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Sprocket Sizes - Decisions Decisions


phoenixfire

What sprocket configuration do you ride?  

109 members have voted

  1. 1. What type of sprocket configuration do you ride?



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  • Member Contributer

Thanks Naked. Your probably right. I suppose that I should just ask Sprocket Specialist. I was concerned it might be a reference to the chain it was designed to be used with. It does fit but moves a small amount on the shaft. Not sure if that's ok or not.

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  • 7 months later...
  • Member Contributer

Years back i went +2 in the back mainly for stop and go with a passenger. Been happy with it since, no install issues and my speedo seems spot on vs gps. Now and then i hunt for 7th but it has decent pull in 6th.

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  • 2 months later...
  • Member Contributer

Just swapped in -1+2 steel sprockets on my 2002, with the an RK XW 520 chain conversion. More pickup, no noticeable vibration, highway cruising is fine... should have done it sooner. I have a SpeedoDRD on order though to correct the readout.

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  • 2 weeks later...

I have a 6th Gen, stock being 16/43. I just did a new 1+ on the front, new stock rear and 110 link chain. However chain seems to be 1 link short. My question do I need to go with a longer chain or can I use chain drive adjuster to correct?

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk

Edited by marvinb2
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  • 3 months later...

-1+3 originally. I learned the hard way however that aluminum sprockets should be outlawed. I'm installing a new 45T rear right now. I started hearing a clicking noise last week, and stopped to check out what it was. I was missing ~6 teeth. In the time that it took to get the new sprocket in today, I lost over half the teeth on that sprocket. When they go, they go out catastrophically.

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I think the biggest factor is the type and style of riding you do! :unsure:

If your all hwy then go with a bigger front, personally I only really ride twisties and LOVE the feel of a stronger pull out of turns. For the first 80,000 miles or so I've always cheeped out and just drop the front 1 tooth and loved it. A smaller front does create more heat in the chain IMO, but I didn't care. After 100,000 miles on it I changed to a 520 set-up and went 2 up in the rear just to see what happens.

Changing front sprockets is easy and cheap! I would buy or borrow a 1 dn (stock 6th gen)and a 1 up front just to test the feel and results, then if you like the 1 dn set-up just buy a stock front/2-3 up rear and your golden. :wink:

BR

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I went to a 1 down in front from 30,000-55,000 miles and it was great. Highway still okay(indicated 80 is only 70), but pulled hard everywhere. Then I pulled some more power out of the bike and switched between -1/+3 and -1/+0 on and off for the last 10,000 miles or so. -1/+3 is ridiculous. It wheelies with the slightest thought anywhere in first, and with a tad of effort in 2nd and will carry the front tire through fourth no problem. Every gear pulls stupid hard and there really isn't any need for down shifting for passes. 6th gear pulls all the way to redline (an indicated but not real 184). First gear is optional and it pulls second from a stop with zero effort. Only down side is constantly searching for sixth gear as you're in VTEC on the highway to keep ahead of traffic, but man rolling into the gas from an indicated 100 shows big numbers really fast (again I'm am aware that the ratio is off by an indicated 65 only resulting in a real life 55... Or 55/65).

Well recently I've been doing a lot of high speed highway riding and was feeling bad for the bike so I did a +1 in front with standard rear. It will pull from a stop in first fine but just requires a little more love from the clutch, especially if leaving in second. Rolling on hard doesn't produce stupid dramatic wheelies anymore, instead you are given a nice slow graceful rise at 7000 that is easily modulated. Second will never clutch up again, but if you are already up a foot or so off the ground in first and quick shift into second it will continue lifting through second and even third with enough determination. Fourth, I'm not going to try as that would require a ridiculously high angle and mph to maintain.


Anyways, with the +1 front/standard rear, I do constantly find myself searching for first when coming to a stop, just as I did looking for sixth when I had the one down three up, but now sixth gear is completely an overdrive gear. Sixth doesn't really pull with any urgency like it used to, but passing traffic on the turnpike at only 5000 RPMs sure is nice. Funny thing now is sometimes I find myself on the highway for five or ten minutes in fifth or sometimes even fourth before I realize I'm not in top gear lol.

Edited by CandyRedRC46
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  • 2 weeks later...

I noticed absolutely no one runs 16/44...As it applies to a 6th gen (16/43 stock), why not? Not enough of a difference?

I 'm wondering the same thing. I 'm happy with the stock gearing, but I plan to change to 16/44 at some point in the future. I don't want to see my bike's MPG drop in the straights and I only want it to accelerate with slightly less effort and to be a bit easier to ride in the city. As it is right now, I can tell that my VFR doesn't like too low speed.

I've also heard that MPG might even improve with 16/44, probably because stock gearing is somewhat tall and the engine doesn't have to work so hard to accelerate the bike.

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  • 1 month later...
  • Member Contributer

I noticed absolutely no one runs 16/44...As it applies to a 6th gen (16/43 stock), why not? Not enough of a difference?

I 'm wondering the same thing. I 'm happy with the stock gearing, but I plan to change to 16/44 at some point in the future. I don't want to see my bike's MPG drop in the straights and I only want it to accelerate with slightly less effort and to be a bit easier to ride in the city. As it is right now, I can tell that my VFR doesn't like too low speed.

I've also heard that MPG might even improve with 16/44, probably because stock gearing is somewhat tall and the engine doesn't have to work so hard to accelerate the bike.

Firebladestan runs 16/44... perhaps they could provide insight to mpg and acceleration

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  • 10 months later...
  • Member Contributer

Y'all that need more acceleration must not have a smaller bike to ride around on sometimes. :)

After riding around on a Ninja 250R for a while, getting on the VFR is like mounting up on a jet-powered rocket sled!

That said, stock 16/43 for me.

