What sprocket size?

[yamarider]

What size front sprocket would be the best to gain top speed without sacrificing much acceleration? I'm going to Tower City in PA in 2 weeks, which has 6000 acres covered with wide open trails, and I want to get as much top speed as I can without losing too much acceleration for Rausch Creek's MX tracks. I'm about ready to order a 14t but I wanted to get some more opinions first.

 

[dswwarrior350]

Depends on your rear tire size, if you have 20's then deffintly go to a 14. I can pull a 14 with 22's like it isnt even there, but i got alot more mods than you motor wise. A 14 tooth front with 20" tires is like stock speed, if you have 22's it will give you more top speed and sacrafice a little of the snap in all the gears. 14 sounds good.

 

[tistheman5]

id say 14 would be your best bet. when my motor was stock it pulled a 14 good with 22's u should be strait inless u wanna get a 14 and a 15 and switch them for when u need em...

 

[yamarider]

My tires are 22's. Does anyone know if the stock size chain will work for a 14t sprocket? thanks for the help.

 

[DeathShadow]

You should replace the chain and sprockets at THE SAME TIME - its bad to use an old chain on new sprockets...

 

[yamarider]

The X-ring chain and sprockets on it now only have like 2 hours of riding on them so far, so there really isn't any wear on them yet. The reason i'm looking for a different front sprocket is that I was disappointed with the 12t sprocket I put on with the new chain. Would a 14t work with the standard length chain or would I have to buy an extra link to add on?

 

[DeathShadow]

That depends id say it may work depending on how much adjusting room you have, it's hard to say. I have had 15min old chains skip teeth on new sprockets... A chain over 2 hours old has definitely had enough time to stretch and wear into its own pattern... It isn't advisable because they will:

A. Skip teeth
B. Break teeth
C. Wear your sprockets pre-maturely
D. possibly leap the sprocket and go through your case !
E. Or all of the above

 

[yamarider]

I know about replacing worn out sprockets and chains all at once, but is it really that big of a deal to replace everything at once? I know a couple of people that replace sprockets and chains one piece at a time when it wears out, and they haven't had problems with it. I can't justify replacing a 60 dollar chain with 2 hours of light riding on it because it might have stretched a little.

 

[DeathShadow]

The problem is that chain already has worn into a specific pattern and stretched over the older sprockets. When you put this chain on a new sprocket the chain likes to try and "skip" teeth and/or wear the new sprocket pre-maturely. I am not saying it cant be done but often the cheap way out is not the right or the smart thing to do. I have tried many times to put a chain only 20 mins old onto new sprockets with the skipping and pre-mature wearing. But hey screw it go for it - you can get a new chain for like 35 bucks by the way...