lose 6th gear?

[Will McClard]

I did some figuring and if I changed my front sprocket from the stock 16 to a 14 tooth, my new 6th gear would be almost exactly like my present 5th gear.
I went out for a highway ride and didn't shift to 6th. I spend most of my time on the highway between 65 and 80. I don't know if it is just habit but I really wanted to shift up. I didn't like it at all. I'm sure I would love going through the lower gears with quicker shifts, but not sure I would get used to the highway ride.
The bikes reliability at 7k is probably is just as good as at 6k. Mileage would probably drop a little. Comfort over time would be down from the additional vibration. Top speed wouldn't change, can't pull 5th or 6th to red line.
Hum what to do??
Some of you guys must have done it. What's your experience?

[TragicImage]

14 is too small.


go 15 if you have to go down at all.

[scratch]

-1 tooth on the front sprocket is equal to +3 teeth on the rear.

I went to a 40 tooth rear and didn't like it.  The bike didn't like it either.  The engine was more busy, not buzzy, but it was working harder.  Makes the bike more sensitive to throttle inputs.  Fuel economy suffered; not alot, but enough to make me go back to stock.

[Queso]

I went to a 15 tooth front and a stock rear sprocket, and I'm quite happy with it. The higher revs on the freeway are tolerable, and a fair trade for how much quicker I can accelerate on the freeway. I don't see a huge boost in town unless I really open up the throttle, though.

[Will McClard]

I went to a 40 tooth rear and didn't like it.

What is stock for the rear?

[Alphamazing]

I went to a 40 tooth rear and didn't like it.

What is stock for the rear?

39 tooth

[Will McClard]

I went to a 40 tooth rear and didn't like it.  The bike didn't like it either.

Wow! I just found out that stock is 39. I'm surprised you noticed a difference.

[rangerbrown]

what gears would be best for cruseing?

i see 80mph almost all the time to work on the bike and thats right at 6500rpm i would like to bring it down (the rpm to 5000 or maybe 4500 rpm. i dont care about the power loss, and i am sure i will never beable see the true top end of such a gear but this is mainly to help reduce the speed the engine is runing to try to save some gas and thus geting more miles per tank. for cruseing long distance.  if this could be done with the stock chain that would be even better.

i want to get the kanta (spell) whell and run a 42 gear sprocket on it and then the stock front for my track and other windy roads were top speed may never hit over 90mph (deals gap).

[Alphamazing]

what gears would be best for cruseing?

i see 80mph almost all the time to work on the bike and thats right at 6500rpm i would like to bring it down (the rpm to 5000 or maybe 4500 rpm. i dont care about the power loss, and i am sure i will never beable see the true top end of such a gear but this is mainly to help reduce the speed the engine is runing to try to save some gas and thus geting more miles per tank. for cruseing long distance.  if this could be done with the stock chain that would be even better.

i want to get the kanta (spell) whell and run a 42 gear sprocket on it and then the stock front for my track and other windy roads were top speed may never hit over 90mph (deals gap).

Get a 17T front sprocket and you should notice a nice change. If you want it lower go down in the rear sprocket size.

Also, Katana wheel**
That's a good idea, too. Two sets of wheels for quick swaps between tire types. You could easily get some long distance touring tires for commuting and some sticky ones. Would only take an hour to change out wheels, maybe less once you get good at it.

[rangerbrown]

i can drop and swap in less than 20 mins now,  dont ask.  were can i get a 17 front?

[Alphamazing]

i can drop and swap in less than 20 mins now,  dont ask.  were can i get a 17 front?

Eh, try a search on here. Search for "sprocket" "2004" "gs500f" or something. SunStar makes sprockets for the F, and so does JTSprockets, I believe.

[rangerbrown]

whats the gestameno meter say on the drop of rpm?

[Alphamazing]

whats the gestameno meter say on the drop of rpm?

guestameno?

16/17 = .941176

Your revs will change by ~6%

[rangerbrown]

doesn't seem like much. but

~390 rpm so it will bring it to about 6k

so lets say one up front and 2 in the rear, should still alow the stock chain. what would a two down in the rear bring it to % wise?

[Alphamazing]

doesn't seem like much. but

~390 rpm so it will bring it to about 6k

so lets say one up front and 2 in the rear, should still alow the stock chain. what would a two down in the rear bring it to % wise?

One up in the front and 2 down in the the rear:

16/39 ÷ 17/41 = 16*37/17*39 = .892911

Your revs would change by about 11.3%

[rangerbrown]

ok so thats a 740 rpm change so i would be below 6k at 80mph


so about 5700rpm at 80 mph   i still wonder if that enough, hell it may be too much. witht he small engine and all

[TragicImage]

doesn't seem like much. but

~390 rpm so it will bring it to about 6k

so lets say one up front and 2 in the rear, should still alow the stock chain. what would a two down in the rear bring it to % wise?

One up in the front and 2 down in the the rear:

16/39 ÷ 17/41 = 16*37/17*39 = .892911

Your revs would change by about 11.3%

math dork!

DO MY HOMEWORK!

[scratch]

A larger rear tire is almost the same as dropping a tooth on the rear sprocket, too (or, going to a 17t front).

[rangerbrown]

true, but that more weight.