better gas milage [rethinking.. maybe it'll read the same and you'll get 7% worse, depending]... 
You never get into 6th gear?! I just ate up the twisties on Hwy 119 and Hwy 6 from Denver to BlackHawk Colorado and was in 6th quite a bit, and it's a pretty agressive canyon! Um.. what rpms are you hanging around? At 80 mph I'm usually at 4.5k rpms. That's not enough?! What is your gas milage like?! I'm blowing past everybody shifting around 4.5k insanely and getting 45.5 mpg right now. Maybe you ride in a city of light-speed ninjas! Wow!
You never get into 6th gear?! I just ate up the twisties on Hwy 119 and Hwy 6 from Denver to BlackHawk Colorado and was in 6th quite a bit, and it's a pretty agressive canyon! Um.. what rpms are you hanging around? At 80 mph I'm usually at 4.5k rpms. That's not enough?! What is your gas milage like?! I'm blowing past everybody shifting around 4.5k insanely and getting 45.5 mpg right now. Maybe you ride in a city of light-speed ninjas! Wow!
05-14-2005, 06:36 AM
#19
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Ok here is why using a smaller sprocket will put more wear on your chain according to CycleWorlds answer mechanic. Look at your chain as it rounds the large sprocket on your bike. Notice that the chain links barely move, infact they almost stay straight. Now, look at the chain as it goes around the small spocket and notice how much more the links move. The smaller the sprocket the more the links have to move to go around on it. This is why it is better to increase the size of the rear spocket verses decreasing the front and causing the links to move even more than they do on the stock front sprocket.
This is also the reason to increase the size of the front sprocket if you want to lower rpm verses decreasing the size of the rear sprocket.
This is also the reason to increase the size of the front sprocket if you want to lower rpm verses decreasing the size of the rear sprocket.
My GSXR came from the factory with 14/47 gearing(It now has 14/49, WOOHOO!), and I have never had a problem with chain wear. I have heard going any lower than 14 teeth on the front is where the problems start to develop, but 15 teeth is just fine. The only bikes I would worry about sprocket size are the busa, ZX12, and the other high troque bikes.
15 teeth on a FIRESTORM
will be fine.
05-14-2005, 07:23 AM
#21
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Re: Sprocket opinions
Yeah, go to a sprocket website and see just how many bikes come stock witha 15t. Funny how you never hear how all these bikes suffer from poor chain life.
BTW coming back to a superhawk after a succession of IL-4 and V-4's, I find that even with a 15t I find myself cruising in 5th on the highway quite often.
BTW coming back to a superhawk after a succession of IL-4 and V-4's, I find that even with a 15t I find myself cruising in 5th on the highway quite often.
05-17-2005, 11:28 AM
#22
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Re: Sprocket opinions
Hey, PRHenderson, that wouldn't happen to be a Ninja 500R in your photo would it?! :wink: I traded mine in for the ChickenHawk. I liked the bike and lowering the teeth really helped acceleration but the rear-end would slide-out often, threatening low-side happy fun adventure doom.
05-17-2005, 04:36 PM
#23
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Re: Sprocket opinions
Don't we all agree the speedo as set by the factory runs a bit rich? By my calculations, losing a tooth up front should bring the speedo into a more realistic reading. Anyone want to second this motion?
I was hoping this would be a desirable side effect of the front sprocket change
I was hoping this would be a desirable side effect of the front sprocket change
Here is a link to the yellow box I bought about 3 years ago. I set it and haven't had one bit of problem with it since.
http://www.blackrobotics.com/yb_home.htm
05-24-2005, 06:06 PM
#24
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Re: Sprocket opinions
Ok! it seem that we are all agree with the fact that a smaller front spocket is putting more wear on the chain.
I have also verified this fact since my last spocket/chain change, with a 15T in front my chain have wear more rapidly than usual.
Now it's time to replace it and I will stay with the 530 ( DID gold X-ring ) and as I liked so much the gain in torque with the 15T in front, I don't want to return back to a 16T, so my plan are to replace the rear with a 43T with the idea to return to the same chain angle than the original setup and by the way to gain again some torque... hummm torque!!
Now the question is: with a 15T/43T setup is I will have almost the same angle and pressure on the chain than with the stock setup? Is anybody that have already tried this setup could say if the chain will last almost the same of longer and/or shorter than with the 15T/41T config?
And for the speedo reading, I don't care about this, I don't look the speedo, I ride too fast I know!!!
But like this setup will increase my RPM again, maybe I will be able to ride at lower speed to get the same feeling ( bike RPM vs gear vs response), so it will, by the way, save me some tickets!! Ok ok! maybe this is not the idea of the century!!
So, any feedback about a 15T/43T setup?
Thanks
I have also verified this fact since my last spocket/chain change, with a 15T in front my chain have wear more rapidly than usual.
Now it's time to replace it and I will stay with the 530 ( DID gold X-ring ) and as I liked so much the gain in torque with the 15T in front, I don't want to return back to a 16T, so my plan are to replace the rear with a 43T with the idea to return to the same chain angle than the original setup and by the way to gain again some torque... hummm torque!!
Now the question is: with a 15T/43T setup is I will have almost the same angle and pressure on the chain than with the stock setup? Is anybody that have already tried this setup could say if the chain will last almost the same of longer and/or shorter than with the 15T/41T config?
