I'm wondering what you guys have if not stock? my chain's getting to the point where it's going to need to be replaced pretty soon and was thinking about changing the gearing perhaps....

15/45 awesome just right

14/48

not for the faint hearted....

I'd recommend 14/45 - great fun, without being OTT.

Holy christ thats a lil much for me I spend too much time on the highway for that gearing 14/48 good lord :run

Well - I've used the motorways over here with it (14/48)- where the speed limit is 113kph. It's fine at those speeds, when I'm getting a wriggle on though (say about 160kph) it gets tiring very quickly as a) it's so damn noisy and b) you keep wanting to knock it up a gear!

With 14/45 I travelled at considerable speed down to France a few years back - covered around 2000 miles in a 5 day period - quite a few on Highway style roads - and felt that the 14/45 gearing was fine.

This thread has gone on enough that someone needs to explain how this affects the bike? What happens with a smaller front sprocket? Larger rear? I know I read it somewhere but I've since forgot.

Kept the front the same and went up two teeth (+3) on the rear...

SO, now the front sprocket must turn more times to make the rear sprocket turn once. It's like shifting to a lower gear except this change is global. It affects all the gears on the bike. The thing to pay attention to isn't really the "number of teeth" but rather the Ratio. In my case, making the rear larger gives more effective torque to the rear tire. More torque means faster acceleration - sounds good right? But it does have consequences; reduced top end speed and each gear has now become more narrow (that is the range of speeds that are valid in the particular gear have been reduced) so will need to do more shifting to keep in the power band. This makes the throttle response a bit more severe also, so being real smooth with the right grip especially in/out of corners becomes more important. Does any of this make sense :?: :crazy :?:

i see.... hmmmm don't really care about top speed... but switching gears so often hmmm. i switch gears typically around 5k rpm anyways unless i'm boning out so i wonder...

To accelerate faster (shorter gearing) +teeth on the rear or - teeth on the front.

To be smoother and have a higher top speed (taller gearing) -teeth on the rear or +teeth on the front.

One tooth on the front is about the equvilant to chaning two on the rear. Shorter gearing will also cut your MPG because you'll be using a higher RPM for the same speed of travel.

Caution: It may not be safe for the chain to go more than one down on the front because the chain will start to bind.

When buying new sprockets get steel. Aluminum will look fancy but will ware very quickly.

Aluminum will look fancy but will ware very quickly.
Small price to pay.
<<<--- Looking this good ain't cheap. :D
Plus the Al ones weigh like 2 pounds less!

down one up front is like up 3 in the rear

the speed sensor is in the trany will you half to reprogram the computer for differant gears?

what do you mean ??? reprogram to make the speedo right?

I'm 99% sure that if you do any sprocket resizing, you're going to have to recalibrate the speedo to be even close to accurate.

Except when there is a cop behind you, who uses the spedo anyway? :lol:
Not many will go to taller gears... so that means most gear changes (shorter) will make the speedo read fast. Leave it alone and allow it to 1. have a nice buffer of no doubt for the cop behind you 2. make you less prone to speed in the first place :lol: 3. make you feel like you are screaming when you look down to check if you blinker is on :lol: 4. exercise those percentage calculating math skills!
It will end up being some % off that will apply to every gear so just some simple math...like mine is off by a little over 10% so... (actual/indicated) 80=88, 60=66, 55=60.5, 40=44, 20=who cares! Easy no?

yep dont even worry about the speedo youll never even notice :D

yep dont even worry about the speedo youll never even notice :D
Especially when it slides up your ass all thong like... uh... I mean... yeah...
Forgive me, must be that bump I took yesterday. LOL.

Math sucks.

Not many will go to taller gears...

I actually just went from 38 down to 35 in the rear on my old CL350. At 70 MPH I was turning 7000rpm which is a little much for any extended period on a 36 yr old uneven firing parallel twin. (holy vibration!) The bike has plenty of pull, and its not very heavy, so I think this will be a nice change.

Just did a 14/45 gearing conversion on my bike.

It's pretty good fun. The bike wheelies in 1st without any provocation, and second is like 1st gear was. Wiff of the clutch, and up she comes. I'm 250lbs so your results might vary. On the highway, it was buzzy before, and it's buzzy now. So it makes no difference to me.

