I've been thinking of getting a 45 tooth rear sprocket. Now I'm pretty sure that I need a bigger chain, but what about the gear ratios? Do I need to change those? Or will they change by themselves?

Yes, longer chain. No, don't mess with the gears.

Now, front sprockets are cheaper, and if I went with a smaller front sprocket instead: 1) would wheelies still be able to be done like they would with a bigger rear sprocket (go ahead and call me an idiot) and 2) would I have to get a smaller chain?

Technically, you should replace the entire set as one (chain & both sprockets) so they wear together.

Generally, smaller front sprockets arent recommended because it makes the chain work harder to go around the smaller diameter. And on some bikes it will move the chain too close to the swingarm (think "chainsaw"). If you see only going a couple teeth either way, that's how many more or fewer links you will need. It is easier to just order a longer chain and cut off what isnt needed.

And to figure the gear ratio from a sprocket change, take the number of teeth in the rear divided by the number of teeth in the front. I read before that a 10% difference ratio from stock is acceptable..... but I've gone way over that with no consequences. My $.02

My next question would be are rear sprockets difficult to install? 1-10, 10 being the most difficult.

Quote from: ragecage23 on August 31, 2010, 09:25:55 PM
but what about the gear ratios? Do I need to change those?

I dont think you can buy new gear ratios as spares anymore but it might be worth a call to your local dealer to see what they can offer 

http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=44849.msg502495#msg502495

http://tsubaki.com.au/tsscs/chain_length.htm

What are chain pitch and center distance?

bump

Quote from: ragecage23 on September 01, 2010, 07:51:44 AM
What are chain pitch and center distance?

Chain pitch is the distance between any three consective rivets divided by two. Gives...


Center Distance is the distance between the sprocket shafts. That is, the center of the sprockets.

Michael

So what was figured to be the best setup; pep when you need while given optimal gas mileage?

You can get non-original sized gears at:

http://www.sprocketspecialists.com/

Rule of thumb with chains:

Removing 1 tooth from the front sprocket is the same as adding 3 teeth to the rear sprocket.
Removing 1 tooth from the front sprocket is almost always safe. Removing 2 is sometimes safe.
You can usually add or subtract 3 teeth in total from the sprockets, without buying a new chain.

The teeth are additive. E.g. Removing one tooth from the front and adding three teeth to the rear only counts as a 2 tooth difference, as far as chain length is concerned.

Also... The stock bike will wheelie. You just have to do it right.

Oh yeah, I've gotten the stock bike to wheelie, I'm just trying to make it easier, thanks for all the help. I'm very new to working on bikes.

whats the stock tooth count on the gs500 ?

16 / 39 is stock
chain is a 520 size 110 links

I want to gain a lot more torque. Thinking about using a 15T front with a 46T rear sprocket.  Does this seem to aggressive, my last bike was a 97 bandit 600 that I stunted (put smallest front/biggest rear sprockets I could get) just not sure on the tooth count for front/rear.  I don't plan on stunting my 07 gs500f just want to be able to get up to 90mph quick as possible.

i went to 16/46 with 114chain and its at the edge to be too low gear ratio, gears 2 and 4 feels useless, but it acclerates pretty good. faster than 600bandit with stock gears

Remember that sprockets only change what you can do in 1st and 6th gear. They dont change the torque of the engine. Suzuki got the ideal sprockets figured out when they designed the bike. Only change them if you specifically want faster take offs in 1st or a different rpm at a given speed in 6th gear.

I'm sorry but that makes no sense about only affecting 1st and 6th? My 97 bandit had major acceleration gains in every gear and all speeds. I lost 15mph top speed at redline and 1st gear was very short.