aluminium rear sprocket - how long of life span, weight vs steel?

[Chuck78]

I've got a Hayabusa grade 530 o-ring chain, and now shopping for 530 sprockets. I am tempted to buy a nice looking aluminium rear sprocket, but I know the lifespan will be less than steel. How many miles or years do you think I can get out of aluminium vs. steel? It's an 844cc GS750 that I ride probably 5000 miles a year, sometimes fairly hard, but no wheelies or burnouts anymore.

[Chuck78]

Also, 15-41 (2.73 ratio) in a 630 was stock gearing, and it's fairly quick, but does spin about 5100rpm's at "70mph" which I think is really about 66 or 67mph with my 110/90-18 front). In a 530, a 17-47 (2.76 ratio) would be the closest gear ratio but slightly faster accelerating, or 18-50 at 2.78 ratio. I am leaning towards the 18-50 for a little extra chain clearance off of my new used aluminium GS1100E swing arm, as I don't want to ding it up if the chain gets loose. Think I will notice much rpm increase at 70mph, or much more acceleration power?

[chuck hahn]

JUNK....Dont do it. Got less than 5,00 out of the one I put on the 77 750. Go with the Sunstar steel ones is my recommandation.

[tkent02]

Once the sprocket wears a little bit, it starts to eat the chain, which eats the sprocket even faster. Vicious circle. My guess is that with both new sprockets and a new chain, the whole works with the aluminum rear sprocket would be shot in about 1/4 the miles as with a good steel sprocket. I'm sure it depends a lot on quality. There are also some aluminum sprockets with a steel rim, steel teeth. Almost as light as aluminum but without the wear problem. They are not cheap though, and I don't know if they are available for a GS...

[hjfisk]

I am running 16-43 's[ 2.68] on my 78 1000, seams to be a good ratio, I have a 160/60/17 rear tire. not sure what the final ratio is .Aluminum will wear much faster , and if you ride hard you can toast a sprocket in short order. I use to waste at least one a season road racing. And that was only 8 weekends a year.

[cableguy]

There has got to be a better way to shave ounces than compromise the strength of something as important as your sprockets.

[FiremanBob]

Aluminum is just not tough enough for the real world. Might be fine for a race bike on a clean track, where it will last a race or two, but if you want a reliable bike stick with steel. How much weight will it save, and what is a pound saved in the sprocket when these old steel frame bikes are so heavy everywhere else anyway?

[pontiacstogo]

..what is a pound saved in the sprocket when these old steel frame bikes are so heavy everywhere else anyway?

Removing a pound from rotational mass has a much greater effect than simply removing a pound from the frame or other parts of the bike.

Having said that, a sprocket change on it's own, isn't likely to make much difference .

[tkent02]

Yeah, it's unsprung weight too, so it's even better to lose the weight, but aluminum sprockets just don't cut it for me.

[Chuck78]

Got it... Cant find any 6 bolt gs sprockets with the inner piece aluminium & the outer in steel, so it looks like I'll be going with a 17-48 or 18-51. I'd prefer the 17-48 for weight, but with an aluminium gs1100e swing arm, I'm considering the 18-51 for more clearance as Ive read on Z1's 630->530 page that an 18 in a 530 is about the same as a 15 in the stock 630 in terms of diameter. I don't want to let an unnoticed loose chain gouge out my nice alloy swinger, but I do want a little more weight savings while running a wider gear spread to give me 3.2%-3.4% better acceleration but the same percentage decrease in vehicle speed at highway rpm 69mph@5100 approximately as is stock gear 140/70-18 tire, 5100 rpm will give me 66.7 or 66.9mph with the gears I'm contemplating. A worthwhile trade I think. I can always swap from 17-48 to 18-48 for a big change if a 17 is even a candidate

[Chuck78]

My options seem to be oem gs550 sprockets, JT, or Sunstar. Are there any other recommendations on brands or where to get good deals aside from ebay?

[nastyjones]

Right here my friend.

http://www.parts.suzuki-katana.com/

[FiremanBob]

My point was not the weight by itself, but the infinitesimal advantage possibly gained against the cost of wearing out the sprocket in a short time under real world conditions.

[mvalenti]

forget aluminum and steel.....

http://sidewindersprockets.com/titaniumII-sprockets.html

buy one for life...

[Fjbj40]

forget aluminum and steel.....

http://sidewindersprockets.com/titaniumII-sprockets.html

buy one for life...

You may want to research that one. Titanium is way more expensive than that sprocket sells for. A lifetime warranty.....biggest line of BS in existence. What happens if the company goes under in a couple of years?

I looked at their stuff a few weeks back when doing the sprocket/chain research.

The BS story on their website should get your spider senses tingling.....

For your reading

http://www.apriliaforum.com/forums/showthread.php?123965-Krause-Racing-Sidewinder-experience

http://www.kingofthehill.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=2918

http://www.apriliaforum.com/forums/showthread.php?123965-Krause-Racing-Sidewinder-experience

Just google " Krause racing chain" and there is more!