ok so riding home tonight on my gs it started raining and that sucked but then what had been happing with my bike before is happening again. but this time worse. I think one of the sprockets are bent or the chain jsut sux and has a screwed up link it makes it feel like the bike wants to wabble at slower speeds because the chain will catch at the same spot every time and kinda wabble or pull and cause the bike to jerk. I think it just may be the chain. what are the common prices on real good chains? im thinking of getting one of the colored ones. my friend has one on his ninja and cost him 80$. and I would like to buy two new sprockets as mine are slighty worn anyways.

its often a good idea to change sprockets and chain as a set anyway. 80ish is in the ball park for decent chain, might find lower, shop around. not sure what sprokets run but here.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=4535071729&category=35600     front sproket


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=4534582452&category=35600   chain


Or the whole shebang, though I myself think its too expensive with shipping

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10534&item=7960162041&rd=1  All three

You might also check out my GS500 Chains & Sprockets listing.

I know that at least one person went for the black Western Power Sports O-ring chain for $44.95.  (You can get a gold colored one for $59.99, but you will have to cut off at least 10 links....)

thanks guys. I hadnt even got on ebay yet so thanks so much for checking that out for me I bought the front sprocket on the first link you gave me. it shouldnt change anything since it sais lightweight racing should  it? it should be just like when we change pulleys on cars and actually give me a little more push but with out really effecting anything.

im still gonna do some searching on chains, i see where it says O ring chains. is there any kind of other chain for the motorcycle?

The listing I linked to also includes X-ring chains.  You can buy standard, ringless chains, but it's probably not a good idea.  They are cheap and they will work, but they require more maintenance and don't last as long.

My '99 came with an X-ring chain.  Most earlier years came with an O-ring chain.  When I wore out my stock X-ring chain I replaced it with an O-ring chain.  The price-to-wear-index ratio for the D.I.D. units was about the same, so I opted to replace the chain slightly more often, but to take a smaller "hit" each time.  (After all, you never know when you'll wreck the bike and waste the extra money, right?)

that makes sense. thanks

so since im spending the money what type of rear sprocket would you suggest? i want something better of course if i can get better.

http://www.bikebandit.com/partsbandit/productlist~section_dept_id~338701~terrain_dept_id~16772~cat_dept_id~926362~product_dept_id~927540~selection_Path~3.asp

looking at the alloy one. is this an upgrade to stock , looks like it is stock gearing but do we have a steel stock sprocket or aluminium?

Whoa!  No, not stock gearing.  The stock sprocket has 39 teeth.  Adding 6 on the back would be like dropping 2 (to a 14) on the front.  Wheelie time!

It's up to you, of course, whether you replace your sprocket and whether you go with a "fancy" one or not.  But if you're wondering whether you need to replace it ... probably not.

How many miles does the sprocket have?  My stock rear sprocket has 34,000+ miles on it so far.  gsJack is the "king of the rear sprocket", having never replaced one in all of his years of riding.  (That includes his '97 GS500 with .. what .. 80,000 miles on it?)  In simple mathematical terms, the rear sprocket should last nearly 3 times as long as the front one ... right?  (39 teeth vs 16)

Here is a diagram from the Clymer manual:



and one from the Haynes manual:



Inspect your sprocket and see what you think.  :dunno:

It's not impossible for your rear sprocket to be badly worn, but that should only happen with:

* LOTS of miles, or

* Next to NO maintenance (dirt and grit wearing it down), or

* A pretty bad alignment job.[/list:u]

yea i probly could get away with using the sprockets i got now but the problem my bike is having is pissing me off and I got sick of dealing with more problems on my cars so i dont want to deal with problems on my bike so im just buying new parts for it. eventually i will have it repainted and bring it back to all its amazing glory.

nevermind I gave my dad a call today. he explained to me how everything was going to work (hes an engineer btw) so I should listn more to him.

stock gearing is 2.44 so this setup I just bought will change it to 3.0

im gonna try it out and see how it feels. if i dont like it i will buy OEM sprockets.

One more thing.  With 6 extra teeth in the rear you're going to need a few more than the stock number (110) of links in the chain, even after dropping one tooth in the front.

Sorry I didn't think of that sooner....

why would the manufacture tell me it only needs 110 link chain then.

oh well i guess you live and learn right. too bad i have to learn by spending money lol.