I want a little more accelleration out of the old girl, and I don't mind sacrificing a little top speed.  How much time do you really spend at 100+ anyway? I don't need a stunt machine, but the ability to actually ride a wheelie would be nice.  On all of my old yamaha RDs I either dropped a tooth up front, or added three in back. Any suggestions?

Most people go for the 15T front sprocket.  This seems to do the trick.  Good luck.  

I'm sure you can find a 15-toother without any help, but if you don't mind a little comparative data see my Chains & Sprockets chart.

i dropped a tooth in front and added 10 to the rear....its good if you dont do much over 80.....it was fun but i went back to stock on the back for now cause im going to school and will do nothing but back roads.....no more stop light racing

Woohoo! I just swapped my front stock sprocket with a 15t. It definitely makes the bike feel alot smoother on takeoff. Very nice. on the highway it did run at higher rpms but that was alright too since by tooling around higherup in the powerband I get to maximize whatever oomph the GS has.

I got a 15 tooth front sprocket, and everything to rejet it, subsequently, for around $30, and it made my bike run like a different machine.   Not sure about riding wheelies, but the front wheel will pick up fairly easily if you get on it and slip the clutch.  I don't miss losing any top end really.

Gibby G.[/i]

Quote from: KerryI'm sure you can find a 15-toother without any help, but if you don't mind a little comparative data see my Chains & Sprockets chart.

Kerry or anyone,
   Do you know the difference between the 89-93 front sprocket and the 94' and up?

Quote from: BriggsKerry or anyone,
   Do you know the difference between the 89-93 front sprocket and the 94' and up?

Sure do ... see THIS POST and also THIS POST.

I was looking for this post ast week! Thanks, I should of just asked. You probably have the url memorized.

Quote from: BriggsYou probably have the url memorized.

Nope - I Search 'em out every time.    I DO remember key words like

* "cable business end" (for a stuck choke cable) and

* "stock sprocket shoulder" for your question

* etc.[/list:u]

Does anyone have any experience w/ the 14T sprocket?

Chris

Quote from: 1998_GS500Does anyone have any experience w/ the 14T sprocket?

I did a Search for the keywords 14T sprocket and checked the Search for all terms option.  I found 10 matching message threads, but the following two seem like they are the most relevant:

14 or 15 tooth front sprocket

has anyone droped 1 to 2 teeth on the front sprocket?[/list:u]

Yes, I could have searched, but since the topic had already been opened I thought I would ask.

Chris

Quote from: 1998_GS500Yes, I could have searched, but since the topic had already been opened I thought I would ask.

Please don't misunderstand me -- I don't look down on anyone because they didn't do a search.  I mostly want to make sure that you get links that are helpful to you.

Just in case you needed more info than you get from the 2 threads I listed, I wanted you to know how you could find some more.  (Without having to wait on guys like me, who aren't quite always here even if they would like to be.   )

Personally (to quote Inigo Montoya) "I hate waiting."  So I search instead!

EDIT: Changed "smiley", added last sentence.

Sorry if there was a misunderstanding and thanks for the links, I will check them out.

Chris

i did 14T.....I liked it....much fun coming out of corners!!!!!
i might shorten the chain life a bit....i don't care ....chains are cheap
and up to 70.....it acts like a big bike..... :mrgreen:  :mrgreen:

I went down to a 15T and it made a great overall improvement to the bike. I find gears 4-6 much more useable, more torque. I don't ride triple digit  speeds to often but I did almost top it out on some wide open at 115. My Bike still doesn't hit red line in 6th (At least not in a reasonable amount of time, did not want to keep it WFO too long) So I'm thinking I can gear the bike down a little more without  affecting top speed. I will probably go up a few on the rear when it's time for a new chain.

I did the 15T thing for a while and found myself sitting about 10-15km/hr over the speed limit because that's where the engine felt like it wanted to be.  This also sat it about 1000 rpm higher in the rev range, which did make a noticeable difference in the fuel consumption (poorer).  I have since gone to a 17T because it will still get away from the lights OK (with a bit of clutch slip) and is happier on the highway.  Kept the back stock size throughout.