Bigger sprocket shorter wheelbase?

**Tony.OK** · 1st July 2008, 16:50

Ok so I've changed my rear sprocket to a larger one(45t) by 2 teeth, hoping to use an extra gear at Minefeild. Think I was only just tipping 5th going into Dunlop if I got good drive out of Higgins.
What I've ended up with though is my rear wheel all the way forward,its moved about 8-10mm from where it was, I'm hoping for a bit of extra accel but don't want to cause instability by having too short a wheelbase.
The other option is to put a 14t on the front and keep my old 43t on the rear,which should keep the w/base almost the same as before.
So finally I'll get to a couple of questions............

Is a 14t front too small which will cause too much wear on the chain?

Will keeping the 45t rear not affect the geometry,handling too much to worry about?...............also will it change the characteristics of the rear shocks damping?

Last question and possibly a dummy...............should I be aiming at topping out in 6th on the longest straights? Don't want it to turn into a wheelie monster.....its already a bit flappy up front.

Sorry for all the newbie questions...............but I guess if I don't ask I'll never know

**White trash** · 1st July 2008, 16:53

Shit, you don't want a look at my gearing.

I used three gears at Minefeild. 2, 3 and 4. That's it.

**Tony.OK** · 1st July 2008, 17:01

Originally Posted by White trash

Shit, you don't want a look at my gearing.

I used three gears at Minefeild. 2, 3 and 4. That's it.

Hahaa its alright if you've got 60hundred horsepowers

And a few extra revs wouldn't hurt either

**Shaun P** · 1st July 2008, 19:01

I think 14t on a thou is a bit tight, get a longer chain imo(but a 520 might handle it ok), also most thous benefit from a longer wheel base for drive and wheelie resistance this might also mean using a firmer rate spring for the shock if you do so due to the added lever.
Shooting to almost top out in 6th on the longest straight is the general rule of thumb.

**GIXser** · 1st July 2008, 20:11

for what its worth tony im running a 46 on the back and only touch fourth

**Robert Taylor** · 1st July 2008, 20:35

Originally Posted by Tony.OK

Ok so I've changed my rear sprocket to a larger one(45t) by 2 teeth, hoping to use an extra gear at Minefeild. Think I was only just tipping 5th going into Dunlop if I got good drive out of Higgins.
What I've ended up with though is my rear wheel all the way forward,its moved about 8-10mm from where it was, I'm hoping for a bit of extra accel but don't want to cause instability by having too short a wheelbase.
The other option is to put a 14t on the front and keep my old 43t on the rear,which should keep the w/base almost the same as before.
So finally I'll get to a couple of questions............

Is a 14t front too small which will cause too much wear on the chain?

Will keeping the 45t rear not affect the geometry,handling too much to worry about?...............also will it change the characteristics of the rear shocks damping?

Last question and possibly a dummy...............should I be aiming at topping out in 6th on the longest straights? Don't want it to turn into a wheelie monster.....its already a bit flappy up front.

Sorry for all the newbie questions...............but I guess if I don't ask I'll never know

On for example a GSXR1000 the difference between rear wheel fully forward in the swingarm and fully back is half a spring rate. Also, lengthening the wheelbase is the single biggest factor in placing more weight onto the front for wheelie resistance. Sometimes though you can actually lose drive by lengthening wheelbase as you dont get as much weight transfer under acceleration. Combinations, combinations, combinations. There is no perfect setup.
You also need to consider the issue of chain pull torque, the smaller the front sprocket becomes and the larger the rear the more the more this becomes an issue, especially with litre class bikes.

**Mental Trousers** · 1st July 2008, 20:52

If you feel the bike is unstable with a shorter wheelbase then a couple of extra links on the chain will lengthen it just nicely. But as Robert said, there's consequences to everything so you might need to back off the preload blah blah.

**Tony.OK** · 1st July 2008, 21:12

Thanks folks,lots of stuff to think about

**nodrog:Me** · 1st July 2008, 21:15

if you play around on HERE you can find out the difference in your wheelbase with different sizes of sprockets and lengths of chain, plus alot of other helpful shit.

**Frenchy** · 2nd July 2008, 20:45

don't change to much i still want a chance to catch you!!

**Tony.OK** · 2nd July 2008, 20:51

Originally Posted by Frenchy

don't change to much i still want a chance to catch you!!

Am thinking about this just to keep in front mate

**Frenchy** · 2nd July 2008, 20:54

I seen that a couple of days ago on there, you really like your hondas aye!!

**roadracingoldfart** · 2nd July 2008, 22:34

Originally Posted by Frenchy

I seen that a couple of days ago on there, you really like your hondas aye!!

Hell matey --- is there another brand ???

I got 4 in my garage rite now lol.

**CHOPPA** · 2nd July 2008, 23:37

i was only using 2nd 3rd and 4th as well, but thats cause i couldnt get the f*&ken front off! we had a rattle gun on it and it still wouldnt budge, bike was so slow out of the corners specially the infield hairpin one where wt was watchin from!

I was thinkin the same thing about wheelbase so im just doing the front, that and its cheap and easy.....