I'm thinking of changing the sprocket sizes when it's time for me to install a new chain and sprocket set. I've done some research on the forums and internet but still, I'm not certain if deviating from the stock teeth count will give me what I want from my CB500F. I would like some advice from others who have made this change and what you think.
I ride my 2015 CB500F to commute to work on congested city roads with slow-moving traffic on somewhat rough and uneven roads, reaching up to speeds of 40/50 MPH but mostly on speed limits of 30 MPH. I also take my bike out to bigger and faster roads with speed limits of up to 60 MPH. However, this is not done very often and I rarely ever use the motorway (highway)
I've found the gearing range to be very short with the stock sprocket ratios and having to work through the gears a bit too much to my taste. I often find first and second gear to be too responsive and jerky, very small throttle inputs give drastic acceleration or engine braking effects. I feather the clucth at slow speeds but i still find it to be jerky often. Third gear in traffic seems to lug the engine, be less responsive which does help reduce the throttle jerk, however, the bike just feels wrong and unhappy in this gear.
I was wondering if changing away from the standard sprocket sizes would allow me to stay in gear for longer and not work through the gears as much, while still having enough torque with slower speeds and RPM's while also being responsive enough but not so jerky in responsiveness nor be lugging the engine? Am I asking for too much or is this possible to achieve with sprocket teeth changes?
I think back to the 2017 Honda NC750S I learnt to ride on, obviously, it's not the same bike as the CB500F, but I could comfortably reach 20-30MPH in second gear on this bike without it screaming, nor did it have any jerky responses from small throttle inputs.
I ride my 2015 CB500F to commute to work on congested city roads with slow-moving traffic on somewhat rough and uneven roads, reaching up to speeds of 40/50 MPH but mostly on speed limits of 30 MPH. I also take my bike out to bigger and faster roads with speed limits of up to 60 MPH. However, this is not done very often and I rarely ever use the motorway (highway)
I've found the gearing range to be very short with the stock sprocket ratios and having to work through the gears a bit too much to my taste. I often find first and second gear to be too responsive and jerky, very small throttle inputs give drastic acceleration or engine braking effects. I feather the clucth at slow speeds but i still find it to be jerky often. Third gear in traffic seems to lug the engine, be less responsive which does help reduce the throttle jerk, however, the bike just feels wrong and unhappy in this gear.
I was wondering if changing away from the standard sprocket sizes would allow me to stay in gear for longer and not work through the gears as much, while still having enough torque with slower speeds and RPM's while also being responsive enough but not so jerky in responsiveness nor be lugging the engine? Am I asking for too much or is this possible to achieve with sprocket teeth changes?
I think back to the 2017 Honda NC750S I learnt to ride on, obviously, it's not the same bike as the CB500F, but I could comfortably reach 20-30MPH in second gear on this bike without it screaming, nor did it have any jerky responses from small throttle inputs.