17T Front Sprocket

[twocool]

Not really......not worth the $30  and effort to mess with the gears.....

GS500 is really smooth bike in the first place...

the useable range in EACH gear is like from 3500 to 11,000...so 500 is minor at best..

Cookie

Objectively there is very little difference. Subjectively 500rpm can mean the difference between a bike that's comfortable or a buzz bomb.

[twocool]

But I have AVERAGED 65 for the life of my bike (stock gearing) ....gotten as high as 80 on one run...many runs in the low 70's........

My average for the last 10 tankfuls is 63.........suspiciously the same as you are getting..hmmmm?

So tell me again what the bigger gear is doing for you?

Are you posting your mileage on fuelly?   Run 10 or 20 tanks...then see what you have...one tank is subject to too many possible errors...gas mileage needs to be spread out over many tanks to equalize the errors...

BTW...if fuel mileage is your goal....changing gearing is not the answer......it is all about the throttle.....

just sayin'

Cookie

I just calculated my 1st tank of fuel with a 17 tooth front sprocket. 62mpg. Fan-freakin-tastic.

[Janx101]

17/37 would be close to the 18/39 on our '07, and that thing was like unrideable lol 

2.17 vs 2.16  .... I have an '06 so probably fairly similar eh ...

unrideable ... errr ok ... wheels fall off or ran out of rego or something? 

to use a term much bandied about lately... thats subjective ..

i think my nieces hysoung gv250 is near unrideable ... cos im almost 6' and every time i turn the bars for a 'parking lot' type turn .. the bars hit me in the knees and put me in a wobble ... but her being 5'6" with shorter legs... she loves it.

the mates Buell Lightning is also almost unrideable... he has it wound up so tight and twitchy throttle wise that you can almost break the speed limit just by hitting a pothole... but he can make that thing dance!

every different 'vehicle/bike' i have ever used .. all the power is different .. the gears are different ratios .. sizes of vehicles are different .. stock vehicles and fairly heavily modded vehicles .. some of them take a little bit of working out and getting used to... but ive never found one yet that i couldnt adapt to ...

i dunno .. some can deal with changes and some cant i guess ..

personally i dislike home workshop bobbers to some degree and wouldnt own one ... not my style ... but i look at some of the ones here and i can appreciate the passion and work that the owners put into them .. they love the 'extra rebel' factor ... im not about to go stomping around and wailing that it should have been left pristine and virginal with original everything though ... that would be almost rude! 

[mister]

An additional benefit of riding every 500rpm less is, over the course of the next 10 years and 100,000 miles, his engine will have revved heaps less than it otherwise would have. So maybe he gets an extra year out of the engine. And That's a good thing.

[Old Mechanic]

I log all my tank mileage on another forum. What people do not include is their average speed, which dramatically affects fuel mileage. My overall average speed is right at 40 MPH and I live in a fairly densly populated area with a total of 46 traffic lights in my normal 40 mile ride.

My average on stock gearing is 62.8 MPG over the 2k miles I have put on the 94 since June of this year.
I can't understand the conflict here, over a piddly 5.88% lower revs.

Like I posted before, if you never carry a passenger then when it comes time for the parts to be replaced. I will upgrade to the 17 tooth front sprocket.

Rounded off to 6%, you're talking about 3 MPH difference in speed at 50 MPH. A very slightly higer load on the engine which improves efficiency at the same speed. 6th gear would be good for me down to 35 MPH, versus the current just over 30.

It's about the difference between a 3.90 and a 3.73 rear axle in a car.
9422 RPM versus 10K.

regards
Mech

[BassWoW]

I wont lie- I actually enjoy having the 17th sprocket- Best damn decision of my life.

I wanted that extra few MPGs and I also didnt want my mirrors buzzing like they would at high speeds.

The larger sprocket blew me away. I couldn' t be happier and I could care less of what anyone else thinks.

I installed it and I made that choice.

[jboogie13]

I'm giving twocool the benefit of the doubt, he sits in a radio shop all day...I'd be a miserable tart too if I had to do that.....I prefer the rest of the airframe.

[twocool]

I actually spend more of my time FLYING.....

But personal attacks are fine...especially when you can't back up your point with facts......

Cookie

I'm giving twocool the benefit of the doubt, he sits in a radio shop all day...I'd be a miserable tart too if I had to do that.....I prefer the rest of the airframe.

