What's the best sprocket combo for the street?

red929 · 09-21-2003, 4:46 PM

As some of you may have read in one of my earlier posts, I'm going to be swapping my swinger for a 954 unit which means I'll need to replace my chain, so I might as well change to a 520 at the same time. So...

I know each track has it's own better gear ratio setup, but what's the best overall front and rear sprocket selection/combination for a 929 on the street? Opinions and reasoning please.

TIA

trey · 09-21-2003, 11:20 PM

i Have a 15t up front and the stock 43 in the back, not bad at all, a bit buzzy on the highway but nice pull through all the gears.

When my chain goes bad i'll probably go 16t up front and 46 or 47 on th back.

Repsol_69 · 09-22-2003, 12:01 AM

Trey: Why would you want to go up in the rear as apposed to staying at 15 in the front? What is the dis/advantage?

red929 · 09-22-2003, 1:41 PM

red929 · 09-24-2003, 12:22 PM

No one? Does my breath smell bad or something?

CBRBob · 09-24-2003, 1:24 PM

Up 1 or 2 teeth on the back. Down one in front is about equal to up 3 in back. I find 3 is too much for big bikes. Works good for 600s

trey · 09-24-2003, 9:35 PM

Hey repsol,

I personaly think its better to go more on the back then down on the front. The engine seems a bit more buzzy when u go one down in the front, plus i want to put my stock 16t back on cause it has a rubber padding on both sides of it.

2001 929rr · 09-24-2003, 9:40 PM

I have a 46 rear tooth gear. I love it. It pulls great with the 46 on there.

red929 · 09-25-2003, 12:42 PM

What length chain is needed to add 3 teeth to the rear sprocket?

WildBillF1 · 09-25-2003, 12:51 PM

Quote:

trey : ...plus i want to put my stock 16t back on cause it has a rubber padding on both sides of it.

Wouldn't a couple of o-rings work in place of the rubber padding?

HondaGalToo · 09-25-2003, 1:30 PM

Quote:

WildBillF1 : Wouldn't a couple of o-rings work in place of the rubber padding?

Hmm. I don't think so, as the rubber is incorporated into the sprocket, just to prevent some vibration and noise. I think adding O rings would add too much thickness and perhaps interfere with it's turning. I don't notice any problems running an AFAM countersprocket with no rubber padding; no extra noise or anything. I'm currently running a 15 front and 44 rear with the stock chain. I like it a lot better on the track, and it's not too bad on the street.

2001 929rr · 09-25-2003, 3:04 PM

I think that mine is a 110 but let me check tonight it may be a 112. *I bought an x-ring chain when I redid mine.

red929 · 09-27-2003, 1:20 PM

Quote:

HondaGalToo : I like it a lot better on the track, and it's not too bad on the street.

'not too bad on the street'? What's the disadvantage of this combo on the street?

Also, can someone compare 16/46 to 15/45?

nedro · 09-27-2003, 3:40 PM

My post got all screwed up and I'm not gonna go through that again. Sorry.

red929 · 09-27-2003, 4:01 PM

Quote:

nedro : My post got all screwed up and I'm not gonna go through that again. Sorry.

nomad · 09-27-2003, 4:53 PM

I'm interested in the answer to this question too...

so what is the disadvantage to running 16/44 or 16/45 on the street?

I don't mind hitting over 250kph every now and then so I don't want to completely kill the top end but I'd like a bigger pull low down since most of my riding is street/highway in traffic. I usually avoid lofting the front wheel so I although I want pull, I don't want a flipped bike.

What's better? 16/44 or 16/45? Or just plain old stock?

o'town929 · 09-27-2003, 10:17 PM

What is stock? Is it 16/43?

Keith1K · 09-27-2003, 10:57 PM

Quote:

o'town929 : What is stock? Is it 16/43? *

yep thats stock

HondaGalToo · 09-28-2003, 10:47 AM

Yup, stock is 16/43. *The 15/44 combo I'm using is fine on the street, it just seems a little buzzier and of course I have to shift out of 1st and 2nd sooner. *Other than that, no real disadvantages. *It makes the rpms run maybe 500 or so more than the stock gearing.

Most folks change gearing for track use, which is why I did it. The stock gearing is way too tall for most tracks. For me, it made the slow, tighter turns better in second, whereas before first was too much, but second bogged down a bit. If you only street ride, the stock 16/43 is probably the best.

Dragger · 09-28-2003, 1:35 PM

I changed to a 16/45 with a chain and sprocket replacement and like the results. I do track and street riding and the change helped both. The track that I ride at, Hallett Motor Racing Circuit has one 1st or 2nd rear corner depending on how you want to do it. I did not like using 1st and 2nd was to tall but with the change 2nd works better now. My 929 also seems to pull better everywhere and the rpm change was not that big. I have had the bike up to 160mph and it still pulls and does not hit the redline so IMHO the change was good for the riding that I do.

red929 · 09-28-2003, 2:14 PM

OK, so what's the differences between 15/44 and 16/45?

trey · 09-28-2003, 8:41 PM

The 15/45 will pull a bit harder then the 16/46. Just putting a 15t on the front will make a exceptional difference.

Try doing the 15t on the front, lots of people do it and like it, its very cheap also.

red929 · 09-29-2003, 4:55 AM

OK, thanks everyone for your inputs

As I mentioned previously, I plan on changing to a 520 chain when I install my 954 swinger and I would really like to have it geared a little better at the bottom than it is now. As it is now I find myself having the same first or second gear dilemma in slow corners that others have mentioned ... there just doesn't seem to be the right gear the way it's now geared. Anyway, making the transition to the 520 also precludes me from being able to experiment cheaply (just changing the front sprocket etc.) so I thought I'd ask here before I send DK another $227

Right now I'm leaning toward 15/44. Does anyone running this combo have one of those speedo recalibrators? I'm curious what the error would be and if anyone already has the correction for the calibrator already sorted.

TA

HondaGalToo · 09-29-2003, 7:51 AM

Yes, I'm running the 15/44 and I have my Ahlman's speedo recalibrator set at 12%. The last dipswitch I think is set at 9 because I lowered the gears.

Baketech · 09-29-2003, 8:13 AM

I like the 15/44 on the street, this should be the stock ratio for the bike imho......but I am 200 with gear....

No way to really say what is the 'best' ratio.....too many variables....roads, tracks, riding style, etc.....

Your best bet is to just jump in and give them a try....stats and specs can only give you a relative idea....you really must ride the bike to tell what you are going to prefer as a rider.....

HondaGalToo · 09-29-2003, 8:41 AM

Yup, what Baketech said. I tried the 15/44 first because I could keep the stock chain. When it's time for a new one, I'll switch to 520. I'll likely keep this ratio. At most, I would maybe go to 15/45.