I'm pretty happy with it, and it also allows you to keep your stock chain. :)

i did a 520 chain conversion, with 15/45 gearing, and an afam aluminum rear sprocket. after my first hard ride, i had to adjust the chain. since then, i've put on about 5000 kms (3000 or so miles), with zero wear to the sprocket, and no further chain adjustments. if you keep things lubed and aligned, aluminum sprockets are no problem...plus anything you can do to reduce unsprung weight will have benefits across the board (better handling, acceleration, braking, ect.). the speedometer was now off by about 8-9%, which was fixed by installing a speedohealer (a small programmable electronic box that will correct the signal from your speed sensor to your speedometer). as an added bonus, with your ignition on, and your engine off, push a button, and presto, your speedo jumps to show your higest recorded speed!! :twisted: installation is simple, and all the programming info you need is provided on the website.

yeppers if you do your preventive maintenance then the aluminum sprockets are sweet...... its what I use :D

...the speedometer was now off by about 8-9%, which was fixed by installing a speedohealer...

http://www.speedohealer.com/eng/intro.htm

Neat. But I like that my speedo reads fast...for now... :D

don't forget, if your speedo reads high, so does your odometer. (which is not a big concern, unless you're worried about resale value...)

OOOOOOOhhhhhh I likey it records true top speed :twisted:

don't forget, if your speedo reads high, so does your odometer. (which is not a big concern, unless you're worried about resale value...)
Resale...like that would ever happen... :lol:
But is resale a valid argument...
Price difference between 3,100 & 3,379 miles or 39,990 & 43,589 or 100,000 & 109,000...? If you are looking at it from the economic POV, take the $100+ put it in your pocket or invest it, you'll come out close to even if not ahead… if you got $3000 for your bike at 100k miles (not likely though), that $100 is 3.33% of the bike, and if you invest wisely it only goes up in %.

Keep good maintenance records, keep the bike clean and you'll out run mileage penalties every day (even if not real miles and the person buying the bike doesn’t get the point/consequence of lower gearing).

Just switched from my changed sprockets (15/45) back to the original sprockets (15/42) for an upcoming road trip:

Factory bike set up: 15 tooth front steel, 42 tooth rear steel, 525 0-ring chain >>Animal
My modified set up: 15 tooth front steel, 45 tooth rear alum, 520 RK-ring chain >>Beast

Some observations...wow. It is like a different bike: with the original setup it feels more touring now. Forgot how the factory setup made the gears very LONG...find myself thinking “what am I going to use 4th or, gads, 5th gear for??? I look down because it doesn’t sound right as I’m gong down the highway and am shocked that the tack isn’t even above 6k!!

With the 15/45 set up, the bike feels much racier. Gears are shorter so the bike accelerates thru them very quickly but this does mean more shifting. The bike feels much more aggressive acceleration-wise (a consequence that I’ve realize is that the choppiness I feel on the throttle is a due to the new gears and gearing) and although I have an aversion to wheelies, I’ll believe others testimony that with this set up the bike willingly lofts the front.

To those of you that have become comfortable with your bike or seem to be wanting for a CBR or something a bit more peppy...give the new gearing a try. When I did mine I also switched to a slightly narrower chain (about 0.5 pound savings) with better seals (RK verses O) and moved to an aluminum rear sprocket (got to be close to 5 pounds less). The aluminum will wear faster but after you try it I think it is worth the price.

Why 45 for the rear? Well I read some where that it a final drive ratio of 3.00 is optimum....and there was a 520 conversion kit with sprockets for sale on eBay, as scientific as it gets.

Try it and have fun :thumbsup

Im using 14/44 now........ I just am soooo addicted to wheelies :lol:

Where's 599001? He has some great input on this!

I think RND said it pretty well. We run a similar (if not the same) setup. I use AFAM sprockets, (light weight steel 15t front and aluminum 45t rear) and RK 520 GXW x-ring chain.
I don't have an aversion to the odd wheelie, and can honestly say the change makes the front "lighter", and the acceleration much more...um...urgent.

Gears are gone inna friiggin nano second :lol: chaotic ...... I LOVE IT

:lol: chaotic
:twisted: :thumbsup

Sounds like The 15/45 is the way to go for all round gear, maybe leaning a touch to the performance side.... Good stuff guys. I'm gonna get me one soon, as I'm already finding myself on the rear alot. And at only 800 miles on the poor thing...Go or blow as they say..

eBay Item number: 330133166506
(919 is same kit as 599 :P )

Just Do It :thumbsup

$140 - The best mod for the least cash you'll ever spend on your bike.
(ok, not so good for you commuters and cloverleaf nutters but...the rest of ya... :twisted: )

Well.. I've done zero research on this so far...So real quick...Is that a descent price ? And are you sure thats the same as the Hornet? I'll figure this out myself soon , but a 1st hand experience is better...

