VF500 Gearing. (Sprockets/rear wheel combo)

Just thought I'd put out some of the info I have found for members who are thinking of going with different size sprockets for their VF500.

I haven't gone with shorter gearing (Numerically higher final ratio)....I have always tried making the bike rev a lot less so I've always tried to go for taller gearing (Numerically lower Final ratio)

* With the stock VF500 rear wheel and with a 15/42 sprocket combo my 1986 VF500 was cruising at: 80MPH@6,500rpm (approx)

When installing the F2 rear wheel....the smaller diameter rear wheel requires a sprocket change to go back to stock gearing.

*With the 15/42 Sprocket combo and the F2 rear wheel my 1986 VF500 was cruising at:
80mph@7,000rpm+

I guess if you want shorter gears you can always just do the F2 swap. (2 birds 1 stone :tongue: )

Jamie Daugherty lists the recommended sprockets sizes (with an F2 rear wheel) as:

84-85 VF500 - 16/44
1986 VF500 - 16/43

Daugherty Motorsports - Motorcycle Suspension Performance and Modification


Since I am trying to go with a much lower RPM while cruising I have gone with a 16/41 Sprocket combo with my F2 rear wheel with a 150/70-17 tire.
*With that ^^ I am cruising at: 80mph@6,000rpm

Problems that may occur with the 16/41 combo are:

-Chain rubbing the front sprocket cover (see pic below)


-A shorter chain may be required to bring the Rear wheel into stock position. (i.e. not too far back in the swingarm)
Start with the stock 108 and go from there.


If anyone wants to do the math and come up with the Final Ratios with the F2 Rear wheel and different sprockets that may benefit also.

This is what I got so far:

VF500F with 15/41 Sprocket combo: 2.73
VF500F with 15/42 Sprocket combo: 2.80
VF500F with 15/43 Sprocket combo: 2.87 <--- Stock gearing for 1986
VF500F with 15/44 Sprocket combo: 2.93 <--- Stock gearing for 1984-85

VF500F with F2 Rear wheel and 15/41 Sprocket combo: ?????
VF500F with F2 Rear wheel and 15/42 Sprocket combo: ?????
VF500F with F2 Rear wheel and 15/43 Sprocket combo: ?????
VF500F with F2 Rear wheel and 15/44 Sprocket combo: ?????

VF500F with F2 Rear wheel and 16/41 Sprocket combo: ?????
VF500F with F2 Rear wheel and 16/42 Sprocket combo: ?????
VF500F with F2 Rear wheel and 16/43 Sprocket combo: ?????
VF500F with F2 Rear wheel and 16/44 Sprocket combo: ?????

 

Thank you for the post. This is a good start for owners working on a 17" wheel conversion.

On a side note - the calculations need to consider the aspect ratio of the rear tire - i.e. what the tire's diameter is - to determine the engine RPM at a set speed.

 

Very true.

I was thinking that just for reference we should use stock tire sizes for the stock ratios.....and we can decide on a basic tires size for the 17" conversion.

Maybe 150/70-17?

Assuming the 150 is actually 150mm and the profile size is 70% of it.

 

I think a 150/70-17 is a good choice for the 'F2' wheel and a 140/80-17 for the 'F' wheel.

 

I agree. (don't know much about the F wheel though)

 

Yes, it seems most owners go with the CBR600F2 rims.

I went with the CBR600F rims (110/70-17F, 140/80-17R).