What does changing the sprocket on a motorcycle do?
The purpose of changing sprocket sizes is to alter the relationship between engine speed on your tachometer and road speed on your speedometer.
What happens if you decrease the number of teeth on the front sprocket?
And vice versa: decreasing the number of teeth on the front sprocket and/or increasing the number of teeth on the rear sprocket will result in lower top speed, higher acceleration and worse fuel economy.
How many teeth are in a R1 sprocket?
The stock sprockets on my R1 are 17 teeth in front, and 45 teeth in the rear. Some simple math gives us the gearing ratio: 45/17=2.647. Now I have a baseline to work with.
How does rear sprocket affect final drive ratio?
Gearing down by installing a larger rear sprocket (like with our YZ example) increases the final drive ratio and reduces top speed, but can increase acceleration. Gearing up, like with a smaller rear sprocket, decreases the final drive ratio and adds more top speed to your motorcycle or ATV. Short answers never tell the whole story, of course.
How can I lower my sprocket gear ratio?
To achieve your desired results will often involve some trial and error. It should also be noted that some models cannot accommodate larger front sprockets. Check before ordering. Often, the fitting of larger sprockets may require a longer chain. Check this too before ordering. Lowering the ratio increases top-end speed.
And vice versa: decreasing the number of teeth on the front sprocket and/or increasing the number of teeth on the rear sprocket will result in lower top speed, higher acceleration and worse fuel economy.
The stock sprockets on my R1 are 17 teeth in front, and 45 teeth in the rear. Some simple math gives us the gearing ratio: 45/17=2.647. Now I have a baseline to work with.
To achieve your desired results will often involve some trial and error. It should also be noted that some models cannot accommodate larger front sprockets. Check before ordering. Often, the fitting of larger sprockets may require a longer chain. Check this too before ordering. Lowering the ratio increases top-end speed.
What is the ratio between front and rear sprockets?
We explain it all here. Your gearing ratio is, simply put, the ratio of teeth between the front and rear sprockets. This ratio determines how engine RPM is translated into wheel speed by the bike. Changing sprocket sizes, front or rear, will change this ratio, and therefore change the way your bike puts power to the ground.