Lol...that was the 'old' chain, and it was that tight the tire was on the swing arm and wouldn't turn in that picture. I changed it, when the new one got delivered....but it's still as clean now tho ;-)
Thanks, I did think so tbh because they moved them on the 999 first didn't they? Deffo going to do mine at the first service.
Interesting article on the Sigma website (Sigma Performance - Suspension - A Racer's View) whereby the suggestion is that changing sprocket sizes has an impact on overall wheelbase length and thus handling/suspension. I doubt anybody would notice unless they are riding on a track? 4th question from the bottom. "For instance if you make the swingarm 10 mm longer, as you would if you reduced the teeth on the rear the rear sprocket, you have more leverage working on the spring and therefore it gives a softer feeling"
Unless that is, you shorten the chain...then the wheel base is un altered. It's also good practice to change sprockets and chains at the same time....so it wouldn't be an issue to drop a link or two, when you drop a tooth. It altering the ride height is more of an issue with the eccentric hub chain adjustment on the 848/1098.....unless of course you fit a ride height adjuster while your at it ;-)
After pondering this subject myself, I am now convinced 14T is the next change to make on mine too! Good reading, cheers. Dukey.
Had my 14t front sprocket done at Moto Rapido this week and what a difference the drive the back has now feels so much more urgent and low speed revs are more manageable at 30 and 40. Also had my Clutch Slave Cylinder upgraded to an Oberon one as well which has helped the clutch action as well. 2 excellent and highly recommended mods
I just fitted a 14 tooth today to my 1198s,around the town slow driving it's a lot better and easy to ride,down side is,it's sharp as hell and 1st,and 2nd,3rd just wants to wheele everywhere when you are on the gas,maybe 2 up on the back would be alittle better,but I doubt it
I know what you mean about the sharpness, now you just need to fit an 848 engine and it'll be perfect ;-)
Echo that on the Oberon. Done at last service (Moto Italia Lincoln...highly recommended) Have just ordered both a 14 front and a 38 rear to try both options !! Will report back... there's something I can vaguely recall from chatting to a track day racer ; he that suggested going up on the back rather than down on the front puts less stress on the chain. Maybe someone here can enlighten me.....
I would think going up on the back is a preferred option as it keeps the wheel base short as well, however on a SSA this is generally pretty expensive. I agree the tighter radius could cause more stress on the chain but it's a 525 pitch running road spec engines, racebikes would be tuned and then still running smaller and lighter 520 chains. We very rarely see chains snapping fortunately!
Has happened twice in my 30 odd years.... Old (twin shock) air cooled GPz 750.....two up, accelerating up hill left from a junction, lost drive as I went into second. Up and down the gear box; nuthin. Coasted to a halt. Looking at the bike, when a fella walks up holding said chain...it had whistled past his offside wing. He was driving a Morris Minor traveller I do recall. Lucky didn't go through the windscreen. ZXR750H1 .... had returned from the TT the day before. Nipped out for petrol, doing a few laps of the Basingstoke ring-road (roundabouts everywhere). Accelerating away from roundabout, hit second again except this time a bang. Rolled to the road side. Oil dripping from fairing lower. Chain wrapped around front sprocket, cracked crank case. Now it gets interesting. Engine out and split the crank cases to access gear box, I found second gear missing a tooth. Assumed it had sheared off when the sprocket locked solid. But on close inspection only half the tooth had sheared. Half the break was a 'plastic' as opposed to 'crystalline' fracture. This suggested the gear tooth had been breaking over time (fatigue on a bad batch of gears?) and finally let go, jamming the gearbox and breaking the chain. Other way around y'see. Wrote to Kawasaki (it was out of warranty). They offered to pay parts if I paid labour at a dealer (rather than DIY). Remember it was Daytona Kawasaki. Glad I did, because they discovered both gearbox shafts to be bent, so bike had a completely rebuiltgearbox and crank cases. Would've been a bugger if that had let go on the Isle of Man. Look after your chains people !!!! PS best tip I had was to lube at the end of a ride (ooh er) when everything is good and warm.
Just changed from an 848 with a 14t front sprocket to an 1198 on standard gearing and the long gearing is spoiling the feel of the bike. I like the way the 848 flew through the gears. I wasn't sure if it was a good mod to do on an 1198 but this has convinced me so I think I will be buying new chain and sprockets soon and going back to a 14t front.
