Would a change from the stock 15 tooth front sprocket to a 14/13 tooth one on my 2010 696 smooth out my low speed around town riding? And if so would I need to change the chain or would the stock one be ok?
14 will work a treat. I wouldn't go to a 13, even if you could find one, as the chain will start to wear the slider out on the swingarm.
Cheers guys, is it an easy job for someone with moderate mechanical abilities, or should I just get them to do it at ducati coventry?
My mates just done his - he said it was a pig of a job - hardly any room to get the front sprocket off - easier to get the new one on as it's smaller!
Just did it on my M1100S (15 to 14). It took about half an hour. You need to loosen the chain and take off the clutch cylinder, after that it's a doddle.
No such thing as a ten minute job. Getting the tools out and putting them away takes that.................. Allow an hour if you're doing it.
You may be right. Everyone else has to cut their costs, but garages seem immune. A local mechanic said to me, "You don't understand, we have to pay for a premises, and we have to write a detailed report for each job. We have to have stock and we have to have specialist machinery". So I explained to him that we also have to have a premises, and pay for a secretary; we also have to have stock, but we also have to spend a sodding fortune on fuel travelling round the country doing jobs, more jobs per day than him, and we have to write detailed reports on each job, just like him. We have to have specialist machinery too. And service our vehicles on a very regular basis due to the mileage we cover, and invoice the clients rather than work for cash like he does, and all for less than half the hourly rate he charges. He shut up then...
I did this on the M900 a couple of weeks ago, take the sprocket off with the chain after loosening the back wheel, easy, no need to remove the clutch master cylinder. Goes straight back on, re-aline the wheel, Bobs your uncle.
