Topic: 1972 CB-350F Chain, Sprockets, Tires.

[Salem350F]

I need some opinions and help on 1972 CB-350F.  The chain on my bike is stretched to the limit, the sprockets look good but I want to replace the whole rear end at one time, new tire & tube, brake linings, chain and both sprockets. The PO put a 400 x 18 tire on that has some checking and minor dry rot; the tire looks too fat for the bike.  The Clymer manual says 350 x 18 was stock, is this correct?   The front is a 350 x18 like new “Formula” tire, would running 350 x 18 front and rear be OK? 

What would the metric equivalent of a 350 x 18 be?

I do not really want to buy a Chin Shen tire that is what seems to be showing up for 350 x 18

I counted links and sprocket teeth on the bike today

Front: 16 Teeth
Rear: 36 Teeth

Is this a good set up, should I duplicate it?

Chain: Dennis Kirk site says 530 sprockets and Chain, is this correct, I looked for numbers on my chain but couldn’t find any.  I do not want to saw through my crankcase!!

I counted 94 links on the chain and this is at the end of the adjustment with almost too much play, is this the correct number or is this chain been stretched to you know where and back?

Thanks for you help in advance!!

[Einyodeler]

`72 - `74 CB350F came factory equipped with 17 front and 38 tooth rear sprockets and a 102 link 530 chain,looks like somebody went 2 teeth down to lower the revs a bit on the highway.So your chain is way stretched if you only have 94 links.Tire specs are 3.00-18 front and 3.50-18 rear,which would be 80/90-18 and 100/90-18,but those sizes are hard to find these days so you could go with 90/90-18(3.25-18) front and 110/90-18(3.75-18) rear.Bridgestone Battlax BT-45`s come in those sizes if you want a good quality sport-touring tire.

[MetalHead550]

Yeah, Id be replacing that chain STAT!  Not safe like that in my OP.  Be careful if you go with an o-ring chain cuz I recently  had one zaw my crankcase, as you stated.  The 750 may have more clearance but the o-ring chains are a good amount wider than standard so check very closely!

[acastle]

`72 - `74 CB350F came factory equipped with 17 front and 38 tooth rear sprockets and a 102 link 530 chain,looks like somebody went 2 teeth down to lower the revs a bit on the highway.So your chain is way stretched if you only have 94 links.Tire specs are 3.00-18 front and 3.50-18 rear,which would be 80/90-18 and 100/90-18,but those sizes are hard to find these days so you could go with 90/90-18(3.25-18) front and 110/90-18(3.75-18) rear.Bridgestone Battlax BT-45`s come in those sizes if you want a good quality sport-touring tire.

I just got a 530-102 link chain in the mail today and it is wayyyy to long for the CB350F. I had to lob off 4 links just to get it within the range of the adjuster. This bike needs something more like a 530-96 link chain or even less. The next time I have to work on the back tire I will definitely be taking it down another 2 links to give myself some room for adjustment. Just my 2 cents if anyone is looking for info on the chain specification for this particular bike.

[Powderman]

By changing the front sprocket to a smaller one (from a 17 to a 16) will increase rpm at any given speed. By dropping 2 teeth on the back will lower the rpm at any given speed. By going smaller on both pretty much cancel out the change from factory going from a 2.235 ratio (38/17) to a 2.25 ratio (36/16)

[camelman]

I found the stock gear ratio to work great.

Nothing to add other than recommending a 100/90 in the rear. The 110 is just a bit too wide and will result in faster tire wear, uneven wear and less than optimum handling.

[2BrokeBikes]

`72 - `74 CB350F came factory equipped with 17 front and 38 tooth rear sprockets and a 102 link 530 chain,looks like somebody went 2 teeth down to lower the revs a bit on the highway.So your chain is way stretched if you only have 94 links.Tire specs are 3.00-18 front and 3.50-18 rear,which would be 80/90-18 and 100/90-18,but those sizes are hard to find these days so you could go with 90/90-18(3.25-18) front and 110/90-18(3.75-18) rear.Bridgestone Battlax BT-45`s come in those sizes if you want a good quality sport-touring tire.

I know it's almost 20 years later, but wanted to thank you for this post, Einyodeler. Very helpful! I couldn't find any info in the manual on the stock rear sprocket, or anywhere else on the internet. (Although, I have to mention that the manual does specify a 96L chain  )