[jboogie13]

I actually spend more of my time FLYING.....

But personal attacks are fine...especially when you can't back up your point with facts......

Cookie

I'm giving twocool the benefit of the doubt, he sits in a radio shop all day...I'd be a miserable tart too if I had to do that.....I prefer the rest of the airframe.

Facts about what? the effects of going up one tooth on the front sprocket of a 34 hp motorcycle?

Not exactly ground breaking stuff here.

[twocool]

Well..."some" say that changing gears is the cat's meow...the greatest thing since sliced bread....the best single thing you can do to your GS500.  (of course if you look back, the discussion was why LOWER gears are better, now its is why HIGHER gears are better...hmmm)


In reality, there is no measurable improvement whatsoever.........only "it feels good"...but what would you expect someone to say after then sent away for new gears and installed them.?

So if somebody is going to tell me how great it is...they better back up their statements......

So far only lame claims...like "my mirrors don't shake"   or better mileage (when it is not better mileage) and base that claim on one tankful...

I still can't get over the fact that the original poster "tested" his new gear ratio only up to 5th gear....and "calibrated" his speedo and determined it to be 100% accurate, when we all know differently...

Hey...if anybody wants to change gears.. ok do it...but don't try to "bull crap" it to justify.......

stupid myths will continue.......gas, oil, spark plugs, additives, tires.........many are taken in by the myths...


Cookie


.......





[/quote]

Facts about what? the effects of going up one tooth on the front sprocket of a 34 hp motorcycle?

Not exactly ground breaking stuff here.
[/quote]

[Janx101]

I don't think the people that want to make the changes have to bull crap on it at all .... There's surely enough bull crap 'static' coming from some quarters already!

It's like watching Sheldon being interested in bikes all of a sudden! 

The posters aren't telling YOU twocool ... They are telling all of us... But you keep on demanding scientific this and triple blind that ... That's what they do in your workplace and mindspace then sweet!? ... The rest of us just like to compare notes and enjoy having the bike as we wish ... Whether its pure fantasy or actual 'evidence' ..

I don't agree with heaps of different bike stuff that people do ... But I appreciate that they do love it! .. This isn't discovery channel!! .. And even the Mythbusters have a certain leniency and humour in what they do ...

Sheesh! .. Relax!

[twocool]

In other word, on changing gears..."you got nothin'"

BTW...let's give the "little engine that could" it's full credit...47 HP (not 34)

But its simple...people on this group make some pretty outrageous claims........I ask for them to backup what they say....and mostly they can't...then the trouble starts.....

If you want outrageous claims to go un-challanged....then what's the point of a discussion group?

Cookie

I don't think the people that want to make the changes have to bull crap on it at all .... There's surely enough bull crap 'static' coming from some quarters already!

It's like watching Sheldon being interested in bikes all of a sudden! 

The posters aren't telling YOU twocool ... They are telling all of us... But you keep on demanding scientific this and triple blind that ... That's what they do in your workplace and mindspace then sweet!? ... The rest of us just like to compare notes and enjoy having the bike as we wish ... Whether its pure fantasy or actual 'evidence' ..

I don't agree with heaps of different bike stuff that people do ... But I appreciate that they do love it! .. This isn't discovery channel!! .. And even the Mythbusters have a certain leniency and humour in what they do ...

Sheesh! .. Relax!

[Mauricio]

BTW...let's give the "little engine that could" it's full credit...47 HP (not 34)

At the crank on a good day. Measure at the wheel and you are lucky to get into the 40s.

As for the GS being "a really smooth bike"...  compared to what? An old British single maybe? Ride a modern I-4 and tell me again how smooth the GS is. This illustrates the point you are missing: the GS is smooth to you, much like a 17 tooth front sprocket is all sorts of awesome to him.

[Janx101]

Point is .... It's a discussion group ... Not a federally funded fact finding mission reporting to 'the boss' ... Friendly discussion ... Mates sharing opinions and info on things as they see it... I'm sure EVERYONE has mates/buddies that they can talk to without being hassled for proof every second sentence ... "How can they say 'I can't believe it's not butter?' ... Why isn't it butter or what is it if it isn't? .. What's the chemical composition and molecular weight?... How do they know what I believe? .. Are they spying on us? ..."

That would shaZam! me to distraction!


Also what it isn't is a engineering group with prizes for the shiniest and straightest slide rule!!

