Hey there gser's I have been doing some regular maint. On my bike recently and I have decided after constantly adjust my chain it's over due for a new one. Since sprockets are not too relatively expensive to buy I go ahead and replace both chain and sprocket.
Now that I'm buy a new drive system I thought about goin up a size in front sprocket to a 17t in which I have been researching for a while and Im Pretty set on it.
I'm just really curious now as what other kind of sizing option there is out there, for example I have read that change to a taller tire /70/-/90/ can also drastically drop your rpms by somewhere about 1000. As were there 17t can drop it to around 400. I'm just curious if anyone has played with different tire heights along with sprocket sizing?
In theory, also somewhat proven by charts and tables made by other fellow gser's that by lowering your rpms at a given speed improves your mpg but can also raise your top speed with the adequate HP.
Just curious if anybody has played with this? Future thanks to any imput :thumb:
I ran a couple 130/90 rear tires on my 1st GS years ago because touring type tires that would fit came in that size and I was looking for long tire life like I got on my previous 400-750cc Hondas. Soon found out that the GS wanted to go around corners faster than the touring tires did. The 130/90 will drop rpm's and possibly increase gas milage but riding style will affect it more. I spent a lot of days following a conservative cruiser friend back then and got 65-70 mpg regularly riding that way with oem size tires, how much gas milage are you looking for?
Besides dropping engine rpm's the larger rear tire raises the rear end making the rake steeper and the steering quicker, I liked that feel but you may not. If you want to go that route a 140/80 might be a better choice, it's almost as big as a 130/90 and is a better fit on the stock GS rear rim. I've run only 16T and 15T front sproickets and got over 60 mpg overall average for all of my 170k GS miles over the 13 years I've ridden GS's.
Thanks jack!
Now when you say the gs wanted to go around the corners faster than the tire did what do you mean by that, the taller tire is a litttle less grip? Did you ever adjust the front tire size to fidle with the rake?
I'm really not looking for crazy mpg the gs does pretty well for fuel economy as it is I'm more looking for possibly raising the top speed. For my riding style I just feel like the gs is a little high strung, like it has more to offer than what is being given.
Curious what did you/ do think of the 15t frot?
In regards to the 17 th sprocket- I love it- I'm not sure ill go back. Everything seems smother going up in gears... But I like to ride between 4 and 5500.
I can tell you that the top speed does go up, riding in 6th is just like an overdrive and only nec. after 70. so in regards of switching at 60 to 6th and 70 at 6th means you have at least an extra 10mph span if not more.
Plus my MPG is better-usually it takes me $6 even to get back and forth from work 110miles. Yesterday I got home and halfway to work. so I'm sure it went up a bit. :cool:
I've run 110/70, 110/80, 120/70 front and 130/70, 130/80, 130/90, 140/70, 140/80, 150/60, 150/70 rear tires on my GSs on the stock 3.0 and 3.5" wheels. All of the tires I've run have been fitments approved by the tires maker except the 150/60 rear. The difference in handling due to tire size is hardly noticeable compared to the difference due to type of tire, stickier is fun and longer lasting is more economical. I've run bias, bias belted, and radial tires. No alterations are required to the bike for any of these sizes on stock wheels except the 150/60 and 150/70 which come close to or touch the brake rod and may require bending the rod a bit.
Yes, the 130/90 k491 and ME88 tires I ran on the GS were harder compound touring tires designed for heavier bikes and provided much less traction on the GS than all of the curent bias ply sport touring tires from the major manufacturers which are most commonly used on these bikes. They all come in both the 130/90 and 140/80 sizes.
I like my GSs with the factory gearing mostly but changed to a 15T front sprocket on my old 97 GS because it needed a bit more power to get moving smoothly on steep uphills with my 230-240# butt on board in the mountains. :icon_lol: My more flexible current 02 GS didn't need it but I did use a 15T for a while to give closer to factory engine speeds with larger rear tires but went back to a 16T when I put the 150/60 rear on since it's the same OD as a stock 130/70.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v443/jcp8832/CalcTireDims.jpg
What gsJack said about fuel economy is pretty much spot on. My GS500 is stock, but I usually only got 13 MPG out of it due to the way I was using the bike.
Wow thanks for yall's I didn't mean to abandon my own thread like that I got really busy last week.
As far as I see I'm convinced what has been said about riding range in rpm sounds perfect that's bout were I ride anyways. As far as tires I think I'll try 140/80 I like to go wider if possible, it's just that the gs tire is so skinny and I really like to dig into corners I feel like one day I'm going to just wash it out in a corner maybe I'm just Being a cry baby and it's a comfort thing. Lol
Since I'm going to replace chain+sprockets is there a place y'all like to ge your parts from?
I usually go through this little place in Cali called Rpe cycles, cycle gear. Com ( which shipping takes forever with these guys) or eBay if there is a good deal.