I did it the other way by fitting a smaller rear. I agree, it’s made a significant improvement.
Gearing up
G'day folks,
just fitted a 16 tooth front sprocket on Saturday. Must say it has transformed the bike . Not to the point of Halleluja Amen transformation but quite different in smoothness , quietness and ..well just nicer i guess. I was curious to try it. Took 10 minutes , easy job. I have done it to my previous bikes as well but really nice on this machine.
Cheers
just fitted a 16 tooth front sprocket on Saturday. Must say it has transformed the bike . Not to the point of Halleluja Amen transformation but quite different in smoothness , quietness and ..well just nicer i guess. I was curious to try it. Took 10 minutes , easy job. I have done it to my previous bikes as well but really nice on this machine.
Cheers
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What size sprocket did you mount on the rear? A 39?
Yes. Two teeth smaller. It’s a standard sprocket for an NC 700 if I remember correctly. I’ll dig out the part number if you like.What size sprocket did you mount on the rear? A 39?
My original sprocket had less than 2000 miles on it and is unmarked, so my plan is, when the current chain and sprockets are worn to the point of needing replacement, to use a bigger front one, new chain and the original rear. Whichever way works best will then be the way I go from there.
Try going up to a 17T. Drops revs at 60 mph by 600 rpm. Makes 1st gear more useful, cruising less "frantic" re engine sound..
Ralph
Ralph
I've considered going up to 17. How do you feel about your acceleration with it?Try going up to a 17T. Drops revs at 60 mph by 600 rpm. Makes 1st gear more useful, cruising less "frantic" re engine sound..
Ralph
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You don't have to put a new chain on for a 16T ?
No!You don't have to put a new chain on for a 16T ?
So does it accelerate slower now? What about acceleration from 65 or 70? What about top speed now?
On the subject of performance and sound, does anybody with this sprocket mod have a GoPro or something so we could see/hear the difference while you ride? I'd love to see videos with this. Now that I have a garage (my wife and I just bought a house with a 24x24 garage, albeit, it's not heated) I might actually be able to mess with my bike this fall/winter/spring. I probably won't. I'm not that handy, but you never know now that I probably can't afford alcohol... :confused2
I don't really feel any decrease in acceleration. It's definitely less frantic shifting. It used to really bother me that when taking off from a stop light I couldn't get all the way through the intersection without having to upshift. Now I can. It sounds exactly the same as it did before.On the subject of performance and sound, does anybody with this sprocket mod have a GoPro or something so we could see/hear the difference while you ride? I'd love to see videos with this. Now that I have a garage (my wife and I just bought a house with a 24x24 garage, albeit, it's not heated) I might actually be able to mess with my bike this fall/winter/spring. I probably won't. I'm not that handy, but you never know now that I probably can't afford alcohol... :confused2
Acceleration at high highway speeds is probably better under certain circumstances. I find myself in the best part of the powerband in fifth gear more frequently. This leads to slightly better acceleration in those circumstances.
Top speed also seems unchanged. 111 mph is the fastest I've ever gone. It wasn't bouncing off the rev limiter, but it didn't have anything worth mentioning left to give. I can't remember what my top speed on the OEM sprocket was, but I think other people have reported pretty much the same thing. I think around 110 is where it starts to creep no matter what sprocket you're running. If you're a small guy you might get more out of it.
I really think that the 16T should be the OEM part. It really gives the bike a more polished feeling.
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I didn't notice any appreciable difference in acceleration.So does it accelerate slower now? What about acceleration from 65 or 70? What about top speed now?
Spitfire500, I haven't noticed any detrimental impacts since swapping to a 16T front (stayed with 39T rear). Just an easier ride all-round, especially from standing starts at intersections turning left or right and less need to move up and down from 3rd,4th or 5th in the twisties. Can comfortably cruise in traffic at 45mph (70kph here in Oz) at around 3,500 rpm in top gear. Also, my speedo was out by about 4 kph which is now fixed courtesy of the gearing change!So does it accelerate slower now? What about acceleration from 65 or 70? What about top speed now?
I put a 16 tooth front sprocket on my CB500x. The change is very nice. It makes first gear much more usable - it used to feel like too low a gear. 5th gear sees much more use now; it used to be a gear just to pass through to get to 6th, but now 5th is a very comfortable gear to use at 55 MPH to about 65 MPH. 6th gear at 70-72 or 73 misses my bike's vibration range of about 5500 to 5700 RPM, so highway riding at 70 or so is much more peaceful.
I have not had a lack of power when starting off in first, even going up a hill. You do have to be a bit more careful with the clutch, though, when starting on a hill.
I can see that the OEM first gear would be best for off pavement travel, or if often carrying a passenger or lots of luggage, though.
I have not had a lack of power when starting off in first, even going up a hill. You do have to be a bit more careful with the clutch, though, when starting on a hill.
I can see that the OEM first gear would be best for off pavement travel, or if often carrying a passenger or lots of luggage, though.
I like the idea of slightly less RPM in 6th at highway speeds with a 16T. Do you lose any top end? I have 2 panniers and a top-box.
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