I would have thought all this thirst for exacting data would result in some 'for the good of the people's knowledge' testing ... By the people desiring the proof...

No point calling for volunteers for it either... The others are not bothered by it!..

I wanted headlight comparo info .. So I went and did it myself ... All very amateur too ... Spent 3 hours out in the night air .. I didn't know enough of the camera to do the exposures right so the photos are ordinary!! ... But I'm getting a handle on it and have a vid cam now too... Which should help a fair bit I hope!

It's not for everyone else to suit your need for proof ... You are the one disputing it ... So provide the factual and proven rebuttal ! ... Instead of just being the opposite of the claims ... Which is .. 'cant be so because I "know" it' ... Where is the data that proves the can't case? ... Personal experience is subjective on both points of view so far ..

Still .. It's probably (even without proof) ... Giving everyone's eye rolling muscles a good tone up ... Even this bit!   

[jboogie13]

I'd just give up people, the pilot is always going to try to get the last word. He needs the validation.

Twocool, I'm all for accurate information, but since page one of this thread, you have been correcting every little bit of this discussion in the douchiest way possible. It is possible to contribute information about how to obtain enough data to convince even your highness, without being so rude about it.

This wasn't a how to thread, and it wasn't presented to be used as any type of standard.

As for your "loads of bull" on this forum...welcome to the internet. It would be wise of you to learn to see through it and leave it at that. 

[gsJack]

In other word, on changing gears..."you got nothin'"

BTW...let's give the "little engine that could" it's full credit...47 HP (not 34)

But its simple...people on this group make some pretty outrageous claims........I ask for them to backup what they say....and mostly they can't...then the trouble starts......................................

How about backing up your claim that the GS has 47 HP,  it has about 40 HP give or take a couple at most.  Every published road test that I've seen backs this up but what do the road testers and their dynos know compared to a GS500 expert like you?

http://www.gs500.net/gallery/data/500/GS500tests.jpg

The members of this forum who posted in this thread including the OP are just expressing their opinions not stating facts.  And they are expressing opinions about something they have actually tried and you are disagreeing based on not having even tried it.  To reply to a relatively new rider expressing his opinion on a sprocket he has actually tried by calling it "bull crap" is close to personal attack in my opinion and personal attack is not welcome here.

I think it's about time to send this thread to the Tard Farm which I almost did last night!

[Soloratov]

I provided hard facts in the first post on my 18T thread, hard numbers, based on multiple tanks of gas, and I wasn't doing it just for mileage, which I made clear. I provided hard data numbers on mileage difference, and RPM range. I still got flack for that. So facts or not, some people just can't handle someone's opposing view.

[jboogie13]

I provided hard facts in the first post on my 18T thread, hard numbers, based on multiple tanks of gas, and I wasn't doing it just for mileage, which I made clear. I provided hard data numbers on mileage difference, and RPM range. I still got flack for that. So facts or not, some people just can't handle someone's opposing view.

But your tachometer wasn't calibrated to within .05% error. Consider your numbers debunked. 

[SAFE-T]

I could care less if I got 'better' gas mileage since the GS500 is already quite good to excellent in that respect. The 'less engine wear' claim is even more specious.

But the bike is just plain better with a larger front sprocket for some people, and a couple hundred rpm either way is both quantifiable and noticeable when you are on the thing all day.

[BassWoW]

In other word, on changing gears..."you got nothin'"

BTW...let's give the "little engine that could" it's full credit...47 HP (not 34)

But its simple...people on this group make some pretty outrageous claims........I ask for them to backup what they say....and mostly they can't...then the trouble starts......................................

How about backing up your claim that the GS has 47 HP,  it has about 40 HP give or take a couple at most.  Every published road test that I've seen backs this up but what do the road testers and their dynos know compared to a GS500 expert like you?

http://www.gs500.net/gallery/data/500/GS500tests.jpg

The members of this forum who posted in this thread including the OP are just expressing their opinions not stating facts.  And they are expressing opinions about something they have actually tried and you are disagreeing based on not having even tried it.  To reply to a relatively new rider expressing his opinion on a sprocket he has actually tried by calling it "bull crap" is close to personal attack in my opinion and personal attack is not welcome here.

I think it's about time to send this thread to the Tard Farm which I almost did last night!

You my friend said exactly what I was thinking!