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Different
sprocket sizes - larger or smaller - what is the impact to
performance?
Final
drive ratio.
Divide
the rear sprocket tooth count by the
front tooth count and you have the
final drive ratio. For example: 35
/ 15 = 2.33:1
If you want to change your
gearing, you can calculate the impact of
the change before you purchase the new
sprockets.
For
example; your bike cruises at 60 mph /
4,000 rpm and has a final drive ratio of 2.33:1 -
if you want more acceleration, putting
a 37 tooth sprocket on the
back and leaving 15 on the front changes
the ratio to 2.47:1 (37 / 15 = 2.47:1). Divide your
cruising RPM by 2.33 and multiply
by 2.47. Using the example from
above, 4,000 rpm becomes 4,240 rpm
at 60 mph.
Changing sprocket diameter can
present problems - sprocket clearance on the
front limits how big you can go, and you want to avoid
going too small as the tight turn wears
the chain prematurely. Additionally, you can
run into
problems with the chain slapping the swingarm
if you go too small on front
and/or rear. This is something you
cannot always see when the bike is
static, the combination of swing arm
movement over the bumps, and
acceleration or deceleration cause the
chain to tag the top OR bottom of the
swingarm.
Changing
sprocket sizes may effect
chain length. As roughly 1/2 of
each sprocket has chain touching it,
each tooth added to stock sizes will
require approximately 1/2 link of
additional chain. Increasing total
teeth by one or two teeth can usually be
accommodated by moving the rear axle
forward slightly and keeping the stock
chain length - but if you start changing
sprocket sizes more than one or two
teeth, you will need to increase chain
length. Going up four teeth will
require a chain 2 links longer.
JT Sprockets has an excellent
sprocket reference - see below for link.
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