Sorry for the dumb question guys but can you tell me the stock number of links for my Firestorm? The manual I downloaded said 108 but a website told me 120 so it's making doubt both, not sure who to trust?

 

Mine has 104.

 

you sure thats stock?

 

Yep, and i just went out and counted them to be sure. Of course, unless your firestorm has a longer swingarm than a hawk!

 

Stock is 102 (pg 3-18 in your service manual)

 

+1

Honda manual says 102 links with stock gearing (16/41).

 

My manual is for 1998-2003 SuperHawk and it does say 102, sorry i miss read. One more thing tho can I use regular Prestone coolant for cars in my bikesand should I mix it any differently? I live in Ontario Canada

 

Prestone is fine, mixed at 50:50. Mine winters in my unheated garage and you don't get colder than Ottawa... nary a problem at 11 years and counting

 

Dear RuthlessButcher, I live near Hamilton, Ontario which isn't quite as cold in winter as Ottawa is. I use Havoline Extended Life coolant mixed with distilled water and Water Wetter. The Havoline stuff doesn't have silicate in it. I haven't checked the manual but the absence of silicate is important IIRC. The motor hasn't blown up yet.

 

Use the Honda coolant. Always use the right stuff.

 

Not to hijack, but I'd like to go back to chain links. I run a 15/43 setup and honestly can't remember how many links my chain has. I can't go and count them right now, or I would. I'm doing a trackday in Sept. and am thinking about using a 41 tooth rear that day. Is there enough adjustment in the axle that I can use my current chain, or would I have to replace it too?

 

If you are going from a 43T rear to a 41T rear you should be fine, if you go more than 2T (on the rear) then you have to start adding or removing links

 

I believe 15/43 is what most guys use on most tracks. It gives the same top end and better acceleration.

 

Agreed. I'm not sure why you'd want a smaller rear sprocket for trackday use. That's bring the revs down and worsen acceleration. For twisty tracks, you'd want the best acceleration possible, with loss of overall top end (which you'll only briefly use, well on UK tracks, anyway ..)

Cheers,

Paul.

 

Okay, yall can call me a dumbass! It has 102. I counted 102 the other day, but somehow had 104 on the brain and thats what i typed.

 

So let me get this straight, if I go 15/43 I wouldn't lose any top end? Cause honestly it kind of sucks as it is. Got mine up to 230km/h and seemed like it was almost out of steam. I realize that's kind of a stupid speed but I wanted to see if my bike would chicken out before me.

 

Well you get the best top end with 16\43 gearing IMHO with 16\41 the bike doesn't want to pull to red line but it will make it with 16\43 for a true top end of between 155-160 mph all depends on rear tire diameter.

 

I bought my bike with stock sprockets 16/41. When I went to 15/43, of course I saw a huge increase in low end torque and acceleration. However, that does come at the expense of top end since you're now turning higher RPMs at equivalent speeds. Running 15/43, I now redline around 140-145MPH depending on ambient temperature. I was thinking about going to a 41 rear for the track so I don't get passed by every other bike on the track along the long straighaways. I'll be riding at Buttonwillow raceway in CA (#13 layout counter-clockwise), and it has a few very long straights. Those two teeth represent a roughly 11% increase in RPM and equivalent decrease in top speed.