You got me thinking about it and guess what....I called the guys up and ordered one for the 599 lol . I hate it when that happens. But if anyone is interested, they do have the same kit / same price ,for the 599..just have to call them....BTW, he did say the 919 and 599 front sprocket are different..I dont know how. but thats what he said... Anyway, Its on the way. So now I can get my :twisted: on. Thanks RND, You just cost me another $150 lol :wink:

...BTW, he did say the 919 and 599 front sprocket are different...
Noted... but I'm 99.9% sure the rear is the same.

...Thanks RND, You just cost me another $150 lol :wink:
Best money you'll ever spend on that bike (I mean after the cash it took to get it)
You'll thank me later :thumbsup

:thinking Purchase a good rear stand too. And a good chain tool at the same time., one of the $100 Kits with everything...

:thinking And a laser chain alignment tool. And a Torque wrench. And a 1/2" to 3/4" adapter for the Torque wrench..

Damn... :? Sorry about all that cash I just cost you! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

ha, I already have the tools my friend.. well, Not ALL of them, like the laser. But I know where I can get one to use. so all is good. I just need a stand. Which is something I needed anyway.. And you cant take it with you right? :shock:

...cant take it with you right? :shock:
Nope sure can't :thumbsup

Tell me how that laser thing works, I really want one...just because it's a LASER! :lol:

I have a Glock with a laser sight on it.. hmmm.

Question RND. How hard was getting the chain together and on?...You can tell how much I've researched this. NONE. But I do think this will help solve my problem of the front tire touching the ground so much..Very annoying

As mentioned before...just get the $100 super chain break/rivet tool... and it is very easy. :thumbsup
I mean, I managed to do it :mrgreen:
Now that I have the tools and have done it once...maybe a 15 minute gig with rear wheel removal and sprocket change...Some rubber gloves will go a long way towards making it less "fuss" during clean up.

And remember, once a master link is in, you can not take it out...you'll need to remove some other link (just in case you wan to save the setup you have now for some highway trip... :roll: )

rgr that...Sounds easy enough...And while I'm at it..How in Hell do you get the friggin chain lube off the rear wheel?..Thats stuff is like superglue..And the rough wheel surface doesnt make it any easier..
My kit didnt show up today. so I suppose it will be next weekend I get to throw it together..

WD-40....... dont lube the chain with it though ...... wipes it right off like water :thumbsup

So were most of these kits bought off ebay or what (if anyone has a link). Im still undecided whether or go 14/45 or 15/45 but Im definitely looking in to a new sprocket setup soon. As always this site has helped inform my decision greatly!

http://www.sumofallparts.net/ Here is where I bought mine. It was on sale as of Wed. Just call them up and they'll hook you up with what you need.. They do have options as to which chain and colors etc... I bought the Shiny alum sprocket and a gold chain :shock: little bit of Bling factor and it was the same price. You can upgrade the chain if you want. But you certainly dont need to..

NIS If you do any kind of highway miles or commuting I would strongly suggest against 14/45 .... 14/45 is VERY frantic and WILL ALWAYS lift the front wheel at least it does on mine I eased it back a bit by doing 14/44 and that Im in love with .... brought the revs back down a bit but still will loft the wheel to the point I cannot make it not loft..... If your not into wheelies 15/45 Is a real nice alround gear ..... but you will sacrifice for it also :thumbsup

God that sounds fun.. :twisted:

Just musing here, but I don't get it. Why would you *want* to put on a gear that makes the bike less controllable? Jawbreaker, from your other post about tankslappers, it sounds as though you have no difficulty raising the front end. Why put on a gear that will require conscious moderation of the throttle to avoid a wheelie?

FWIW, I've never lifted the front end, even by accident, on any bike I've ever owned.

