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sprocket question

1K views 19 replies 9 participants last post by  bulletr1 
#1 ·
just a quick question. i've noticed alot of people on here talking about what sprockets to use on their bikes. everyone says use 16tooth front and that you should not go below that because of the angle the chain will be put at. i understand this and i'm sure some guys have tried it and had problems. but while reading a magazine today i noticed that the ducati 1098 comes stock with a 15 tooth sprocket and the race bike they had a 14 tooth on. now i don't plan to go that low but just wondering why it works ok on their factory bikes but everyone here says its a bad idea. i don't think the factory would put a sprocket on they thought would be a problem especially with the amount of torque the ducatis make anyways. maybe a dumb question just wanted to hear some opinions.
 
#2 · (Edited)
Good Q.

In summation the 10r comes stock with a 17t therefor the 16t is no issue in terms of turning radius, swingarm guide rub etc....... the Duc comes with a 15t stock so using a 14t would be no issue clearance wise.
And remember the race bikes have their chains & sprockets changed constantly with new components.

BD
 
#3 ·
well i understand that the race bikes sprockets are changed regularly but my question is that its stock with a 15 tooth aside from the fact that on a 10r it would hit the swingarm. everyone says that the radius angle around the gear is to tight. so even if the ducati has a better swingarm angle for use with the sprocket the sprocket themselves should be the same size as say a 15 tooth on a ninja so why isn't the turning radius on the ducati to tight like on a 10r
 
#4 ·
Accoriding to some it is. I would guess it has to due with swingarm angle as well as maybe thickness?? but I know many ducati shops recommend against going to a 14 tooth front as the chain will I believe rub on the swingarm. Otoh, on some of the ducati forums I am on a lot of guys say they do it anyway and without problems
 
#8 ·
Yes the rub is an issue and i would be one of those that have stated not to use a 15t on the 10r due to the tighter radius but 10r drag racers use them often but dunno if they experience any issues.

BD
 
#10 ·
why not go bigger in the rear? Id rather have less of a turn at the counter shaft anyways and adding a tooth if your to tight of a chain anyways you could add a link so its not going to dramatically increase drive train weight but if you notice on the new 08 busa they are running like a 18/47 set up instead of a 17/45..... not sure exactly why but maybe someone decided to go away from smaller counter shafts?>??? who knows.... by the way that musa gearing was an example Im not sure what size rears they run stock.
 
#11 ·
well like i said i'm not planning on running a 15 tooth or smaller i run a 16 this was purely a technical question i was trying to understand a little better just thought i'd hear from some people with experience in it. did you catch the testing of the ducati desmo in the new motorcyclist i think it is the bike just sounds and looks awesome wish i could afford it lol.
 
#12 ·
I would rather go smaller on the countershaft sprocket to reduce rotating mass as well as go smaller on the rear sprocket for the same reason. Smaller is lighter and lighter is faster. I would think that the drag race guys that have used them (i.e. Ruthless Racing) would put more abuse on the chain from hard launches and 160 mph trap speeds.
 
#13 ·
thats kind of what i thought i figured that the hard launches would be torcher on those sprockets and chains . i'm not a drag racer so i definatly would not be launching like that but i like a lot of torque when i'm cornering and for just running around. not very often i get to run 180 so do i really need that much gear. if i had the money i'd like to get a close ratio gear setup for the bike that first gear sucks lol.
 
#14 ·
if i had the money i'd like to get a close ratio gear setup for the bike that first gear sucks lol.
Actually the OEM tranny is a C/R unit it just so happens 1st gear is looooooooog winded but can be replaced however it requires splitting the cases to do so.

Since you have a 16t already perhaps using a 41t rear may suffice. :dontknow:

BD
 
#15 ·
well i've actually got the 16t 42t combo and its ok i guess i just like torque but i don't want a stunt bike size rear sprocket and i'm not really planning on changin. just finding out some techincal info on all this stuff and ya i checked one shop who told me there was another first gear i could get cost me about a grand with work done. said alot of drag racers use it but like i said i'm not a drag racer. i like corners straight roads make me fall asleep lol
 
#16 ·
I've heard all you have to do to the ZX - 10, is go one less on the front an plus two on the back and first gear will be awesome. You lose top end but who needs to go 200 mph anyway?!?!?! I have a stock 2006 ZX-10 and plan on getting my brakes tighter, priorty # 1, then steering stabilizer, then get that Dunlap off the front tire (already have a Michelin Pilot on the rear), then I will probably get A&R race baffles in the exhaust, after that I will probably just go -1 and +1 on the rear if anything.
 
#18 ·
I've heard all you have to do to the ZX - 10, is go one less on the front an plus two on the back and first gear will be awesome. You lose top end but who needs to go 200 mph anyway?!?!?! I have a stock 2006 ZX-10 and plan on getting my brakes tighter, priorty # 1, then steering stabilizer, then get that Dunlap off the front tire (already have a Michelin Pilot on the rear), then I will probably get A&R race baffles in the exhaust, after that I will probably just go -1 and +1 on the rear if anything.

:hello: :badteeth:

I have that low 1st gear mod and I honestly love it. being able to get out in 1st gear a lot faster and having stock gearing is pretty damn great. the downside is that its a noisy 1st gear. Doing roll on top speed runs it comes in really handy for getting out on the competition.... I smoke zx10s with 1tooth down in the front running stock gearing.... its pretty nice along with the extra power I gave my bike.

but I think for the price of doing a transmission most will stay away, I think I spent 650 on mine for having the tranny undercut and replacing a cracked 2ng gear and the 1st gear.
 
#17 ·
It not worth changing first gear unless you are into drag racing. If you are a track junkie, first gear will hardly be used especially on a geared bike. If you don't like big sprockets :rolleyes: do what most track junkies do. drop 2 on the front and add 2 to the rear and keep a stock of chain guides for the swingarm and you will be fine.
 
#19 ·
i run a 15/43 on my 05 the only issue i have now is the front is a tad noisy, but its not hitting my swingarm. its contact between the sprocket itself and the chain (weird) the sprocket that was on the bike when i got it, "appears" to be a 16t(i counted) but it looks like a factory sprocket???? i may go back to a 15/39 or a 16/43. my bike is strecthed and i do race at the strip
 
#20 ·
16/39 and I love it!!!!:thumbsup:
 
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