650 Transalp 14-tooth front sprocket

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Hi folks,

There's been a bit of talk at times on this forum and in other froums from TA 650 owners wanting to gear their bikes down a little. The standard (2006/7) sprocket size is 15t front and 48t rear. The only lower option from Honda is a 49t rear sprocket. The TA 600 has a 14t option but that sprocket does not fit the 650. There are a couple of other bikes with the same spline but not with the correct offset, different mounting systems or other problems that require some machining for a still not quite right result. Renthal, JT Sprockets etc don't make 'em and after trying local engineering firms and emailing dozens of www suppliers and manufacturers I got put onto a UK company www.intobikes.co.uk. They stock & supply a 14 tooth front sprocket for the TA 650. Check this link out: http://www.intobikes.co.uk/products?...nda%20transalp

The AFAM sprocket is manufactured in France and is identical to the OEM item except it does not have the rubber on the back. (I dunno what it's there for?) It fits and installs in the same way as the OEM sprocket including the locking ring and bolts.

I have done 460km on it including the Canterbury Anzac Day Adventure which was very testing and over some pretty rough tracks/ground/mountain and it seems to be fine. In top gear the bike is running approx 300 rpm higher at the same speed. ie 5000 rpm = 105kmh, previously that was approx 4700 rpm. There appears to be a real difference in bottom gear. The bike gets away with less feathering of the clutch and pulls better. It is definately happier pottering at lower speeds through difficult going.

Cost was $54.16 including freight and I had the sprocket 11 days later.

Check it out as an option if you want to gear your Transalp 650 down a bit. I have a track day comming up shortly, it will be interesting to see what if any difference there is to the top speed although that's just for acedemic interest.

Have any TA owners done the exaust subchamber removal and drilled out airbox modifications to their bikes? If so how did it work out? Did you need to adjust your fueling or replace the jets etc? Supposedly it gives better bottom end response and better fuel economy. Did it work out that way?

Cheers,
Tim.

[windboy]

Very interesting,

Mine is a 2005 vintage and as far as I know it has the original front sprock, however, mine does about 5000rpm at 100ish, which I don't mind.

Although I've never ridden anything excessively steep or sticky I have found the the gearing is absolutely spot on...

On a different subject: any preference on front tire for the tranny?

later,

[NordieBoy]

My Nordie uses weird sprockets as well.
I got a local engineering shop to buzz an old sprocket down and weld a new cheapie MX one to my sprockets inner.

If that made sense.
Better than paying $150 for a new one from Engerland.

[timg]

Very interesting,

Mine is a 2005 vintage and as far as I know it has the original front sprock, however, mine does about 5000rpm at 100ish, which I don't mind.

On a different subject: any preference on front tire for the tranny?

later,

Hi, On the standard gearing mine was approx 4500 rpm/100kmh. I normally toddled along at 105-108kmh at 4700/4800 rpm commuting on a cop infested road. Now the same speed is at 5000/5100 rpm. The sprockets have the number of teeth stamped on them. Sounds like yours is geared down more than mine - no wonder you like the gearing. I wonder if Honda changed the gearbox ratios at some stage in the product life?

As for tyres, I've no experience to date. The standard Trailwings don't impress me in the shingle/off road. Several TA owners on KB swear by the Mitas E07 which I'll give a try. 4800kms on my bike and the rear is just about cut out. Cheers,
Tim.

[timg]

My Nordie uses weird sprockets as well.
I got a local engineering shop to buzz an old sprocket down and weld a new cheapie MX one to my sprockets inner.

If that made sense.
Better than paying $150 for a new one from Engerland.

Hi Nordie,

Yes, I'd looked into that. However the two workshops I tried were not too keen on the idea and were not convinced the resulting glued together sprocket would run true. About the same time I found intobikes which was the cheaper option at under $55 anyway.

Cheers,
Tim.

