Romans, BnB. Responded to your posts on the sprockets thread. So I can keep my brain in order LOL> Bottom of p 1.
Thread: Front & Rear Sprockets

* Last updated by: Rook on 12/18/2010 @ 11:26 AM *

I know this Gearing thig is a big subject but will ask all you 16 tooth guys to give your bikes a good run to 8tho and shift into second and then run the bike up two 8tho again. Now knock into (N), Hit kill switch. As you coast with engine off, listen. Please report if it sounds anything like a 17 tooth Front. I have repeated this test many times. Maybe I'm to fussy ?

Hmmm...not sure what you're talking about?You mean...something "noisy"?Aftermarket...minimal gear noise(16T).Zephyr 16T....minimal gear noise.17T stocker...minimal gear noise.?????I'm not gonna shut my engine off at 8 grand and coast.Oil starvation at 8 grand doesn't sound very appealing to me....

I have heard a slight gear whine with an aftermarket 16T...but after a few thousand miles...it virtually went away.Never was a problem in performance...that's for sure.

* Last updated by: blue07 on 12/19/2010 @ 12:55 AM *

I'm not gonna shut my engine off at 8 grand and coast.Oil starvation

Pull clutch in first, RPM drop to idle hit kill switch. Now your coasting. Now Listen.

Sorry I'm not the best with words.

Well Rome,I haven't tried that...no reason to.BUT...I guess you're asking to hear a noticeable difference in stock 17 vs aftermarket 16?.There can be a difference,for sure.I don't think it means something is wrong.The sprocket mfg's all have a different way of making the steel properties of their particular brands...so the Kawasaki steel is most likely a different mix of materials than say,your "Driven" steel sprocket.I definitely had a whine coming from the 16T driven.But it disappeared after a while.Now...maybe....it wore into the chain groove
"better"...or....maybe the chain "deformed" to the new steel teeth.IDK.And I don't know if you would get a noise from changing front,rear,and chain all at once.I think I've only done the three items swap(all at once) one time since I've had my bike.And that was a long while ago.

The 16t driven not only whined at first,but it went away....and began to happen again later on....so I removed it and replaced with the Kawasaki Zephyr 16.No noise and no issues with that.These things are hard to pinpoint when you're switching stuff around,and things are wearing certain ways,then wearing differently as time goes on.It's really hard to tell.Some of em are lighter than others...I think the Zephyr was a bit heavier in weight than the driven.So maybe the driven was getting some sort of harmonic going at certain rpms...cause it didn't whine all the time...just at certain speeds.Sometimes it was VERY noticeable(to me anyway).Other times...it seemed fine.

* Last updated by: blue07 on 12/19/2010 @ 5:41 AM *

Okay - I have the Zephyr 16T (OEM) on the way and will order the 42 today. Is the 190/55 the ideal tire for this setup?
Hey Blue, regarding the rifleman throttle mod have you had any issues with it (I guess not your still here-right)? I've been meaning to do this for a while. Had them in the past and I can't stand that bent wrist to get that last little bit.

Okay - I have the Zephyr 16T (OEM) on the way and will order the 42 today. Is the 190/55 the ideal tire for this setup?

Oh f&&%K. This was supposed to be the chain thread; not the sprocket thread. Oh well. I give up. I suppose the two topic tend to drift together sooner or later.

Can't say how the 190/55 tire reacts with anything other than stock 17/41 gearing. Works fine there. have had no problems with BT-016 or BT-003 in the 190/55 size. Generally speaking, a 190/55 should be about 11mm greater in diameter but recently I have been told that even that can fluctuate from one brand of 55 to another. The issue with a 55 is that it will probably take up another 5 mm of clearance at the swing arm. If you are pulling your wheel way forward because the chain is just barely long enough to accommodate large sprockets, a larger diameter tire could touch the swing arm --maybe?

Far as performance, I bet you will notice a lot of dif in handling between various brands of 190-/55 tires. I notice a big handling change between the BT-016 and the BT-003. I don't think the gearing will have any effect on the tire size you choose as long as the tire fits in the swing arm with the chain length you have. Even more off topic, but generally, a 55 will turn in with less effort and it has a lot more contact patch on the edge for cornering grip. The two Bridgestone 190/55 tires I have run seem to correct stock speedo error too.....until they ware down.

BTW, Breeze......mind sharing where you got the Zephyr 16T from?

...Romans may adress the 190/55 fitment question on the sprocket thread. p.2 second post. RE: Front & Rear Sprockets

* Last updated by: Rook on 12/19/2010 @ 11:44 AM *

Sorry about that Rook and at the same time thanks for the good info! I think it was Blue that suggested Cheap cycle parts and the total cost was $40.92 with shipping. I checked Bike Bandit and the sprocket alone was 38.00, not sure what their shipping charge was. Thanks again and in the interim I am going to work on my forum etiquette.

No issues with the throttlemod...works just great.

Thanks again and in the interim I am going to work on my forum etiquette.

