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xs650 > > Motorcycle Systems > > Drive > > sprocket dilemma


sprocket dilemma
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tweedy64
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PostPosted: November 7, 2008, 7:27 am    Post subject: sprocket dilemma

Hi guys could do with a little input on sprockets, i'm currently running an 80 , although i'm in the uk my bike is a U.S import so i presume my sprockets are 17/34 correct? I'm thinking of either going 17/32 or 18/32 chain combo ive heard about. Now i weigh around 160 ish lol and do a bit motorway riding now n again and well a bit everything really never can tell. But it would be nice to smooth that top end out and lose the vibes man. Any input or experiences would be grateful . cheers tweedy
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xsjohn
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PostPosted: November 7, 2008, 8:59 am    Post subject: Re: sprocket dilemma

18/30 would do that.....now I'm 18/29 with 2 gaskets and 2 retard on cam and 140 sized tire and it finally does it...... "the compression is causing the vibes"......catch 22 again......and nobody believes me either.........oh well.......have to give some to get some........just the way life is..........will loose a bit power with the compression thing but it runs so much better but I bet it can be gained back with some porting and the right pipes and carbs correct........at 135 lbs mine is a real freeway flier now.......totally different bike than before and runs cooler in the summer......don't even think about the heat or vibes anymore...."done"..

xsjohn
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tweedy64
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PostPosted: November 7, 2008, 9:13 am    Post subject: Re: sprocket dilemma

Cheers john, i'm a bit reluctant to go that small on the back, also i forgot to mention the wife goes on the back occasionally although she has her own bike. I guess i could buy both n try. Oh ye john is there any truth in the rumours about you n sarah palin. cheers tweedy
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xsjohn
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PostPosted: November 7, 2008, 9:56 am    Post subject: Re: sprocket dilemma

""""Cheers john, i'm a bit reluctant to go that small on the back""""

keep in mind that taller gears makes the lower ones more useful....don't have to be in 5th all the time....my 2nd and 3rd are killers .....4th for passing and back roads and 5th for cruise....if you want what you were asking about you need 18/30........can always go to 17/30 if you puss out.......

and mikes gear might make 18/31 or (32 heavier rider) work out good........mikes gear is just a bit more than one less tooth off the back......

if I was 170lbs I would use 18/31 with mikes gear if I was skeptical about 18/30 which I ain't....have a 30 in storage .......too low for the express way for me.............someday I may go 18/30 with mikes gear......so I will save the 30......that would make my 5th like 18/28......slide all over the state with no vibes at all........

xsjohn
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weekendrider
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Location: SW MO 2x83SK 79F 78E

PostPosted: November 7, 2008, 1:34 pm    Post subject: Re: sprocket dilemma

tweedy I would save the dinero and just try the 17/32 first. Especially if you do much 2 up riding. If that doesn't quite do it then do the 18/32.
I put as much weight resistance on one as you and john do(combined) and on hot days have to slip the clutch some coming off the light.

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xsjohn
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PostPosted: November 7, 2008, 1:52 pm    Post subject: Re: sprocket dilemma

Liposuccion is another option.........xsjohn
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weekendrider
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PostPosted: November 7, 2008, 1:55 pm    Post subject: Re: sprocket dilemma

OUCH
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jayel
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PostPosted: November 7, 2008, 2:06 pm    Post subject: Re: sprocket dilemma

I run 17/31 @165 lbs. but I'm also pushing that big ole sail up on the front end with crashbars and saddlebags and I know it will run 85
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tweedy64
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PostPosted: November 7, 2008, 7:01 pm    Post subject: Re: sprocket dilemma

Thanks weekendrider and jayel every little helps to make my mind up which way i'm gonna go but cant do windshields myself i like pulling bugs out of my teeth and besides if i really wanted one i'd buy a car. I think if i never had a pillion i would go with johns suggestion but as i do now n again what with rallies n such. cheers tweedy
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Retiredgentleman
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PostPosted: November 7, 2008, 8:08 pm    Post subject: Re: sprocket dilemma

My bike came with the 17/36, which apparently is stock gearing for Canada. I'm about 169 lbs, and yes the bike is geared too low for me. First gear is good for pulling out stumps, or hauling sled loads of ice blocks when building igloos Smile . I'm going to change to 17/34 or 17/33, probably 17/33. 100 km/hr or 62 mph is about 4200 RPM, so would be nice to drop that down a little.
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xsjohn
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PostPosted: November 7, 2008, 8:17 pm    Post subject: Re: sprocket dilemma

You guys and your dropping it down a little.......be men... go for it.......

xsjohn
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jayel
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PostPosted: November 7, 2008, 8:24 pm    Post subject: Re: sprocket dilemma

RG you want to stay away from the 17/34 (what was yamaha thinking?) every 2nd or is it fourth? revolution the same chain links matches up with the same sprocket teeth, old motorcycle wisdom says this is not a good thing as it results in rapid chain and sprocket wear
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xsjohn
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PostPosted: November 7, 2008, 10:06 pm    Post subject: Re: sprocket dilemma