Muse away dear.. and the answer is acceleration. its there if you want it... It doesnt make the bike uncontrolable... It makes it easier to get uncontrollable though..And even at that, Its nowhere near what a GSX-R or CBR will do, but getting a little closer to it.... And TBH, I dont see how you can keep the front end down if your running the bike hard.. I get mine to around 9000 or so and bang a gear (2nd) and its up...I've found on mine that if I run it past 11500 or so, the power seems to drop off a touch..So I short shift it most of the time... But that gear shouldnt need a ton of Moderation to avoid a wheelie .. not is 2nd or 3rd anyway.. I mean its not like I pull out with the throttle pegged every time :shock: I'm more worried about spin.. But then again, I'm not tearing through the twisties Like the pro's either..
Maybe you havent noticed, But I have a super bad habit of modifying stuff when I totaly dont need to...I do it with my cars ...My daily driver is aftermarket supecharged for example....I just like doing it. And I like acceleration, Junky I suppose..

Nothing wrong with mods or being an acceleration junkie! As long as the bike's still controllable, have at it.

I guess I ride mine quite conservatively. I rarely wind it out past 8000 rpm to shift, and even when I do I shift with the least possible movement of the clutch and throttle. I guess I ride as if I have an automatic trans in some ways!

I've been playing with that myself...there seems to be a sweet spot that lets everything happen real smooth...I just cant hit it every time, And My bike is very new so Its still a little jerky or tight. Whatever you like to call it... After it wears in more it should get smoother . Along with me.... So you dont use the clutch fully?... I played with that as well.. I'm not perfect at it..But I can do it.. Basically just upward pressure on the shifter and "Blip" the throttle back..It slides right in... So far I've only had it "Hang" between gears once.. Totally my fault because I didnt put enough pressure on the shifter.. I was still very new to the bike and my foot was sore lol.. When your expecting it to be in 4th gear and its not..It really Clunks... Jawbreaker<---Is still a noob and has alot of learning to do yet... But I'm getting alot better..

thanks mechanic, Im not against wheelies by any means infact if I knew a good place to practice I would like to learn to be smooth with it. I dont do any kind of long distance commuting but by the sounds of it 15/45 is a little more practical and since this si my only means of transportation at the time that sounds like the way to go. THanks for the advice, and thanks for the link Jaw!


Also what it sounds like is the 919 kits will fit on the 599 as well? (at least the rear anyway) is that correct? the rear is all I need if the 599 has a stock 15 front sprocket right and if so would it be wise to get an aluminum front replacement if u buy an aluminum rear?

I put pressure on the shifter, let off the throttle, and just barely pull the clutch lever to ease the tension on the plates. You can upshift fairly smoothly without the clutch but I think it's even more gentle on the machinery to give the clutch a bit of ease.

yep... I was really bad for shifting to soon when I first bought the bike.. Like at 3000 RPM. But now I've learned the bike likes shifts anywhere between 5000 and 8500.. Just seems smoother. I'm hoping this new gear will help me keep The RPM higher because I still shift to soon on occasion. And yea, you can shift the bike with no clutch. But its not good to do all the time.. I think I'll try your style more.. Just partial clutch as it seems to work very well..

You can easily shift with no clutch at all. All you've got to do is let off the power a little bit. I do it when I'm pushing it, but normal riding, I use the clutch. Still only about halfway, though (down to my fingers, not the bar), and I can usually pull them off pretty smooth, almost just like not using the clutch.

...Also what it sounds like is the 919 kits will fit on the 599 as well? (at least the rear anyway) is that correct? the rear is all I need if the 599 has a stock 15 front sprocket right and if so would it be wise to get an aluminum front replacement if u buy an aluminum rear?

I hear the front sprocket is different so make sure you tell 'em the make modle year of your bike. Also, should keep the front steal...not much to gain by going aluminum and being so much smaller it sees 3x more wear.

ok thanks a lot, if I hadnt just read that I probably would have ordered a front aluminum, so did u jsut keep the stock front or did u order a new steel?

ok thanks a lot, if I hadnt just read that I probably would have ordered a front aluminum, so did u jsut keep the stock front or did u order a new steel?

Went from the factory 525 chain to a narrower 520...so HAD to get a new front sprocket...

lol oh...good point, I feel dumb now :)

:headbang Just recieved my Kit today. I'm WAY excited. To freaking bad I dont have time to put it all on till Saturday. :(

Jaw...

Just lay it out on a nice clean towel, something dark, black is ideal. Place it right in the middle of the living room (where you can see it while watching TV)...then you get to look at that nice gleaming gold chain and the bright freshly milled aluminum sprocket for 5 whole days!

