Sprocket/ Chain Question

[McKilla Guerilla]

I understand how motorcycle gearing works thanks to Renthal's handy dandy final drive ratio chart.     [url]http://www.renthal.com/File/gearing_ratios.asp/url]

Is there a point at which changing sprockets would result in having to alter the length of the chain?

[McKilla Guerilla]

I guess I posted the link incorrectly

[Harvy]

There you go....http://www.renthal.com/File/gearing_ratios.asp


Harvy

[andyb]

Yes, but it depends on how much play you have in the adjustment slots.

If memory serves, I ran +2 in the back on a stock length chain without issue.  Much more would have needed a longer chain.  I did the math to a degree awhile back, and basically if you want to keep the wheelbase you have, add 2 links for every 2 teeth you go up in the back.  In the front, it seemed to make a pretty small difference, enough to be ignorable for most folks.

When in doubt, add a couple links when you order your chain.  It's much easier to cut them shorter than trying to cut them longer!

Also, you missed the trailing [ before the final /url].  Should look like this.

Code Select Expand


[url]http://www.renthal.com/File/gearing_ratios.asp[/url]


[baldy3853]

  Always best to go a few longer then need just in case    dont ask how I know 
baldy

[McKilla Guerilla]

Yes, but it depends on how much play you have in the adjustment slots.

If memory serves, I ran +2 in the back on a stock length chain without issue.  Much more would have needed a longer chain.  I did the math to a degree awhile back, and basically if you want to keep the wheelbase you have, add 2 links for every 2 teeth you go up in the back.  In the front, it seemed to make a pretty small difference, enough to be ignorable for most folks.

When in doubt, add a couple links when you order your chain.  It's much easier to cut them shorter than trying to cut them longer!

Thanks a bunch. Im going to get a coupla front sprockets from RPM & play around a little. I'm right in the center of my adjustment now. I don't really want to buy a chain. I keep mine well maintained, there is nothing wrong with it. My sprockets are also in great shape, no abnormal teeth. I've heard guys say that sprockets & chains should be replaced as a set. Other guys say no big deal.

I must've accidentally deleted that [ when I copied & pasted the link. Thanks for pointing out what I did wrong & thank you Harvy for properly posting the link for me

[andyb]

If you have adjustment both ways, and a 17t front, going to pretty much any of the normally available fronts will be fine.  18t will give the bike some legs and shorten the wheelbase a tiny bit, 17t is a really good daily compromise, 16t gets you off the line quite firmly but the extra revs on the highway may annoy... I think you can go down as low as a 14, but your top speed would be hilariously low and you'd be spinning the motor awfully hard all the time. 

After all the futzing around I had done with it, I ended up back near stock.  Just a good all around compromise for a mostly stock motor.