Sprocket Gearing

[trezza]

back to the chain running out of adjustment, my bike had 21k on it, and the factory chain had run out of adjustment, but i needed a few more weeks out of it, so i took 1 link out and it was dinky dory until i got my new one
now ive got a DID x-ring gold chain (amazing chain!) off ebay for $170 delivered
but i want to go up just 1 tooth on the rear to a 42 i think. i like overgeared bikes n cars, but factory vtr is a bit too much, where my ute is no where near enough... always the way!

[omallesh]

Hi Guys .. A newbie on this site... I do a bit of highway touring and the odd track day.. (some of the touring involves the good twisty stuff as well). Was wondering if anyone has tried a 16/43 combination in the 520? Wondering about fuel economy (as already pretty bad...) ie how long between refills (got a 2003.. so small tank)? also wear and what sort of real difference the gearing makes.. find on standard gearing in twisties on real tight stuff you want to go down to first which ends up locking the bike!! and second leaves revs a bit low for good pull out of corners.... On 520 just wondering those who have used how much faster the wear rate actually is?

[colinlinz]

There are heaps here that use that combo, but not me. I just dropped 1 tooth of the front. For highway use I prefer the standard set up, but for anything else a shorter gearing works well. Can't say that I really noticed fuel usage, it isn't something I care about.

A 520 has 1/3rd less bearing surface than a 530 chain, so all things being equal (they rarely are), they will have 1/3rd the life.

[shayne]

16/43 is perfect in my opinion. No idea about fuel consumption.

Plenty of people get equal wear from the 520.

[omallesh]

Thanks guys. Been helpful. Will let you know how it all goes... have decided to keep the 530 for teh extra durability but will be going up two teeth on the back sprocket..

[chuck]

All the posts i've found on here about sprockets so far have been about either going down one tooth on the front or up on the back.

Has anyone tried goin down teeth on the rear?

Trying to get longer gearing for the track.

[bluestorm04]

Dec 22, 2010 13:09:18 GMT 10 @chuck said:

All the posts i've found on here about sprockets so far have been about either going down one tooth on the front or up on the back.

Has anyone tried goin down teeth on the rear?

Trying to get longer gearing for the track.

Unless youre trying to match top speed with a litre sportsbike (which you wont), shorten the gearing for punch out of corners. I went up 2 teeth on the back as many do and the transformation will amaze you. If you went for a taller ratio it would take an eternity to wind up to top speed anyway.

[colinlinz]

It probably won't pull a longer gear anyway. The straight would have to be long. I don't top out at QR.

[drew4health]

I tried an experiment and went up just one on the rear.

It is noticeably better to ride, smoother in 2nd out of tight corners, pulls wheelies much easier, yet hasn't upset the fuel economy much at all

[ZEN61]

I know this is an old post but I thought I'd post a link to to the Gearing Commander website for those looking to see the differences in using different cog combinations.

www.gearingcommander.com/

The VTR is in the database. Not sure whether I should have posted this in a resources section of the forums or not so sorry if this in the wrong place or if it's been posted before.

[vtrstormer]

I know this is an old thread but again I am looking to change my gearing and like the thought of +2 or +3 on the back but this is where my questions start.....

If I go this configuration what chain do I need to buy? I have just looked up the mcas website and they have

Standard
Reinforced
O ring
No O ring
520
530
Coloured
Non coloured etc etc etc......

Any ideas? Thanks

[nitros]

I went to a 43 tooth rear.

Just bought a 530 x-ring 120 link chain and removed extra links to suit.

By changing the standard gearing you may need to buy a speedo healer to re-adjust [correct] your speed also.

[vtrstormer]

Thanks mate what brand did you end up going do you know? And I'm guessing your front is standard?

[nitros]

43 tooth was on a special. It's a Vortex alloy.
Front is standard.

Chains I just get the DID brand.
Sometimes I get the gold link if on special.

[binny]

Just FYI 520, 525, 530 etc is the width and strength of the chain. 530 is standard for the storm. Its fairly common to do a 520 chain conversion which means you buy and new 520 chain and both sprockets to suit. I wouldn't recommend it for the storm though as its torque is pretty hard on chains and will kill a 520 chain pretty fast. A 520 lasted ages on my Z750 because of its smooth power delivery.

Its really up to you whether you change the size of the front or rear sprocket (or both). I went down a tooth on the front of my last storm and was happy with the results.
I will do the same with this bike because it has an almost new chaingang rear sprocket which lasts for ages. If you need a new chain or your rear sprocket is worn anyway its probably less bother to change the rear one.

[vtrstormer]

I have always wondered what the numbering was, I first thought it was the number of links but that can't be right, anyway thanks for the info on this. I think I am due for a new chain and sprockets so might do a new standard front new chain and +3 on the back....

[colinlinz]

The numbers are the chain size expressed as 1/8" increments. A 530 chain is 5/8" pitch, by 3/8" width. A 520 is 5/8" pitch, by 2/8" (or if you like 1/4") width. Where you sizes like 425, it just means 4/8" (or 1/2") pitch 2.5/8" (or 5/16") width.

[vtrstormer]

May 13, 2014 18:53:21 GMT 10 colinlinz said:

The numbers are the chain size expressed as 1/8" increments. A 530 chain is 5/8" pitch, by 3/8" width. A 520 is 5/8" pitch, by 2/8" (or if you like 1/4") width. Where you sizes like 425, it just means 4/8" (or 1/2") pitch 2.5/8" (or 5/16") width.

Thanks for the info on this. So is the main reason riders do the 520 conversion is for weight reduction and so you can use after market sprockets?

[colinlinz]

There are plenty of aftermarket sprockets. The main reason is lightness. It is an accelerated mass, and as such it can effect throttle response, To a lesser extant it can also add extra load to the shocks damper system, but it would be hard pressed to notice. All up, you could probably measure the difference in lap times in 100ths of a second, but seat of the bum, on road differences wouldn't be meaningful.

As for wear, most chain manufacturers quote less life for the 520. After all, it does have 33% less bearing surface. In practice, it would be tough to quantify, as the conditions of use are so difficult to control. Also sprocket and chain qualities can be significant.

[vtrstormer]

Do people recommend oem if we are talking just life span or are the alloy ones pretty good now?