Don't sweat it, Breeze. The threads I started recently shouldn't even be posted in "General" but nobody is jumping on my back over it.

These things are hard to pinpoint

Not for me. I will spend all my time looking(toooo Fusssssy 16 suuuuuuckkkkkks) Take a ride like I posted above. Ride with helmet off and listen, post your findings. Admit.(I wish I had Rooks or Kruz way with words but I don't) all I can say is, If it was better I would have it.,,, I ride with Four other zx-14 buddies, two have 16/43, (my old gears(sprockets)and one has turbo so he does not count, It's all about YOU.,,,,, Try them all with you weight and have fun. No matter what any body tells me,, I have tried them allllll,,,, so I know. sorry no 16//45 LoL. I have Have sprockets for sale if you want. Most have less than 1000 kilometers LOL. I don't sell my stuff, just hang it on my wall of shame or give it away. Any way, I wish you guys were closer. We could switch back and forth. My Bubdy Guzzy already wants his 16 out, lol. I have made Every Mistake with my wallet and I'm only tooooooo happy to laugh about it now with you guys and hopefully you don't follow me down the shitter. OR, Spend your way out or,,,,,,take it 4 what it's worth, just trying to help. Cheers

Rome!....It'll never work for me....I ALWAYS....ALWAYS ride with me helmet on me brainbucket!Sorry laddie...I don't hear any gear noise.Honestly.Mine is nicely quiet.

"I'll spend all my time looking"....okay...what are you looking for with the sprocket my man?What's causing it to make a tad bit of noise?I don't think yer gonna see anything...unless the prick begins to come apart or somethin.How noisy IS your 16 anyway?Must be pretty severe.

When I said"hard to pinpoint"...I meant it could be chain noise from a "new tooth" sprocket.Or sprocket meshing on a used chain,or....you know....not necessarily the 16t sprocket actually being the culprit.You know...once you switch something that's been "set" to be a certain way...like a chain,sprocket,rear sprocket combo...they wear into each other and work together.Adding a new part into the "old mix",lots of different situations can arise that may not actually be the part that was changed.My mechanical noise at the chain and sprockets are always the same....no noise.Like I said...that one driven 16 I put on there...yes...there was a definite gear whine at first.It settled out....stayed quiet for some time.Then it began to whine again,,,so what actually had changed?Truthfully,IDK.But it didn't seem to me like it should reappear after it was quiet for that length of time.....that's when I decided...hmmm...something MAY be up here..so I removed it then put on the Zepyhr...quiet as always.But in truth,that was SEVERAL thousand miles later that she again started makin noise...so it's very possible the chain had worn some,or the slack wasn't set right from riding and not adjusting.IDK.It didn't HAVE to be the sprocket.I've had really good results with all the 16's I've put on..at least 4,maybe 5.Only the one made a whine noise.

But now I'm curious.WHY is a little gear noise upsetting you so?It's got nothing to do with performance of the gears.If you'd just lube yer chain once in a while,she'd probably be quiet as a churchmouse BTW Rome...they do sell earplugs

Yer not runnin a ringless chain.....are ya?

What's that saying..."the squeaky wheel gets greased"...hmmm..okay..how about "the noisy front gear gets the chain lubed!"LOL!!!!!!(You know I'm just funnin ya right Rome?)

* Last updated by: blue07 on 12/20/2010 @ 1:12 AM *

I've had no issue with my 16 front either on my 04 busa. Put it on with 1200 miles on the bike, whined a bit at first then quit (or else I got used to it lol) and haven't had a single issue since

Your Busa MUST be a beast!Stock front gearing is 18,yes?And she pulls like a train with that.Can't imagine two down on the front of my 14.Amazing!

Actually Blue I have the first gen busa, it had a 17 front just like the 14. It came with 17/40 stock and I went down to 16/42 which would be equal to 16/43 on the 14, which I think you've ran if I remember right? lol. Thats also going to be very close to the same ratio as Rooks 17/45, he'll be half a tooth shorter on the back overall than the 16/43. The second gen busa (08 and up) comes with 18/43 gearing, which actually puts it about half a tooth bigger in the rear overall than the first gen like I have. Not much difference really....not sure exactly why they did it. Supposedly the tranny ratios stayed the same. But they had their reasons, these companies have reasons for everything they do. If we only knew the half of it

I only wish my zx shifted like your Busa.Gotta say...Suzuki nailed that part for sure.My friend's Busa...man,you sit there at idle,shift into first...can't even hardly tell she's dropped in.Really...had to click it a couple of times...it was that slick.Very nice.And all his gear shifts were like that...up or down.No clutch?She was way sweet.Mine is quite acceptable...but not near as fine tuned as the Busa.WHAT was Kawi thinking?I mean..the motors are virtually the same in size and weight...clutches too.So why couldn't Kawi get this deal refined?

* Last updated by: blue07 on 12/20/2010 @ 4:47 AM *

Rome...they do sell earplugs

Lol, like i said, maybe I'm to fussy. There are times when I wished I would have worn those ear plugs for sure. Either way it's all in fun. Cheers.