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I replaced my clutch cable recently and while I was in there poking about and cleaning I noticed my front sprocket had a "15" stamped into it. I didn't pay much attention but later while reading the FSM I saw that stock front sprocket should be 16 tooth. The PO had given me a new sprocket and when I checked it it was stamped "16". So of course I had to pull the cover back off and count teeth. Sure enough, 15 teeth. So, knowing stock was 16 I decided to change it. (I had the cover off anyways.) Well hot dog! The bike cruises so much better! I think changing the sproket loped 500 rpm off at 55mph. So, this is a long winded way of asking if there is such a thing as a 17 tooth front sprocket for a 550 and if so has anyone used one, and what was their experience with it? Can I expect even greater reduction in rpm in 6th gear at 55mph? What affect on gas milage will there be?

Yes, Im pretty sure that you can get a 17, it will make it cruise at lower rpms(getting a smaller rear sprocket will too). you can gear it higher to get better gas mileage this way, but going too high will make acceleration poor.

You might have clearance issues going that big. You could try a smaller rear sprocket. If you use the freeway a lot you will like it.

There's a sproket ratios download in the Filebase (scroll down the page and you can see it.

I've been thinking of going 1 up on the front but where is a good place to buy them?

Z1 Enterprises is a good place for all your part needs.

Post edited by: Corith, at: 2006/06/21 13:33

If I went to a smaller rear sprocket, would I need to remove a link from the chain?

You can go with a smaller rear sprocket maybe 1 tooth smaller without worrying about taking a link off your chain, 2 teeth smaller and you'd definitely need to shorten your chain.
I went the opposite way when I changed my chain and sprockets by using the stock 13 tooth size in front and going from a 33 to a 37 tooth in the rear. I had to add 2 links to make the chain the right size again.
Going up 4 teeth in the rear made a drastic improvement in acceleration but it revs about 500 rpm higher at 65 and about 700 rpm higher at 85. Surprizingly gas milage is about the same as before but the higher revs can get annoying on trips longer than about 20 miles.

If you find a 17 Tooth front for a 630 chain please let me know where you got it.

Post edited by: dog pound, at: 2006/07/06 07:21