I have a CB500X and think the same thing. I can loft the front wheel with a passenger on the back in first gear, which is only good to about 30mph. I was going to make the gearing a bit taller to make first more useable, but there were issues with potential chain wear since the same link would hit the same tooth on the sprocket each time around (on the 500 that is). The site below is an invaluable resource to theoretically decide what sizes may work for you. I haven't looked at the VFR since I am more than happy with stock gearing on the VTEC. I tend to ride in a lower gear after jumping off the 500 since the VFR seems silly fast in comparison. Then again, ask some of the guys at PRB's Fall Ride what a 500 will do 2 up in the mountains. Throttle is on the right...

http://www.gearingcommander.com/

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  • 4 weeks later...

Hi all,

Can you share your experience with modifying your sprocket sizings.

It's time for a new chain and I figured I might want to try a different sizing on the sprockets.

I'm plagued by the fact that I want it all -

Higher acceleration would be nice as I do a lot of city riding and having some extra 'umph' in 1st would be great.

However, I also do a lot of touring - and having lower revs cruising at highway speeds, and also better gas mileage, also appeals to me.

I'm riding a 99 where the stock is 17 F / 43 R.

Has anyone ever tried going lower in the rear and/or higher in the front to lower those revs?

Yes on my 01 VFR I went up 1 on the rear I do 1 or 2 on just about every bike I have owner the last few years. I just bought an 2000 VFR and will do the same on it. Faster rollons and easier obtained top speeds. It made a lot of difference to me. I was told most bikes are geared to high to reduce noise. EPA stuff.

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  • Member Contributer

I noticed absolutely no one runs 16/44...As it applies to a 6th gen (16/43 stock), why not? Not enough of a difference?

I 'm wondering the same thing. I 'm happy with the stock gearing, but I plan to change to 16/44 at some point in the future. I don't want to see my bike's MPG drop in the straights and I only want it to accelerate with slightly less effort and to be a bit easier to ride in the city. As it is right now, I can tell that my VFR doesn't like too low speed.

I've also heard that MPG might even improve with 16/44, probably because stock gearing is somewhat tall and the engine doesn't have to work so hard to accelerate the bike.

I've got a stock 2008 and a 2007 that I bought with 2 teeth up on the rear. I can't say anything about the mileage because the sprocket throws off the odometer and I haven't done any riding with GPS yet. However, I doubt I'll get better fuel economy because it bumps up the rpms into v-tec territory a lot more often and makes me want to twist the crap out of the throttle even more!

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  • Member Contributer

Slightly off-topic but I learned something with my last chain and sprocket installation. My Honda dealer had a new-to-the-VFR mechanic do my changeout. First issue: he trapped the sidestand wire between the front sprocket cover and the engine case (?) which kept the speedo drive from working. I discovered it on the way home, went back to the dealer and the mechanic pulled the ss switch wire out of the way and reinstalled the cover. 600 mi later, on the way to SumSum3, my speedo/odo stopped working again. Then while picking up Miguel in Co. Springs, Miguel fixed it.

What had happened: the sprocket that was removed was thicker that stock, as noted to me buy the shop manager at the time, but did not realize the complication it would cause. With the thinner sprocket, the speedo drive white plastic male nut cover (Dutchy insert comment here) did not engage the countershaft (?) nut. Miguel slid the white plastic thingie on its axle toward the nut, engagement was achieved, and I was back in business. Thank you HS!

I hope this spares someone some head scratching in the future.

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I'm going to try +1 front on my 4th Gen 1997. The new 17T sprocket is 15mm thick and the original 16T sprocket is 17mm thick. Do I need to back space the new 17T sprocket with a 1mm spacer/washer to make the new front teeth run in the same line as the original sprocket?

..blackdot/Tom

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  • Member Contributer

I'm going to try +1 front on my 4th Gen 1997. The new 17T sprocket is 15mm thick and the original 16T sprocket is 17mm thick. Do I need to back space the new 17T sprocket with a 1mm spacer/washer to make the new front teeth run in the same line as the original sprocket?

..blackdot/Tom

No need to add a spacer; the white-colored plastic male nut cover (wish I knew what it is called - I cannot find it in the parts fiche) can slide on it's axle. If you move it too close to the engine it will back itself off. It moves easily on it's axle.

Keep in mind I'm talking about a fifth gen.

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I'm going to try +1 front on my 4th Gen 1997. The new 17T sprocket is 15mm thick and the original 16T sprocket is 17mm thick. Do I need to back space the new 17T sprocket with a 1mm spacer/washer to make the new front teeth run in the same line as the original sprocket?

..blackdot/Tom

No need to add a spacer; the white-colored plastic male nut cover (wish I knew what it is called - I cannot find it in the parts fiche) can slide on it's axle. If you move it too close to the engine it will back itself off. It moves easily on it's axle.

Keep in mind I'm talking about a fifth gen.

I understand that bit, what I was refering to was the path of the chain would be 1mm closer to the engine as it makes its way around the front sprocket.

BTW, Partszilla calls that part a Speedometer Joint.

..blackdot/Tom

gallery_34332_7695_118100.jpg

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Okay, I've got an '06, and I'm ready to go -1 on the front, do I also need a new chain, or will stock do? And If I do, any reccomendations on brand/type of chain?

My understanding is an '06 is a sealed o-ring type? What's a good place to pick up a 16t front?

Thanks in advance!

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Okay, I've got an '06, and I'm ready to go -1 on the front, do I also need a new chain, or will stock do? And If I do, any reccomendations on brand/type of chain?

My understanding is an '06 is a sealed o-ring type? What's a good place to pick up a 16t front?

Thanks in advance!

Here ya go

http://sprocketcenter.com/street-sprocket-applications/honda/vfr-800-2002-2014.html

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