[windboy]

Hi, On the standard gearing mine was approx 4500 rpm/100kmh. I normally toddled along at 105-108kmh at 4700/4800 rpm commuting on a cop infested road. Now the same speed is at 5000/5100 rpm. The sprockets have the number of teeth stamped on them. Sounds like yours is geared down more than mine - no wonder you like the gearing. I wonder if Honda changed the gearbox ratios at some stage in the product life?

As for tyres, I've no experience to date. The standard Trailwings don't impress me in the shingle/off road. Several TA owners on KB swear by the Mitas E07 which I'll give a try. 4800kms on my bike and the rear is just about cut out. Cheers,
Tim.

You should be sweet now with minus one tooth on the front...

My original front tire wore incredibly bad, ie. Brand spank in the middle, worn to buggery on the middle to side section, almost new on the sides..????!!!! As a result the bike handled very strange (especially offroad).

As if I didn't learn the lesson, my current front is another trailwing (301s this time). Luckily, the are a world apart from the original TW47, they have a lot more turning power on the loose gravel; not bad for $70 fitted.

[XF650]

My DT230 has the TW301 & TW302. I agree they are a great DP road tyre & hang on well in gravel, even at high speeds.
But for riverbeds, mud etc I have had some scary moments inluding a slow speed drop (tonight) on a wet track.
I think it is very easy to find the off road limit of these tyres, or am I expecting too much?
Would be great if someone has done a comparison with the Mitas E07.

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a slow speed drop (tonight) on a wet track.

Oooops!

[XF650]

Oooops!

At least the blackberry bushes made for a soft landing.
Wasn't long after seeing you Tim, coming home via the River track. Found an "alternative" route that got very slippery. Heaps of fun though.

[wibble]

I have an 06/07 model Transalp (the one with the black wheels) and I have changed the sprockets front and rear (and the chain now 520 pitch) for the ones from an NX650 Dominator which means I could go up one on the rear and down one on the front.

The bike is now a tractor in the mud and up really steep hills (firebreaks) even two up in a slow controled manner, not to say I dont spend a fair amount of my time on my butt, however it is now doing about 5,000 rpm at 100kph. However I dont think it goes any slower if you give it heaps it revs out to the limiter in top and returns about the same peak speed as it used to, standard it wont rev out in top, of course your thrashing the motor and it drinks gas pretty hard but I only ever take it over 100 in short bursts. I rode it to wellington and back from auckland the other week on this grearing two up with full Givi luggage on and it was good as gold.

I have also tried a set of cheap kenda moto-x noblies on it which worked great off road but are very sad on the tarmac and not as good on gravel as the origionals.

Altering the gearing helped me to manage this bike off road but I have found the Transalps biggest issue off road is its huge weight, not a good leaners bike for adventure riding on or even less to two up, and the fact that if I fall off on a firebreak/Hill/Bog, which tends to happen a lot, I cant pick it up again!

Bob

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and the fact that if I fall off on a firebreak/Hill/Bog, which tends to happen a lot, I cant pick it up again! Bob

Hi Bob, I can't locate the link now but do a google and you'll find info on picking up a heavy bike. Basically you put your back/bum towards & against the bike seat while crouching down, grasp something sturdy (pax footpeg carrier and engine guard mounts on the TA) and lift with your legs keeping your back straight. I'm neither big nor strong but I can lift my TA from laid flat on the lawn (haven't had to do it in the wild yet). Cheers, Tim.

[Ruralman]

HI Tim,
I've taken the sub chamber off mine - brings out as little bit more sound but not too loud. There was no need to alter jetting according to the mechanic who had a look at it afterwards. I think it has helped with bottom end and freer breathing but how do you really know without a before and after dyno??

