Front and Rear Sprocket Replacement

Well, here's the story. I just picked up this VFR from my brother and I need to replace the chain some kind of bad. I did some research I thought that I didn't have the right tools to pull off the job myself. So I contact one of the local shops near me and tell them I want a stock replacement because I'm not too fimilar with the bike at the moment to figure out whether if I want to change to something else than the stock teeth. So yesterday I head over there to get everything done and the mechanic takes me back to show me how to tighten the chain, Then he informs me that I went up two teeth in the rear being that the stock sprocket is 43 and the replacement is 45 but the kicker is that the front sprocket has nothing on it. So after inspection it seems to be 16. Now what have I effectively done to the bike? Is my speedo off now? What should I been experiencing with acceleration now? All I have done so far is ride the bike home on all highways. I'm concerned with how it will behave on the twisties.

 

Do I dare ask who you took your bike to around here?

Basically, I believe you should have went with the stock sprocket and chain set up assuming of course that you didn't want to worry about your speedo reading incorrect which it will do now with the 2 teeth up in the rear. The stock set up is 17 front and 43 rear, and the chain will have 108 links in it. I just completed this job on my VFR with 20k miles on it, and it is very easy to do if you have the correct tools like a Motion-Pro Chain braking/installation tool kit. You should be feeling more low end torque I believe by adding 2 teeth in the rear.

Here is the kit I just got from eBay and it worked great:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/98-01-Honda-VFR800-RK-gold-chain-sprocket-kit_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1713Q2em153Q2el1262QQcategoryZ35600QQihZ022QQitemZ350089757164QQtcZphoto

Here is the Motion Pro Chain Kit I was talking about that also work great:
http://www.motionpro.com/motorcycle/tools/view/chain_breaker_and_riveting_tool/


If you need any help, just let me know as I am just up the road from you.

 

If the stock set up is 17 and 43 and you now have 16 and 45, you've dropped one tooth in front and gone up two in the rear. With that set up you have lowered your overall gearing, I know a couple of guys that ride 600's and they run that set up to keep their RPMs where they want them. You should have more torque on the low end and lose some top end speed. Your speedometer will read faster that your actual speed. Take the bike out and see if you like it, if its geared too low go back to stock size on the front.

Action

 

I went to Devil Dawg Custom Cycles in Chantilly. Good people and I heard nothing but good things about them. Called them up and told them I was in a pinch to get the job done and was hoping they could get it done asap. They told me that as soon as the parts were in they would call me and they would do it on the spot. This also takes in account that half of their staff is at the Moto Show this week. They quoted me 1-1.5hrs of labor and $200 for the sprocket and chain kit. Again, know that I didn't have the chain tool and I needed it done asap I figured what the hell. Got there and the tech said, "holy crap! I don't have to even take the wheel off to do this job!" 30mins later and he was done. 5mins of that was spent showing me how to do the job myself!! So in the end, I paid $200 for kit and $85 for 1hr of labor and they threw in a can of chain lube for free. At first, I was going to order a kit online and order the kit tool kit but for damn near the same price I had the shop do it for me. Most of the time I like to do my own work. I cage it up in a 02 Lexus IS300 that I have installed all sorts of bolts and I'm currently putting together a 89 honda CRX track car. All done in my garage. But like I said, I wanted it done asap. I took it out last night and I'd have to say that the bike seems like a whole new bike to me. So far, so good. I wasn't pushing it but did seem a bit smoother coming out of the turns.


So when do you want to meet up and go out for some good old vfr riding? Also, I see in your sig that you own both of my favorite bikes!! I'm really hoping I can find my way to a RC51 next year. I would love to have the vfr for my daily commuter and part time weekend toy. And then have an RC51 for everything else!!

 

your bike will be much quicker off the line, accelerate quicker, use more fuel , have shorter chain life, and have a reduced top speed.

the shop should have given you stock sprockets unless you specifically approved changes.

 

1 tooth less on the front is roughly equivalent to +3 on the rear....add the 2 and you have roughly a difference of 5 teeth! Too much for me, I tried just a -1 on the front and didnt like it so much as I do a lot of hiway jaunts but for others, they dont mind.

When the chain and sprockets go on it next year, I think I'll try the +2 on the rear and call it a day. Hopefully that'll give me the best medium.

 

I would agree a 100% if the shop was a Honda only shop. I would find it hard for them to have knowledge and specs on everything. Even more so on a freaking VFR. I believe them when they told me they ordered what was told to them by their supplier that the kit was a stock replacement. When I was told the sprockets weren't stock they offered to find the stock replacements. They told me I could try them out and if I didn't like them and they would get me stockers. My thoughts so far is that I think I love the set up. Like I said, I try and avoid the highways at all cost so I really don't care much about how that has been effected. I did ride the interstate this morning and noticed that the revs were up but anytime I needed throttle it was there. No looking for a lower gear for some passing power. One other thing is that I really didn't find 1st gear to be all that useful in everyday riding but now I can just kick it directly into 2nd and pretty much use that for slow moving. So again, I love this set up so far. But each rider is different and their wants and needs are different. Thanks for the replies all!

 

So is it still riding good for what you are using it for? Anymore assessments with those sprockets and how they feel on the highway vs. back roads?

 

On the highway I am taching a bit higher but I really don't care that much about the effects on the top end. I'm still getting use to the change. I was merging onto 66 today and hit the rev limiter a lot quicker than I thought I would. Luckly I was still in the merge lane to it had little effect on my merging. I have found on my back road riding that I can keep a higher gear on the exit of the turn. It seemed like before I didn't have a choice. I had to kick it down a gear to have enough power to exit the turn. Now it seems like I can roll on the throttle at any rpm and have a decent amount of power on tap.

 

Sounds like you are comfortable with it, so you should be good to go. I am curious once you get a chance to throw a GPS on your bike to determine the amount of speedo error with that sprocket set up. Lets get out some time soon for a quick spin before the winter hits.

 

from:Linton Hall Rd to:VA-55 to:Main St/VA-55 to:Crest Hill Rd to:38.733331,-78.149185 to:Leaksville Rd/RR 5/VA-616 to:Leaksville Rd/RR 5/VA-616 to:340 to:Blue and Gold Dr to:Spotswood Trail/US-33 to:VA-230 to:Nokesville Rd/VA-28 to:Linton Hall Rd -

Thinking about making that loop. Haven't been out that way yet and I've heard nothing but great things.