highway gearing

[nastyjones]

I am interested in lowering my revs on the highway and wonder if 13-38 is too radical. I realize I would sacrifice acceleration but that is ok. I am converting to 530 chain as well. Bike is a 1980 gs1100-16v

Paul

[tkent02]

I am interested in lowering my revs on the highway and wonder if 13-38 is too radical. I realize I would sacrifice acceleration but that is ok. I am converting to 530 chain as well. Bike is a 1980 gs1100-16v

Paul

Just curious, are you cruising all day at 140 mph or something?
Chugging these engines is not good for them.

[nastyjones]

Nope, just interested in a calmer ride, less vibs, better mileage, longer time in the saddle, etc

Paul

[mriddle]

I would go with a larger front and a relative sized rear ..

I think you would avoid clearance issues as well as possibly extend chain life with a larger front sprocket.

[Nessism]

I would go with a larger front and a relative sized rear ..

I think you would avoid clearance issues as well as possibly extend chain life with a larger front sprocket.

Agree. You need large front sprocket and small rear.

[Mysuzyq]

Nope, just interested in a calmer ride, less vibs, better mileage, longer time in the saddle, etc

Paul

To that end, I went with an 18-47 combo with my 530 conversion kit. Drops rpm by around 300 at 60 mph/ 100 kmph....doesn't sound like much, but it makes all the difference, and with negligible loss of oomph off the line. This combo works out to 2.62 : 1, taller than stock ..... the 13-38 you planned will actually raise your cruising rpm, IMO. The Z1 enterprises site explains how to work out the ratios, if you want to do some sums.

Tony.

[saffa]

on my 1170 ...ive gone with a 530 chain ...17 tooth up front and 42 on the rear ...gives 80 mph at a shade under 4500 rpm ...plenty still there ....6000 rpm gives you +/- 120mph ....so the motors ticking it over and barely breaking a sweat at legal speeds

gets good gas milage

[kochic]

Hi,
Got 17/43 530 with 17'' wheels on my GS1000.
Marc

[Texasgs]

ratios, and sprockets.

I am interested in lowering my revs on the highway and wonder if 13-38 is too radical. I realize I would sacrifice acceleration but that is ok. I am converting to 530 chain as well. Bike is a 1980 gs1100-16v

Paul

What you do if divide the number of teeth of the front sprocket into the number of teeth on the rear sprocket. No my 82 GS100 the rear sprocket is 42, and the front is 15, so 15 into 42 is 2.8, which is 2.80 to 1. On a 13-38 setup you get a 2.92 to 1 ratio, which speeds the engine up on the highway. It is true these engines were not made to be lugged, but you can slow them down a bit without hurting a thing. After all these bikes were made to post the absolute best times at the drag strip, and that means low gears.

By the way a number that is numerically higher like say 4.0 to 1 is a lower gear than a number that is numerically lower like 2.0 to 1. So high numbers are low gears, and low numbers are high gears that slow the engine doun on the highway.

Here is a link below for an 18 tooth front sprocket, it is like adding an overdrive. With a 42 tooth rear sprocket it will give you a 2.33 ratio, and that will slow the engine down about 20% at any speed. It will slow down acceleration slightly, but if you have the power it can increase your top speed by over 25 MPH

http://www.oldbikebarn.com/Kawasaki-Suzuki-Yamaha-Front-18-Teeth-Sprocket?sc=12&category=73754