More dumb question: Bikes with a big sprocket

[EJK]

See this first 5 seconds of the video. You will see that the bike has a big sprocket. (And he crashes later Wahaha bahah la la la yah yah blah blah... Duh!)

I also saw some other US bike videos and some of them too had big sprockets. Is this got to do with making the bike less torquey for less bike riding ability peoples?

OR

Is it another of US cockey pimp my bike thing?

OR

Is it a Honda's factory sprocket?

[slofox]

A bigger sprocket on the back will lower the gearing - probably makes it easier to stand it up on the back wheel....and then crash it.......heheheeeeeeee.......

[boostin]

From wikipedia

manually changing the sprockets on a motorcycle can change the characteristics of acceleration and top speed by modifying the final drive gear ratio.

[homer]

big sprocket or standard dont really matter does it ........
Do stupid things, get stupid results.

[TimeOut]

Looks like the bike wet its pants

Don't need protective gear either the skin will grow back

[fatzx10r]

most the stunting guy's put bigger sprocket's on the back. makes it easy to pick the front wheel up at lower rev's

[avgas]

If you upsize the sprocket on the back it makes the bike good for hill climbs........which clearly what this bike was designed for.....cos the mongol can't stunt for shit

[EJK]

Makes the bike go up easier? Won't it reduce the torque? And won't that make it harder to do a wheel stand? I'm confused haha.
Wait... that means the bike is very powerful?

Yep! I'm definitely confused now!

[jrandom]

Makes the bike go up easier? Won't it reduce the torque? And won't that make it harder to do a wheel stand? I'm confused haha.
Wait... that means the bike is very powerful?

Fizziks is your fwiend.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mechanical_advantage

[fatzx10r]

this is why they put the bigger sprocket's on. to do this sort of stuff, which is bloody well done i might ad http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/vb...eid=66&t=79982

[EJK]

Fizziks is your fwiend.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mechanical_advantage

1234

[avgas]

Ok lets put this really simple.
Big sproket on back wheel - big torque
Small sproket on back wheel - small torque
the amount of torque doesn't really change - just how its used.
You are trying to move the wheel - imagine the wheel is like a nut stuck on a bolt - to move the nut easier you use a bigger spanner - or in the case of our wheel a bigger sprocket.

[xwhatsit]

Makes the bike go up easier? Won't it reduce the torque? And won't that make it harder to do a wheel stand? I'm confused haha.
Wait... that means the bike is very powerful?

Yep! I'm definitely confused now!

Nup, big sprocket on the back makes the gearing shorter and increases torque. Big sprocket on the front has the opposite effect, making the gearing taller and reducing torque.

Didn't you ever ride a mountain bike (three on the front, seven on the back -- Shimano `Quick Shifter' -- man was I the coolest guy around the bike racks back in primary school!).

[mctshirt]

My experience with changing sprocket size is leave it factory unless there is a specific need for change. If you need more hp/torque get a bigger motorbike to suit your needs, wants, and desires.

I replaced sprockets and chain a couple of weeks ago using factory specs. I discovered someone had put a smaller back sprocket on (standing side by side the old rear sprocket was about the height of a tooth shorter) with same size front sprocket.

With the old set up I was constantly on and off the brakes and gas trying to find the sweet spot for getting round corners with plenty of mid corner gear changes. I just put it down to being a crap rider and tried to get used to aching arms constantly wrestling the bike.

With the bike back to factory specs it's always a pleasure and never a chore. It behaves in a most reasonable manner and is way more forgiving and smoother to ride. I'll never know if it's got a lower top speed cause I never bothered going through the drama to get there with the old sprocket. I do know it's less demanding to ride to the limit of my abilities around a corner.

If I feel an overwhelming urge to go faster I'll get a bigger bike and enjoy the ride cause the sprocket tweak really wasn't worth the effort.

[awayatc]

Just beause yours was ok for you does not mean all bikes come out properly geared....or at least not properly for every rider....