15 tooth or 16 tooth counter sprocket

[cms58]

Ninja 250. @70mph, tachs slightly over 8k rpm, if speedo is correct. Has anyone put a 15 tooth c-sprocket on and how does it perform? Has anyone put the 16 tooth c-sprocket on and how does it perform? I know hole shot will definitly will be much slower. But does it overload the engine? I went to a website, speed calculator, and according to the chart it will drop rpm's approximately 1k @ 70 mph. Any input?

[cms58]

Haven't heard anything, so I'll try a 15 tooth and test. then try the 16 tooth and test. Will post results as soon as I am able.

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by cms58

Haven't heard anything, so I'll try a 15 tooth and test. then try the 16 tooth and test. Will post results as soon as I am able

I must have missed the original post.
I'm assuming that the front sprocket is 14T stock ??

Different bike with totally different power band characteristics but........Suzuki GZ250, went up one tooth on the front and made for a much smoother ride around town but lost 8-10 mph on the top end.

You might find the same thing but your top end started out a good bit higher than the GZ thumper. You might be better able to tollerate a loss there.

Changing the front sprocket should be relatively easy; go for it. I seriously doubt that you can get away with +2 without some signigicant performance loss.

[palanon]

It all depends on how you ride. There is always a trade off. Low end or high end. Stop light to stop light or highway, there really is no magic bullet. Once you try different sprockets ( gearing ), you'll know what works best.

In most cases, it's easier on you and the motor if you just change the rear sprocket. In most cases it's at least a 2 or 3 to 1 ratio. 16x48 etc..

Smaller front sprockets can create more wear on the sprocket and chain and place more stress on the shaft ( cush is usually on the wheel ).

[KD57]

Yep, much better to use a larger c/s sprocket and do the tuning w/ the rear, although it's more expensive and more of a hassel that way. Go too big and the chain will be too short. But it's cheap and easy to change out the c/s to see what affect it has on your gearing. Also the wheelbase changes as you run the chain adj. travel to it's limits, which may or may not affect handling.

[cms58]

All I want is to lower the rpm's, cause I use the bike for commute only. Small amounts of Interstate use and suburb use. I don't need holeshot. I mainly got the 250 to reaquaint myself to riding again and for the price. I have the S50 for mild cruising. Thanks to all who input on this question.