changing sprocket sizes

[nisom512]

Hi I recently have been going threw a change in my chain and am doing my sprockets as well. I am going with stock up front witch is 15 and then 45 in back (50 is the stock size) is this to big of a difference with the stock size chain.(110)

1.is this gunna fit?
2.should i just go with a 50 again.
3. I would like to do a 53 or so would that fit?

thank you
Jake

[Clone]

My question would be with the ratio you have now, what rpm do you trn on the highway and around town? Because I gotta tell you if you change that by going up five on the back, you will turn around 1000rpm more on the highway, even more with a 53. The buzzwould drive me insane.
What is your goal as well, faster off the line, better feel while driving, economy?
I am pretty sure that going up 5-8 teeth will do nothing but shorten your legs in each gear and get you off the line faster, good only if you race.

[Steve]

... if you change that by going up five on the back, you will turn around 1000rpm more on the highway, even more with a 53.

Look again, Clone, he is going the other way. Stock is 50, he is installing a 45.

Hi I recently have been going threw a change in my chain and am doing my sprockets as well. I am going with stock up front witch is 15 and then 45 in back (50 is the stock size) is this to big of a difference with the stock size chain.(110)

Jake, I can understand dropping teeth on the rear sprocket to reduce engine speed, but be aware that the 550 might need those rpm just to make enough power at freeway speed.

Now, if you are interested in switching from a 50 to a 45, why would you consider going the other way, back to a 53?

.

[SqDancerLynn1]

Keep the stock gearing, If you go to a 45 on the rear w/ stock front you will think you disconnected one of the plugs and are running on 3. The 550 needs the RPM's to make power

[nisom512]

so the general concensus is looking to be the stock size. I actually havnt driven with the 45 on yet I am fixing a problem that happened from my old chain coming off.

Yes I want a bigger sprocket to have better low end. I didnt think before I bought this one that a smaller one means slower off the line.

[SqDancerLynn1]

Bigger on the rear =More RPM Bigger on the front = less RPM
one tooth change on front = aprox 3 tooth change on rear

[nisom512]

Bigger on the rear =More RPM Bigger on the front = less RPM
one tooth change on front = aprox 3 tooth change on rear

yeah i got that but how about this a one tooth smaller change on the front how does that sound?

[Houdini]

Sounds good, gets you closer to stock... you could even go to a 13 to get the lower end power you were looking for.

Some would say the smaller front sprocket will wear the chain faster....but I suspect a chain that's poorly maintained and adjusted to tight is the fastest contributor to chain wear.

[Old Colt]

Way back when I used to race these things I changed gearing all over the place. Most of my changes were with the front sprocket since it was easy.

My opinion with the 15-45 ratio.
1, If you ride two up it will be a bit tougher driving off from a stop.
2, You will get better gas mileage in general riding.
3, You will need on occasion to drop a gear to pull a hill where you used to lug up in 6th.
On both my 79 and 83 GS 550 I ran tall gearing when road riding, up to 18 tooth front with stock rear. Similar to what you have in hand. I averaged in the low to mid 60s for economy. The only issue I ever noticed was the 83 has a hole in the torque band that became an irritant when cruising. On the 79 550E there were no issues with the taller ratio. My 83 is the 16 Valve engine so quite a bit different than yours.

[Suzuki_Don]

Charlie did the 18 tooth front sprocket interfer with the clutch pushrod.

[Steve]

yeah i got that but how about this a one tooth smaller change on the front how does that sound?

As far as the ratio is concerned, it's probably fine.

What you also need to watch is clearance. When you go to more or fewer teeth on the sprocket, the diameter changes. A larger sprocket (more teeth) may be large enough to get the chain to drag on other parts, someone mentioned the clutch pushrod. A smaller sprocket (fewer teeth) might be small enough to allow the chain to drag on the swingarm. There are options to the stock gearing, you just have to be careful how your achieve them.

.

[Old Colt]

Charlie did the 18 tooth front sprocket interfere with the clutch pushrod.

I do not recall an interference there. I have an 18 on my Hayabusa now and should have a second one either on one of the 550s or in the carry box.
I will try to get the time to pull the side cover and look.

[Suzuki_Don]

I do not recall an interference there. I have an 18 on my Hayabusa now and should have a second one either on one of the 550s or in the carry box.
I will try to get the time to pull the side cover and look.

Thanks Charlie.

[nisom512]

how about I just return both of them and get the 50 tooth back and a 14 front. i will be driving on interstates more tho this year than ever before to go see my girl friend at school. so I dont know how much higher the engine will rev she is already prety high when I am going 65-70mph

I guess I should just stick with stock sizes.

[mottyl]

I don't know the exact numbers but the previous owner put a larger rear sprocket on my 83 750 and I find that it really sucks.

While city driving I have to shift every 10 feet. (ok not exactly) and on the highway at 100 k the motor is up around 6k. I am sure there are plenty of reasons for changing sprocket sizes but I find on a stock bike for basic commuting, leave it stock.

jm 2 cents

C