RC51: gearing 16/40-530 vortex+ek, yay or nay?
01-11-2009 | 04:42 PM
#1
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Superstock
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 293
RC51: gearing 16/40-530 vortex+ek, yay or nay?
rc51 owners--im about to replace my sprockets and chain as a preventative maintenance (they dont look in too great condition from prev owner). i'm going to keep the OEM 530 chain pitch (seems that its more durable from my readings) and go back to the stock 16/40 config. stock is fine with me, since it feels like my bike is currently like 10/60 gearing HAHA (exaggeration, its not seriously that nuts, but it feels damn near it). the power pretty much just takes a rip at you everytime you get going, i might consider 16/41 however.
feedback? opinions? ek chains?
thanks!
(the rogue forum is kind of an elitist weekend wasteland, hence me asking the questions here haha...)
feedback? opinions? ek chains?
thanks!
(the rogue forum is kind of an elitist weekend wasteland, hence me asking the questions here haha...)
01-11-2009 | 07:26 PM
#3
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SuperBike
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,689
From: South Lake Tahoe, CA, USA
It seems to be pretty much universally accepted that 16/40 gearing is too tall.
A lot of guys run 16/42. A lot of others runs 15/42. That's what I'm going to run (track only).
The jump between 1st and 2nd gears is pretty wide. Shorter final drive gearing drops the usable range of 2nd gear to a better gear for coming off tight corners, without the reasonable possibility of running out of gears on top.
A lot of guys run 16/42. A lot of others runs 15/42. That's what I'm going to run (track only).
The jump between 1st and 2nd gears is pretty wide. Shorter final drive gearing drops the usable range of 2nd gear to a better gear for coming off tight corners, without the reasonable possibility of running out of gears on top.
01-11-2009 | 08:46 PM
#4
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Superstock
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 293
hm i c...thanks for the input rcvtr...16/42 would shorten my wheelbase a bit no? dont think those few mm make THAT much different, but i read that it still makes a little bit of a noticeable difference in handling. 16/41 or 42 i think i would like, not sure 15/42 is to my liking for the street (theres a distinct possibilty that's what the gearing is right now from PO)...this is my street bike with occansional track forray, the crazy pick up i have right now isn't doing it for me around westwood (not quite downtown, but lots of the same packed small streets bad pavement as downtown LA).
so how about chains and vortex? im hearing nothing against vortex, nothing for them either. i am however hearing that DID > EK. any further thoughts?
will be doing the pazzo shorty levers very soon as well, any thoughts on those?
so how about chains and vortex? im hearing nothing against vortex, nothing for them either. i am however hearing that DID > EK. any further thoughts?
will be doing the pazzo shorty levers very soon as well, any thoughts on those?
01-12-2009 | 04:35 PM
#6
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SuperSport
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 714
From: Fredericksburg, VA
I just put a 15 on the front. Very cheap mod but my chain and sprockets are still in good condition. Stock gearing is impossible on the street, its just too fast. Manufacturers use higher gearing to pass the emissions/decibel restrictions so anything is better than stock. Although dropping one tooth up front didn't change a lot, riding the beast is much more enjoyable as 1st gear doesn't rocket me up to 60mph anymore. A lower ratio than this would hurt the sick top end on the track.
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