"17/33. 100 km/hr or 62 mph is about 4200 RPM"

rush rush rush throught the gears to get to that ......might be time to listen to what I have been saying.....and if you don't try gearing decently because of squemish little gear changes you will never know..........Had some experience with yamaha like 40 years so I went to 18/30 a month after buying my 80 10 years ago and rode it that way for quite a while.....going to Winston just 30 miles away was a job.....now I just slide there at 18/29 on the express....little bit goes along way especially if you are way off.....WTF do I know.....living in Canada with all those wide open spaces would to me just be WERRERBZZZEER.......I wouldn't gear it with 17/32 even if I had a fat ass........sold my 77 with 18/30 to my fat buddy....sent that 100 bucks for a high carbon steel sprocket that will last for ever or more......he bitched for 2 days then when I called him to get the 30 hardend sprocket back that I spent 100 bucks for to sell it to some one else he said FU......even the fat ones get it........the bastard........

xsjohn


Last edited by xsjohn on November 7, 2008, 10:27 pm; edited 1 time in total
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blue900
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PostPosted: November 7, 2008, 10:23 pm    Post subject: Re: sprocket dilemma

This Spring I changed from the stock gearing 17/34 on my 81 special. I went with the 520 chain & 18/33 sprockets from mikes. Most of my driving is on the hwy @ 55 and in town. The bike is so much more ridable, 4th gear is what 5th use to be and in town the RPM stay down. The next chain I will probably go 32 on the rear sprocket.
Gearing these bike up is a must have upgrade!
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xsjohn
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PostPosted: November 7, 2008, 10:30 pm    Post subject: Re: sprocket dilemma

Don't spend the money for 520 on these ........less bearing surface on the sprocket teeth and they won't last as long............with no benifit.......

xsjohn
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blue900
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PostPosted: November 7, 2008, 10:52 pm    Post subject: Re: sprocket dilemma

I just had to try it out John. I see them on lots of the new bikes. I've been religiously keeping it lubed, unlike my last chain. That was my learner I guess. I'm at 6600 miles and its doing fine so I will see and let everyone know when its worn out and gets replaced. How many Miles it goes.
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xsjohn
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PostPosted: November 7, 2008, 11:03 pm    Post subject: Re: sprocket dilemma

Haven't had a drink in a while.......finally gave in.....at the counter with 50c less than the bottle of vodga I wanted.....a moped rider gave me a buck.......god am I decent on my 650.................

xsjohn
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Retiredgentleman
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PostPosted: November 8, 2008, 1:33 am    Post subject: Re: sprocket dilemma

OK jayel and xsjohn, you've convinced me. I think I'll just throw caution to the wind and go with 17/33. I don't want to lose that snappy acceleration.
John keep away from the bottle, the Democrats in the oval office won't be that bad!
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xsjohn
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PostPosted: November 8, 2008, 1:41 am    Post subject: Re: sprocket dilemma

17/33 .???........been there and done that.......18/30 with your weight............plenty of gears below......whf................17/33 will be nothing of a change............18/30 .....

xsjohn
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xs1961
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PostPosted: November 8, 2008, 10:41 am    Post subject: Re: sprocket dilemma

Yup...Its got to be 18/30..All mine are & have been for years...Cruises at 90MPH @ 5000RPM..Acceleration is better than stock if you change the pipes & mixture
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jayel
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PostPosted: November 8, 2008, 10:51 am    Post subject: Re: sprocket dilemma

" I don't want to lose that snappy acceleration."

just twist your throttle grip a little farther, Surprised I can see you now flat tracking a corner in your muclucks and snowshoes, penguins, polar bears, and moose scurrying out of the way................

Actually RG I like the 17/31 set better, with a 18 you have to remove the shield over the gear shift shaft, but if your happy with your rpms on the highway now, do what you want to do, here's a nice little gearing calculator

www.sprocketspecialist...izer2.aspx

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xs1961
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PostPosted: November 8, 2008, 12:51 pm    Post subject: Re: sprocket dilemma

Confused Ive never had to remove the shield... Confused
I can post a piccy to prove...

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5twins
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PostPosted: November 8, 2008, 1:28 pm    Post subject: Re: sprocket dilemma

I started with the most common swap, from stock 17/34 to 17/32. I thought I liked it at first, cruising in 5th was much smoother. Then I swapped in a spare wheel I acquired just to test it and I only had a 34 to put on it. Running the 34 back to back against the 32 really showed me what I was missing. The 32 really took away alot of the 1st gear snap and pulling high RPM near redline in 5th was a chore as well.

When I did the original swap a few years ago, the 33 wasn't available yet. And besides, what difference could 1 tooth make? Well, quite a bit, it seems. I have the 33 now and feel it's ideal for my Standard and my type of riding (mostly back roads, very little interstate "droning"). It restored much of the 1st gear lunge and it pulls 5th better as well. It also helps surprising well with highway cruising.

I've read that the 16" rear on the Special gears it down slightly compared to the 18" and from the speed vs RPM postings I've seen, I tend to believe it. Guys with Specials seem to be turning more RPM than guys with Standards when running the same sprockets. With my 17/33, I'm seeing just over 4K for 65, just under 3500 for 55.

RG, if the 16" rear is a gear down factor as I think it is, 17/32 may be ideal for you.
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tweedy64
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PostPosted: November 8, 2008, 2:41 pm    Post subject: Re: sprocket dilemma

Gonna go with johns 18/30 i think just to stop him bleating really. XS1961 you say you didnt have to remove the shield , so why they say you have to for fitting 18T sprocket, the mind boggles. I shall stick with 530 heavy duty chain though.........how many links ? cheers tweedy
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