And for the speedo reading, I don't care about this, I don't look the speedo, I ride too fast I know!!!
But like this setup will increase my RPM again, maybe I will be able to ride at lower speed to get the same feeling ( bike RPM vs gear vs response), so it will, by the way, save me some tickets!! Ok ok! maybe this is not the idea of the century!!So, any feedback about a 15T/43T setup?
Thanks
06-27-2005, 08:06 PM
#25
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Re: Sprocket opinions
Don't we all agree the speedo as set by the factory runs a bit rich? By my calculations, losing a tooth up front should bring the speedo into a more realistic reading. Anyone want to second this motion?
I was hoping this would be a desirable side effect of the front sprocket change
I was hoping this would be a desirable side effect of the front sprocket change
I had Mario(MD Motorcycles) put a new chain on and a 15T front. The bike is much better now. On the queensway, I cruise comfortable at about 4500-5000RPM(140-150 on the incorrect speedo) with much better acceleration in every gear from 2500RPM.
06-28-2005, 03:41 AM
#26
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Re: Sprocket opinions
Worth noting...
With a 15T front and 4500rpm's in top gear you are doing 119KPH
At 5000rpm you are doing 132kph
There is an excel spreadsheet available for download that will allow you to type in how many teeth for front and rear, and show you rpm v speed for all gears, setup for the Firestorm(Superhawk).
Sing out if you want a copy.
With a 15T front and 4500rpm's in top gear you are doing 119KPH
At 5000rpm you are doing 132kph
There is an excel spreadsheet available for download that will allow you to type in how many teeth for front and rear, and show you rpm v speed for all gears, setup for the Firestorm(Superhawk).
Sing out if you want a copy.
06-28-2005, 07:31 AM
#27
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Re: Sprocket opinions
Yes, VTRBeefa I want a copy of this spreadsheet please!
I have make my spocket change two weekends ago and I must say that a 15T/43T spocket setup is very cool. But this is also why I would like to have this spreadsheet, my speedo is out of control!! This is IMO the only bad thing ( if I can say like this) about this setting. All the rest is very fine...
Even that I have discovered that the VTR have six speed, OMG!!! The six gear is now usable!! ( and I exaggerate only a bit here )
This is sure that the RPM of the bike have increase slightly ( around 1K for the same speed) and maybe also I will have a higher fuel consumption, but the other effect was to slow me down! Now because my speedo is very offset and that the bike RPM is more higher at the same speed, I no more always have the tendancy to ride more fast and this is good for my driver license. This is also good when I ride with the girlfriend and is F4 ( she don't like to ride fast ) so before when I rolled with her I was the 3/4 of the time in 4th or 5th gear to give me the impression to advance. Now, I ride in 6th.
And for the fun part, now the bike goes up in third... with the clutch of course and in second if I pull on the handle bar it goes up with the trottle, pretty cool! The side effect is that I have to do more self control about wheelie than before, but I only have to think at my driver license and I get cooled down pretty fast...
Another satisfied consumer, end of the strory
Cheers
I have make my spocket change two weekends ago and I must say that a 15T/43T spocket setup is very cool. But this is also why I would like to have this spreadsheet, my speedo is out of control!! This is IMO the only bad thing ( if I can say like this) about this setting. All the rest is very fine...
Even that I have discovered that the VTR have six speed, OMG!!! The six gear is now usable!! ( and I exaggerate only a bit here )
This is sure that the RPM of the bike have increase slightly ( around 1K for the same speed) and maybe also I will have a higher fuel consumption, but the other effect was to slow me down! Now because my speedo is very offset and that the bike RPM is more higher at the same speed, I no more always have the tendancy to ride more fast and this is good for my driver license. This is also good when I ride with the girlfriend and is F4 ( she don't like to ride fast ) so before when I rolled with her I was the 3/4 of the time in 4th or 5th gear to give me the impression to advance. Now, I ride in 6th.
And for the fun part, now the bike goes up in third... with the clutch of course and in second if I pull on the handle bar it goes up with the trottle, pretty cool! The side effect is that I have to do more self control about wheelie than before, but I only have to think at my driver license and I get cooled down pretty fast...
Another satisfied consumer, end of the strory
Cheers
06-28-2005, 02:52 PM
#28
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Re: Sprocket opinions
Excel Spreadsheet link Found on www.ozfirestorm.com
Ok its in this link, but it may ask you to register to access the page (im not sure as I am already registered.. this is the Aussie Firestorm site)
Ok its in this link, but it may ask you to register to access the page (im not sure as I am already registered.. this is the Aussie Firestorm site)
06-28-2005, 03:20 PM
#29
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Re: Sprocket opinions
Got the file without registration... many thanks!!
Will look at this with many attention in the next days...
BTW, that seem to be also an interesting VTR forum!!
Thx again
Will look at this with many attention in the next days...
BTW, that seem to be also an interesting VTR forum!!
Thx again
07-01-2005, 09:09 PM
#30
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Re: Sprocket opinions
I was thinking of buying this set up.. Have any of you heard anything about this company?
It looks like a decent product. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=35600
It looks like a decent product. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=35600