Just like being in a strip club :shock:
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

EDIT> Or one of them Chip and Dale things for you ladies... :naughty

LMFAO. If you only knew RND.. I already have it layed out on my Kitchen Table.. I've been fondling it for an hour....
I cant freakin believe how light this stuff is..

AND CHEAPER THAN ANY VISIT I EVER MADE TO AN ADULT ENTERTAINMENT PAVILIAN!!!!!!

:thumbsup

AMEN :shock:

So I called sum of all parts and emailed them and havent heard back, hopefully I'll be ordering mine in a few days :)

Still petting you kit Jawbreaker...? :twisted:

Gonna be one long day for you! :lol: :lol: :lol:

Dude it has been....SOOOOOO Long....But tomorrow it happens.. And yes, I'm still petting it.. The kit that is. :shock: I'm gonna go for a ride tonight to say bye bye to the stock setup...And I'm gonna try my best to break the friggin chain :twisted:

And... :popcorn

Ok..Maybe Tomorrow :( I rode all weekend. And my rear stand didnt show up... I know...Excuses , Excuses... But I'm off all week so I have time..If I'd just quit riding for a while.. :roll:

It looks like the 15/45 gearing is the crowd favourite here. This creates a gear ratio of 3.00:1. If i were to leave my stock rear sprocket (42 tooth) alone, and replace just the front with a 14 tooth, this should also give a 3.00:1 ratio.

Has anyone done this 14/42 combination? is there a reason not to?
I know there is a point at which if the front sprocket is too small the chain may bind, but is this a factor with 14/42?

I found this handy table of sprocket sizes and their combined ratios from JT Sprockets:

www.jtsprockets.com/52.0.html?&L=0&sel_uid=3893&p= (http://www.jtsprockets.com/52.0.html?&L=0&sel_uid=3893&p=)

Well my sprockets are finally on, Power change isn't outrageous, its definitely a nice median... You can feel the thrust a bit better when opening the throttle as well as it seems to take away some of that carbeurator lag with the extra punch. I just put on some brand new pirellis and cant REALLY test the sprockets until those have worn in but so far I like the overall change.

Thanks for all the info and support RND & Jawbreaker!

I got all the stand today :banana . I'm set for the swap Finally..

http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/9513/img00291bj9.th.jpg (http://img157.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img00291bj9.jpg)

:headbang

RK and Vortex...Mmmmmm :P
Soooooooo, NISxMO likes his...(how long does it take to scuff up some tires :lol: )
What do you think Jaw, gotten off the bike yet? :popcorn

lol well being only one state above your beautiful homeland I'm sure you will agree it takes a bit longer to scuff the sides in this endless exsistence of flat roads :wink:

But the center is now scuffed in pretty well on both tires so I may go hit it hard today.

I tell you waht NISxMO, I'll let you use my tires for a day ( Scuffed in ). If you'll let me use your bike while I swap my gears :shock: lol.. And RND.. :gtfo lol No I have'nt... I have to do it on a weekend. I work to damn much :banghead

I would forgo sleep... Couldn't take more than 4 hours from start to finished (I'm as inept as it gets) cleaned up and test rode....ahhh....hummm...yes I see your point now...that test ride could really stretch out :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Pansy. Get off the computer, buy some flowers for the wife and get to work on that sproket. Tomorrow, let us know how you like 'em :thumbsup

No wife or Kids thank you... How you think I afford all these toys? :shock: lol Yes I'm lazy, and Yes its driving me crazy..And Yes I'm gonna swap it out... But I wanna ride it to work tomorrow lol...So Not tonight... It'll be this weekend. I have'nt even put the stand under it yet...
And speaking of accessories, What kind of frame sliders you useing?. Thats my next purchase. And if I order tonight, I can put it all on at once :D .. Considering the Rizoma's since I already have that theme going pretty strong.

Ok, guess I can accept that :wink:

Frame sliders... The guy that had it before me put LSL on there. Must confess I'd probably go the same direction...don't think they'll do much but they don't look butt ugly either http://www.kneedraggers.com/details/LSL_Crash_Pad_Kit_Honda_599--59-LSL-1.html

At the track opinions varied, some didn't like the big long ones because they dig in when they hit soft dirt or a bump in the pavement and cause the bike to flip/go airborne... TO me, If I go down, the least of my concerns will be about my $4k bike... :roll: unless it lands on top of me :shock: :lol: