Hi Oranges, I've been lurking and admiring advrider.com for nearly 1 year since i got my 950SM '06. And now, after 27,000km the 950SM need a new set of chain & sprockets. I would love to try the 17/45 setup but my dealer only have 17/42 in Malaysia. I would definitely be grateful if somebody pack me a fresh from oven 45T rear sprocket or point dealers that can ship international as i have limited choice with KTM accessories here in Malaysia. Thank you in advance.
and now, after reading some more in the OC, i'm confused on what setup i should use. Maybe someone can just blurt out the sprocket spec with my type of riding. i. Long highway travel + pillion ii. Weekend short twisties alone Should i stick to 17/45 or go lower as of 17/42? Do put up your recommendation.
I'm in a grand minority on gearing. My SM has 16/44 gears and I'd not go back to higher for anything. Response and smoothness went way up. MPG stayed the same and I'm hitting the sweet spot of engine balance on the highway, 6th is useable at around 60 MPH and is glassy at 70. The spoked wheels and the cast wheels use different sprockets which is why I asked about the 45 even being available. a 15t front is available too, if you need the vendor I'll dig it up. A front Aprilia sprocket fits with minor milling to thin it a bit. Found it! 15t sprocket source, Dave Russell's European motorcycles 509 926 6798 12611 e sprague Spokane valley 99216
Posts like yours Navin make me think there is something wrong with my SE . It pulls cleanly on 6th from 45-50mph (easily) with 17/45 on 17 rear rim. Not 2-1 either, just akras with inserts and the standard carb mods to suit the akras.
6th with my bike will pull from those speeds but I feel the balance is off till around 60 where it cleans up. I'm 2-1 and H2W jetted. Stock geared at 17/42 (iirc, its been a long time since it had that!) I needed to be near 80 to get into 6th for clean, smooth cruise. Like anything else with these things, different riders feel different things. Some guy think the stock jetting is fine too. Best bet is to try different combos and see what you like. I prefer the punch with my low gears, feels like a real full liter bike now!
the ratio with the front sprocket a bit low, will it drag/slap the swing arm? i'm more on the torquey side and very seldom exceed 180km/h or more.
I like my 17/45 gearing with 18" rear rim for 50/50 Dual Sporting I would run a 17/42 or 17/40 with 17" wheels [i dont have] for the Street. Everybody complains about their bike lugging & not pulling 6th gear below 50mph [mine does desmogged with stock jetting & raised needles] Simple Fix is to DownShift to 5th It ALL depends IF you are sport riding in the mtns, long distance crusing at hi-speeds or all offroad dirt / trail riding Everybody has a different opinion I know, I just dont like running the Engine so hard at highway speeds when it can easily be avoided The LC8 will pull Taller Gearing just fine in my .02 cents worth
Hi can someone answer this question please? Which tooth for which? i. Long highway travel + pillion ii. Weekend short twisties alone I rode my friends Tiger 1050 and i really liked how much longer his gears were, it just felt like it was more comfortable for longer riding periods where you are not having to work the gears so much..
Unless you're the type who blasts the backroads at 90+ mph for hours at a time, 16/42 or 17/45 is the way to go; especially with a passenger. In the twisties, you won't get to 6th gear no matter what ratio you use. Did a 5000 mile trip with the 16/42 ratio and felt it was perfect. I run a 17/45 now with new parts and have the option to go 16/45 if I get real dirt serious.