Topic: Sprockets, one for the FAQs section maybe.

[Hush]

Here's one for the FAQs section, I've always been bamboozled by the front/rear sprocket sizing issue untill recently I read a great little tip in "BIKING 09" a magazine liftout.
Renthal sprockets who make aftermarket cogs for bikes explains it like this: For a rear sprocket, go smaller for bigger speeds, go big for quicker acceleration.

For front sprockets it's vise versa so go bigger for speed and smaller acceleration....simple eh, just my poor old brain could not grasp the concept until I saw it in print like that.
Oh yeah free advert for the fine people at Renthal, www.bandcexpress.co.uk

[754]

How long have you had a bike...

[Ecosse]

sometimes it's the seemingly simple things that throw ya. all it takes is the right perspective.

the big question then becomes: "what ratio for my bike?"

[Hush]

I've had bikes since 1969 but have rarely thought about gearing and such, just rode them and rebuilt them.
I'm only looking at sprocket changing as my 79 CB650PZ was apparently geared "up" so it had plenty acceleration over short distances which was what the cops wanted in a bike.
When I get on the highway it feels like the gearing is holding it back, so I'm guessing that if I replace the rear with a smaller sprocket I'll lose acceleration but gain better highway speed.
This has been a problem for me since I resurrected the 650 as it barely keeps up with my friends machines and is revving like Hell when it does.
I do remember one accidental re-sprocketing I did when on a trip on my Suzi T350 the rear sprocket started firing teeth off like bullets, I rushed into the Suzuki dealer in Wellington and bought what i thought was a stock rear, turned out to be a Suzi 400 Savage (trail) and I got to pull wheelstands in 4 gears ha ha ha.....hmmm that should have taught me something I guess!