As well as the normal four years worth of chain lube and grime it turns out i've been rolling with a 17 tooth sprocket since i got the bike 15000kms ago...
Who would have thought aye?

Guess she'd be a whole new bike with a 15t...

Also looking at one of these for touring for anyone interested in Aus. Seem ok.. Dunno tho
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/windshield-large-Honda-VTR250-Spada-250-GS500-ER5-/320607330558?pt=AU_Motorcycle_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4aa5afa0fe

If you go froma 17 to a 15 on your bike you'll find that you basically move all gears down one. 6th will feel like 5th, 5th like 4th etc.... First gear will feel like low range. Your overall performance won't change, but you''l have a low first good for pulling wheelies or hill starts two-up, and you'll be revving like the current 5th gear when you're cruising in 6th. If you want to know how it'll feel, just don't use 6th for a few days. Unless you're into stunt riding I reckon you'll soon get sick of it! I put a 17 on mine and love it.
David.

Good heads-up on that ebay site, Clancy. He had GS500 muffler kits a while back too, at about $150 and in a range of colours. The kit required cutting off the OE muffler and welding on the new one but at that price......Good to see an Oz ebay seller posting up the GS500 gear....maybe we can encourage him to extend his range a little?

Quote from: the mole on October 24, 2010, 03:50:09 AM
Your overall performance won't change.

If it does not change performance why do people change gearing.  what is your definition of performance?

I think what he is trying to convey to you is that there will not be a HP gain. I measure performance in improvements. If you want your bike to be a iitle quicker and you go down 2 in the front. That will give you an improvement from where you were. it all depends what you want your bike to do.

When you said an interesting find I was half expecting you to say "a couple of the previous owners fingers" 

yeah I was waiting for something crazy too.... like a snake or something.

Quote from: sledge on October 24, 2010, 09:05:03 AM
When you said an interesting find I was half expecting you to say "a couple of the previous owners fingers" 

LOL Sledge!

Quote from: albertinhouston on October 24, 2010, 08:01:52 AM

Quote from: the mole on October 24, 2010, 03:50:09 AM
Your overall performance won't change.

If it does not change performance why do people change gearing.  what is your definition of performance?

I think what he is trying to convey to you is that there will not be a HP gain. I measure performance in improvements. If you want your bike to be a iitle quicker and you go down 2 in the front. That will give you an improvement from where you were. it all depends what you want your bike to do.

No, it won't improve your overall acceleration. It will give you a lower first, after that its almost the same. If that suits your riding style, go for it.
An example : Take 2 identical GSs, put 17t on one, 15t on the other. Same weight riders, race them from a standing start. The 15t will take off a little quicker, with less clutch slip and be ahead (I dunno, a bike length or two?). After that there will be no significant difference in acceleration between them except for slight variations either way as they change gears at slightly different times. There will be a slight difference due to the fact that the gap between the ratios is less in the higher gears, but given the torque spread of the GS it won't be much.
There would be a difference if they both used the exact same gear at the same time, but obviously they won't as the taller geared bike holds a given gear to a higher road speed.

To two decimal places, the gearing of a 17t in 5th gear is 5.99:1, and a 15t in 6th gear is also 5.99:1, so the two bikes will have identical speeds, rpm and performance.

I like how my 15th feels. Esp. because 98% of my riding is in metro traffic. I get off at the light a little faster to get away from the crazies! That and a rejet Flick to me is a whole different bike!

Mary

im loving the 17t but i know not of what i'm missing. Would like to try a 15 just for shits and giggles.... Not really interested in stunting or fast launches. Most of my commute is 80 or 90 kph and interstate touring..

As I said, you won't actually get any extra giggles with a 15, unless you're into stunting and fast launches!

P.S. If you want to try a 16, I've got one with 3,500 km on it.

Sorry but what is the GS500's stock sprocket?

Quote from: Twisted on October 27, 2010, 01:12:44 AM
Sorry but what is the GS500's stock sprocket?

16 front.

Michael

Quote from: Toogoofy317 on October 25, 2010, 12:14:39 AM
I like how my 15th feels. Esp. because 98% of my riding is in metro traffic. I get off at the light a little faster to get away from the crazies! That and a rejet Flick to me is a whole different bike!

Mary

I have a 15. Great for metro commute. Horrible for highway or probably anything over 55-55mph. It feels like you missing the 6th gear or need a 7th.