Sprockets and chain advice...

[Tiger]

  After many years of running shaft drives and coming to the FJ with sprockets and chain in the summer of last year, I need some advice from those with knowledge

I ordered up new front/rear sprockets and chain for my '85 1100. I was advised that I should go for :

Front: 15T

Rear: 38T

Chain: DID50VA

Any foreseeable problems gentlemen or will this set up work??

Your advice, as always, is much appreciated

John.

P S  The old girl presently sits with worn 'stockers'...

[FJmonkey]

I am currently running 17 F and 38 R, according to www.gearingcommander.com this set up will have me at 71.9 MPH in 5th at 4250 RPM. If I use a 15T in the front that changes to 63.4 MPH in 5th at 4250 RPM. Not the best if you just want to cruse around. Good if you want thrash it hard in the canyons or on the track. I am considering bumping the front to a an 18T. I am always looking for 6th gear. That would give me 76.1 MPH in 5th at 4250 RPM. The FJ has plenty of low end grunt, so unless you want to pull wheelies at stop lights you might want to go a little taller on the front.

[Dads_FJ]

The DID50VA chain will be too small, you need a 530 series. 

Who advised that you go with a 15 up front?  You'll get to where you're going a lot quicker that's for sure.  If you do any highway riding I would avoid it, but I'm on the other end and run an 18 up front.

[ribbert]

I don't know who advised you but I don't believe I've heard of anyone here running a 15 front. Most common is 17 (std) or 18 ( to spread the load a bit more) and somewhere between 38-41 on the rear.
I do a lot of trips but I am happy with 18/41 as a good compromise between cruising and acceleration, some like less revs at cruising speeds and have 18/38.

There is no absolute right or wrong and it is largely a matter of personal preference, but I would stay away from a 15 unless you have a particular reason for wanting one.

Check out the gearing commander that FJmonkey mentioned and you will see the differences are not enormous anyway.

Noel

[ribbert]

The DID50VA chain will be too small, you need a 530 series.  

Who advised that you go with a 15 up front?  You'll get to where you're going a lot quicker that's for sure.  If you do any highway riding I would avoid it, but I'm on the other end and run an 18 up front.

As far as I recall, the VA chain is 530. BUT it's what they leave the factory with and is not sold retail. So you will only find them on bikes still sporting the original chain, or on an old FJ (No.2) where the owner was too tight to spring for a new one and got it from the wreckers and then had a hell of a time trying to get a joining link and therefore knows the above. This is at least the case in Australia and came from DID

Noel

[Dads_FJ]

My attempt at humor may have been lost.  "DID50VA"  I was poking fun of the 50.

[ribbert]

My attempt at humor may have been lost.  "DID50VA"  I was poking fun of the 50.

If I had been in the room I would definitely have got that. Subtlety in humour doesn't always travel well on the net. I have done it myself, many times.

[movenon]

I am currently running 17 F and 38 R, according to www.gearingcommander.com this set up will have me at 71.9 MPH in 5th at 4250 RPM. If I use a 15T in the front that changes to 63.4 MPH in 5th at 4250 RPM. Not the best if you just want to cruse around. Good if you want thrash it hard in the canyons or on the track. I am considering bumping the front to a an 18T. I am always looking for 6th gear. That would give me 76.1 MPH in 5th at 4250 RPM. The FJ has plenty of low end grunt, so unless you want to pull wheelies at stop lights you might want to go a little taller on the front.

That's the way I am going. I can relate to the comment about trying to find a 6th gear. I will end up with 18t front, 38t rear, 180/55/17 rear tire.
But I am more of a tour type rider that occasionally likes to do a bit of "civil disobedience" but no hard street racing. I would note that with an 18t front you can easily go from 38T and up rear sprocket. The rear sprocket is quicker and easier to change IMO. One tooth in the front is about equal to 2 or 3 on the rear. And with the larger front sprocket there might be a little less wear on the chain.

FJmonkey:  I ordered a VF1000 18T front sprocket as a replacement. Might gain about 1.8 mm + - more offset. I flipped the rear sprocket and its close to getting the chain straight with the rear wheel dead center and in alignment with the front tire by string measurement.
George

[Tiger]

  Thank guys...  I've got them to reorder an 18t instead of the 15t, as taken on general advice from the international masses ...

John

[Mark Olson]

15t on a fj is way too small and will ruin a chain and eat your swing arm guard.

good move on getting the 18t.

if you want more zip just go big on the rear sprocket. 

you ordered steel gears I hope , cause the fj eats aluminum gears.

[Tiger]

if you want more zip just go big on the rear sprocket. 

you ordered steel gears I hope , cause the fj eats aluminum gears.

I don't have any problems with the 'GO FASTER' twister when running solo...exception is when the wife and I are two up touring

All steel Mark, no Aluminum

John.

[fj11.5]

yeah,, 15 is not a good choice,, although as its been said,  is great for getting somewhere quick, its not good for going fast, as i have 15/46 on the ambulance, just to see what it was like,, will be changing her soon though,  as it was ok when i lived in town, but now im back in the hills its not pleasant, , using 18/38 on effie , works fantastic,  good pick up, and cruises well,, 17/39 on the 88 will be fitting an 18 front as she still revs too high on the highway

[Mark Olson]

I feel sorry for you guys who are doing a lot of freeway riding and need taller gearing.

I am using the stock gearing on my 86 of 17/41 and it is just perfect for me .

I have the pleasure of riding for fun and using all the gears ripping thru the twisties of the norcal foothills.

I have on occasion looked for a 6th gear when on a long slab run but I don't want to give up the sweet spot of powering out of corners.

my mileage is acceptable to me as I average 40 mpg and that is good enough.

[movenon]

OK, go 18t / 44  .
George

[Mark Olson]

funny guy