sprockets?

i was looking at replacing my sprocket for some more power... i found some JT sprockets on bikebandit for my 1985 vf500 but what is the difference betweent them. some have 42 teeth some have 14 teeth... etc... whats the difference betweent the teeth.

 

^^^Bump^^^

 

front sprockets have between 14-17 teeth, smaller
rear sprockets have between 40-45 teeth bigger
the idea is to allow the front shaft to turn faster than the rear wheel hence the term "gear reduction"
this is an over simplified explanation but I think you get the point

 

so to get more acceleration/power would i go to smaller sprockets?

 

Dropping a tooth on the front will give you more low end power. Going to a larger sprocket on the rear has the same effect. I've always heard going down one tooth on the front is equal to going up 3 on the rear.

Action

 

it is really all about ratio's. I know we all hated Algebra when we were in school, but like our parents all said you'll need this someday. we thought "what a crock of Sh$T at the time. Well for you, 2000ex, bro that day has arrived. 15 teeth in front and 45 teeth in rear the gear ratio is 3:1 so Action is correct going up one tooth in front has 3 times the effect as going up one tooth in rear. if you have a 15T sprocket turning 6000RPM the rear 45T will be turning 2000RPM if you changed to a 10T sprocket in front then the same rear will be turning 1300 RPM if you went to 20T in front then the rear will be turning 2667RPM . Rear sprocket speed is the same as rear wheel speed. does your head hurt yet? LOL try this did you know that the outside of a wheel travels at ah higher velocity(speed) than the center of the wheel?

 

wow. thats hardcore right there. lol. seriously the outside travels faster than the center? wtf.

so changing sprockets is actually worth the bucks to dish out? seems like i would be gaining acceleration and losing top end. but that could be a good thing.

 

a lot of people have swapped sprockets for better acceleration. when it's time for me to change my chain, i'll prolly change my sprockets as well. but i haven't decided if i'll go with less teeth up front or more teeth in the rear

 

just swapped to a 15 tooth front sprocket , man what a difference, makes the bike so much more ridable, takes out the jerkiness, when you are a gear too high etc, me thinks the bike was geared too high