I've got a Mitas Eo8 on the front now which replaced a Pirelli - I'm finding it excellent on the seal and on gravel roads. I have no intention of wrestling a 200kg Transalp around muddy dirt tracks, thats not what I bought it for and I have dirt bikes for that stuff. I do however do a lot of gravel kms and have also done the Maungatapu track with Nordie and our KTM friend up there who's name escapes me. On this track the T/A really impressed me, its ability to pull away quietly after slowing down to negotiate something on a steep track was very impressive - and a lot easier than the 1000cc V Strom that was with us. In fact I had to start off on a steep hill after helping get the Strom going after a wee incident - again the T/A did this far easier and with less drama than I expected - AND - I think my gearing is standard because it is doing 110km at 5000rpm. On this trip the bike was also very well loaded up with big rear topbox, saddlebags, tank bag plus 100kg of me.
The only reason I would consider gearing mine down would be if I was doing a lot of two up riding, and if that were the case I'd move onto a Tiger more quickly. (anyone wanting a bloody good Transalp? - PM me)

Oldrider had put a set of Mitas EO7's on his not long before he sold it and was really impressed with them - mine are slightly more road biased than his but they're still really good on gravel

[timg]

Thanks Bruce, any noticeable improvement in fuel economy, not that that's a big issue at $22 a tank/320km. I think the lower gearing helps me make up for my lack of competence ticking thru tricky places a bit slower. Not a problem for better riders such as yourself. Our Anzac Day ride was well outside my comfort zone and I was really glad I spent the time the previous evening installing the 14t sprocket (it only arrived about 4.00pm and I already had the bike preped and packed and initially wasn't going to). I think I'll give OR's E07's a try. I have a track day comming up which should finish off the current tyre so that seems timely. All the best, Tim.

[Ruralman]

Thanks Bruce, any noticeable improvement in fuel economy, not that that's a big issue at $22 a tank/320km. I think the lower gearing helps me make up for my lack of competence ticking thru tricky places a bit slower. Not a problem for better riders such as yourself. Our Anzac Day ride was well outside my comfort zone and I was really glad I spent the time the previous evening installing the 14t sprocket (it only arrived about 4.00pm and I already had the bike preped and packed and initially wasn't going to). I think I'll give OR's E07's a try. I have a track day comming up which should finish off the current tyre so that seems timely. All the best, Tim.

I don't think it made much difference to economy - most riding I get between 18-19km/litre. The thing that drops this is if I put the throw over panniers on - they stick out enough and create enough drag that it does make quite a difference. The other thing of course is how hard you're working the right grip!! - trying to keep up with bigger bikes like on the Passes ride certainly doesn't help economy, neither does hilly roads with lots of corners but then at times like that who gives a F about fuel economy. The fuel injected Tiger 955i uses significantly less fuel.

[SlipperyOZ]

HI Tim,
I've taken the sub chamber off mine - brings out as little bit more sound but not too loud. There was no need to alter jetting according to the mechanic who had a look at it afterwards. I think it has helped with bottom end and freer breathing but how do you really know without a before and after dyno??

I've got a Mitas Eo8 on the front now which replaced a Pirelli - I'm finding it excellent on the seal and on gravel roads. I have no intention of wrestling a 200kg Transalp around muddy dirt tracks, thats not what I bought it for and I have dirt bikes for that stuff. I do however do a lot of gravel kms and have also done the Maungatapu track with Nordie and our KTM friend up there who's name escapes me. On this track the T/A really impressed me, its ability to pull away quietly after slowing down to negotiate something on a steep track was very impressive - and a lot easier than the 1000cc V Strom that was with us. In fact I had to start off on a steep hill after helping get the Strom going after a wee incident - again the T/A did this far easier and with less drama than I expected - AND - I think my gearing is standard because it is doing 110km at 5000rpm. On this trip the bike was also very well loaded up with big rear topbox, saddlebags, tank bag plus 100kg of me.
The only reason I would consider gearing mine down would be if I was doing a lot of two up riding, and if that were the case I'd move onto a Tiger more quickly. (anyone wanting a bloody good Transalp? - PM me)

Oldrider had put a set of Mitas EO7's on his not long before he sold it and was really impressed with them - mine are slightly more road biased than his but they're still really good on gravel

Hey Bruce... No matter how hard you try mate, you'll never turn the TA into a Tiger!!