Sprocket Changes

[ant]

Want to get a little bit more 'ooomph'.

Would changing the sprocket achieve this.

However, does this mean that my fuel consumption will be higher, and top end speed lower?

[Duane]

yes, yes and yes

[ant]

How much, how many teeth, and where/how to fit?

[Glen]

All of the above essentially, just make sure you go the right way. If it's more acceleration (and why wouldn't it be) bigger on the back or smaller on the front (remember one on the front is worth roughly 3 on the back). If you do the back you may need a longer chain and if you do the front you'll increase wear on your chain (cause it's gotta turn through a tighter radius).

Your speedo may be cactus too so think about that as well.

Good luck

[ant]

How do you mean speedo may be cactus?

[Duane]

depends what bike you ride
if the speedo goes off the front wheel you're fine
newer bikes operate of the sprokets.

[Aussie Ninja]

depends what bike you ride
if the speedo goes off the front wheel you're fine
newer bikes operate of the sprokets.

In which case if you want your speedo to read right you need to fit a speedo healer, a programable box that corrects the error caused by the bigger or smaller sprocket. I went +3 on my zx6r. At 100 I'm doing an extra 700 RPM. HTH

[Strika]

Gearing is an odd thing. If you're a drag racer, for sure shorter to a point is always better. But through experimenting over the years, i often find changing the gearing makes it alter some of the things I like about a bike.

In particular, some rides we go on, are quite a lot more open and speeds can be higher. On these rides, I found short gearing to be a pain, as the bike is constantly revving it's nuts off. Then again on some tighter roads, it meant 2nd gear was short enough for the hairpins, which made it nice not having to go back past nuetral.

But then, some of the corners that were perfect third gear turns, were now too tall for fourth, and too short for third!!!

It's all a compromise. If you are after off the lights performance or you do wheelies under 100kph, then it may benefit you. But if you like to lean a bike over, and spend more time in the twisties, it may not be right??? Think about it before you jump on the bandwagon.

[Smitty]

..snip...

It's all a compromise. If you are after off the lights performance or you do wheelies under 100kph, then it may benefit you. But if you like to lean a bike over, and spend more time in the twisties, it may not be right??? Think about it before you jump on the bandwagon.

Strika makes a good point
you should also consider the bike...and its ORIGINAL character

for example
a ZZR1100 might be smooth in the country and twisties
but not fast enuff in the city for some riders..so we go looking
for sprocket changes
..stop!
why did we buy a ZZR? where does it get used most?
do you carry pilllions or racks with gear?
compare that with a ZX6...sharp snappy and very quick
not the sort of bike to tour on
and so on

Sprocket changes can work....I went 2 extra teeth
on the rear on my GeepeeX750..which turned out to
be the best compromise for all...the city, the country
and track days !

hth

cheers

[mrmina]

i really dont know much about this, but what has changing the sprocket size change how u ride in the twisties.

i know dropping 1 tooth on the front or going 2/3 up on the back will give more take off power at slow speeds because of gearing but what has it got to do twisties.

is it cos it will be quicker at the lower speed twisities.

I'm confused Hope that made sense

[SocialSecurity]

i went one up on the rear and found it gave a very nice subtle increase, not too much but just enough... 6th gear is a lot more useable now too, went from about 4300rpm at 100 to a bit under 4500