Topic: non-original sprocket replacement, what would you do?

[JBMorse]

Well hang it all.  I had ordered a plethora of parts for my CB500, chain and sprockets included.  I did some research here about what sprockets to get.  Stock sizes are 17t front and 34t rear.  Some folks use different sizes for lower highway revs and such, but my reading here indicated that stock is fine.  These bikes like to rev.
So anyway, I got around to removing the old rear sprocket tonight, and it's a 37t!  So what do I do?  Just say f$%k it and put my new 34t on?  The bike ran fine with the 37, fast, slow, 2-up included.  But it's supposed to have 34t.  I don't know, I guess I'm just confused.
After so many hours in the shop the synapses start firing all over the place! 
Thanks,
Jeremy B

PS It's really cool how easy those rear hubs shine up!  My yellowed, cruddy hubs came real clean with nothing but a light run of fine steel wool.  The old bike's gonna be spiffy!

[Popwood]

Have you checked the front sprocket? Is it stock? Since someone fiddled with the rear, they may have changed the front as well. I figure the engineers at Honda had it figured out so when it left the factory it hit the "sweet spot." Some riders change to suite their riding styles and objectives. If you don't yet have a riding style or have the knowledge of what you want different from stock, I'd start with stock, ride with it, then make some informed decisions if I wanted to change.

[dave500]

the larger rear will lower the overall gearing,great if you live and ride through hilly areas,not so good once in 5th on the freeway,,youll get less accelleration now but more top end speed.EDIT now with your smaller rear sprocket...

[Kframe]

the larger rear will lower the overall gearing,great if you live and ride through hilly areas,not so good once in 5th on the freeway,,youll get less accelleration now but more top end speed.

That's contradictory.  You can't say good in the hills but bad on the freeway and say you'll have less acceleration low but higher top speed.

Increasing the count on the front has the same effect as decreasing the count on the rear = slower pickup but higher top speed (theoretically).

Decreasing teeth on the front is the same as increasing teeth on the rear = quicker pickup but a lower ceiling.
-K

[dave500]

err,kframe,youve miss read my words,the only posted info here is that hes swapping from a non standard "lower"(more teeth)ratio rear sprocket ,to the smaller standard(less teeth) rear sprocket,,,which will give less rpm per mile.no mention of the front tooth count,,.the 34 will rev less at any given speed than the 37,,the 37 will get him into the rev/power band sooner,,,and will in fact be a better choice ,,if jbmorse lives and rides in a particularly hilly area,,devoid of crappy freeways,the 37 would have been,,maybe ,,better,for him,,if he lives on freeways,the stock 34 is the choice,,but the 37,WILL do better in the accelleration side of things.,and get the bikes power on tap sooner,,like through hills.,,the first thing jbmorse will find is that 1st is a bit taller.umm,,ive had 250cc two stoke dirt bikes geared to a to a top speed of 50 mph,,yet big 600s never get out of third and cant catch me on tough tight tracks,,,,,,,why???