i want to lower my gears so i can start learnin 12's. what's everyone running on their liter bikes? i was thinking about goin 1down in front and like 4 up in back. does that sound about right? and what will my bike top out at?
and should i even change the front sprocket or just keep it stock and go up more in the rear instead? that way i dont have to buy and change 2 sprockets, just one.
keep in mind i still wanna be able to keep up with the group on the highway, so i dont want my top speed to be less than say 120. and what air pressure will work best for learning 12's?
any help/suggestions would be appreciated. thanks.

 

Try going -1 in front only at first, you should still be able to hang with your buds out on the road, if you change front and rear sprockets, you will need a new chain as well. As far as doing 12s, I havent tried it yet, good luck.:D

 

i lowered the front sprocket one tooth on my last bike(gsxr 750) and it made a little difference , but i want to lower it alot on thise bike, i just need to know how much is too much.

 

From what I read in my similar posts, the extreme was 2 down and 5-8 up. However, that only may apply to 600, 750, 900rr. I have an R1, so I ordered 5 up for the rear. Have not tried it yet because of snow but soon enough. I can't see going any more than 2 down 5 up for the liter bikes, and that may even be too much. Don't want to be redlining at 100mph:D

 

instead of goin 2down 5 up, why not just got 7 or 8 up in the rear . that way you dont have to change the front. would there be a problem with doing that? just wondering.

 

I can't see any problems with that. However, I you plan on going up in the rear only, you better save the links for your chain. I don't know about anybody else but I don't have that much green to be buying a new chain every time I go up in the back.

 

WELL , I DONT PLAN ON CHANGING MY GEARS OFTEN. BUT HOW MUCH ARE CHAINS ANYWAYS?

 

Chains aren't cheap. I checked with MotoPhychoz. they all ride 1000's. Two of them are 3down 3 up. The other is 2down 2up. I've got sprockets ordered for mine and I went 2 down 3up. Front sprockets are only 15 bucks so it not that big of a deal.

If you go over about 3 up on the back and stock on the front you'll have to get a new chain. they're about $100 or so.

 

Anybody know of a good place to buy chains? Can you just add some links or is that a bad idea.

 

phsychoboy , from what ive heard , if you go down more than one tooth in the front it it will be bad for the chain. i guess its because it changes the angle of the chain. so either way you'll end up replacing that thing anyways. so im still planning on just replacing the chain anyways and leaving the front stock.;
quick question- ive heard that for every tooth you go down in the front its like goin up 2 in the rear. is that accurate? or is it more like 3?

 

Yeah, 1down is the same as 3up in the rear. 1000s are 17/42 stock, which is very high geared. A 17 tooth front sprocket is pretty big. You shoould only have a problem if yu go down more than 2 in the front. Ifyou don't want to change the front you're going to have to add alot in the rear to get very low geared. If you go one down in the front and up three in the rear you should be able to keep your stock chain. Then you only spend about $75 as opposed to $150-$175 for chain and sprockets. Then you also have to consider the cost of having a shop change your chain unless you have a chain breaker/riviter.

Just my .02 cents because I'm a cheap bastard and I spend to much money on bikes.

 

thanks alot , that was really good advice. i am also a "cheap bastard" when it comes to my stunt bike. i know im just wreckin and driving it into the ground so i try and invest as little as possible into it.

 

I have an 02 1000. I went up 2 in the rear which is the most you can do and not buy a chain. My top is about 140 now. I have heard that it is bad on the chain to lower the front sprocket because it is wrapped to tight.

 

Tops is 140?! In what, third gear? If you just went two up and it tops out at 140 there is something wrong!

Yes it is bad on your chain if you go down alot on the front. The reason being that it has to make a tighter bend. But, 1 or 2 down in the front isn't going to kill a chain as fast as clutching up wheelies or poor maintenance.

 

1 down three up you will be good on the 1000 ........... you should only lose about 10-12 mph off the top....................

 

greg , 1down 3 up? wouldnt it be easier and cheaper just to go 2 down in the front?

 

It would be but part of the issue is the chain length.....also on the gixxers the chain tends to rub on the chain guide(on top of swing arm) when dropping two........Dont get me wrong on my 99 GSXR I went down two and three up with the stock chain. It was cool for slower stuff just sucked on bike nights riding with friends.....


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