[dhoenisch]

Sorry to ask another sprocket question on this site, but there are so many with so many different suggestions that I got a little confused by the whole thing. So, if you don't mind, I guess I am hoping to get a personal response.



I am giving up the cruiser and keeping the TW200 as my main, and only bike for a while, so I am spending the winter customizing it to get it to the way I want to use it, including a Jimbo windshield (ordered), larger foot pegs (ordered), Cycle racks with pannier holders, Clarke tank, etc. and I want to upgrade the sprockets to make it more highway worthy. For some reason, the combination of 15 front and 48 rear keep sticking in my head. Will this combination work for me? The type of riding I do is mostly street at speeds of around 55-60 mph when I hit the two-lane highways. I don't want to do any interstate riding with this, or any bike. I do plan to hit some dirt or gravel roads, some of which would be poorly maintained. So, would this combination work out for me, or what would you all suggest?



Also, I know where to get the sprockets, as you all have a few sites posted, but where do I get an O-ring chain, and which size (if there is one) should I get for the suggested sprocket size combination?



Thank you in advanced for your advice,

Dan

 

[biglefti]

I'll watch this one as all I find advertised is the standard chain. That is probably because the o-ring is so much more expensive they would rather bait and switch you <G>. As far as the sprockets are concerned, you will definitely notice a difference by going to a 15-48 set-up. Of course I'm assuming that you are currently using the 14-47 combo. The 15 tooth front sprocket does a better job of spreading the load on the chain, but it increases the strain on the output shaft. I suspect the the output power of the TW is not enough for either of those factors to make any difference. Your engine speed will decrease and that will be nice for you when riding in the 55-60mph range. If you are a big guy and have to go up many steep hills at those speeds, it might make that a little difficult.

 

[qwerty]

Stock sprockets are fine for 55-60mph. Panniers increase wind resistance. Stuff in panniers increases weight. TWs have little power. Taller sprocket ratios won't gain any significant speed except downhill/tailwind/drafting/some combination of the three. You'll find your bike unable to maintain speed in 5th and end up downshifting and actually running slower uphill and/or with headwinds. To tall sprocket ratios and heavy loads will kill the clutch offroad and in slow traffic. A;so, too tall sprocket ratios make the gaps between 3rd and 4th and 4th and 5th problematic, as in wind out one gear and the bike slows when shifted to the next. Gell grips reduce vibration better than taller sprockets.



I've run 14/47, 14/50, 14/54, 15/47, 15/50, and 15/54. I'm currently running 15/50 and have 15/51 to install next. My riding these days is around town and short trips to nearby towns on paved roads.



As for sourcing o-ring chain, http://tinyurl.com/26srbod DID, RK, and EK are good quality.

 

[dhoenisch]

I'm not really looking to better the vibration of the bike, I just find it hard to maintain 55mph on my bike as is, and with folks on here changing sprockets, it just seems like it would help with speed a little, or at least keep me maintain 55MPH better. Of course, my bike only has just under 600 total miles on it, so maybe the engine just needs to break in more? Current set up on a new TW200 is 14/50, right? Would it make more sense just to keep the front at 14, and maybe change the back to something like 47 or something? I know it wouldn't be a huge boost, but would it work to my advantage without messing up my bike?



Also, thank for your link to the chain, but unfortunately, it just goes to a Google search page.



Dan

 

[jbfla]

... Would it make more sense just to keep the front at 14, and maybe change the back to something like 47 or something? ...

I changed my stock 14/50 to 14/47 (which is nearly the same ratio as Qwerty's 15/50).



In the NC mountains (on road) I have been able to maintain 55 mph easily on all but long uphill grades, where I have to downshift to 4th to maintain 45 mph.



Here's the google search page:



http://www.google.com/search?btnG=1&pws=0&q=428+o-ring+chain



jb

 

[qwerty]

Yes, it is a google search page for 428 o-ring chain. Pick a vendor, order a chain, or stop by any dealer and order a chain if they don't have one in stock.

 

[slowpoke]

dhoenisch, i have tried 3 combinations for street use. 14 50 14 42 14 45. i live in bakersfield ca and its fairly flat here. out of the three combinations i prefered the 14 45. i had this combination when i drove from bakersfield to gorman (off-road park) normally takes 45 min by car and i made it about 1hr 10min. my trip started on Interstate 99 south for 25min @ 70-75mph wide open. then interstate 5 and had to climb 4000ft for 10 miles(estimate). i held 4th most of the time for 45mph and had to do 3rd on the steepest part. the funny thing is im on the lane with the big rigs and twice they gave me a thumbs up. any way coming down i hit 80 maybe 83ish very scary with a light bike..



you can get an o ring chain and sprockets anywhere, got mine at our local yami dealer.



hope this gives you an idea on the speed and elevation with the combination that i prefered (14-45). cheers

 

[qwerty]

dhoenisch, i have tried 3 combinations for street use. 14 50 14 42 14 45. i live in bakersfield ca and its fairly flat here. out of the three combinations i prefered the 14 45. i had this combination when i drove from bakersfield to gorman (off-road park) normally takes 45 min by car and i made it about 1hr 10min. my trip started on Interstate 99 south for 25min @ 70-75mph wide open. then interstate 5 and had to climb 4000ft for 10 miles(estimate). i held 4th most of the time for 45mph and had to do 3rd on the steepest part. the funny thing is im on the lane with the big rigs and twice they gave me a thumbs up. any way coming down i hit 80 maybe 83ish very scary with a light bike..



you can get an o ring chain and sprockets anywhere, got mine at our local yami dealer.



hope this gives you an idea on the speed and elevation with the combination that i prefered (14-45). cheers

The 14/45 (3.21) you ran is very similar the 15/47 (3.13) I had. Yes, a TW going down a mountain will go much faster than common sense dictates. Been there, done that. A 14/47 (3.36) or 15/50 (3.33) will provide all the downhill speed a sane person would want to ride a TW (79.4 [email protected],500rpm), and do a better job maintaining speed up hill. I have a 15/51 ([email protected],500rpm) set to go on the bike next.

 

[Brad Lamar]

dhoenisch,

Just remember that changing the gearing on the TW works just the same as on a bicycle. If your issue is holding 55 mph on the road without downshifting then you need to make the gearing shorter not taller. This means a larger rear sprocket and keeping the smaller front sprocket. Going to a larger front / smaller rear combination "Taller Gearing" will result in less rpm's and less power in 5th gear. This will result in more difficultly holding 55 mph without downshifting. My TW's engine vibration increases a lot at around 55 mph with stock gearing "I assume that others are the same" so many people make the gearing taller to reduce the rpm's and the vibration's at those speeds. Gearing is always a compromise and any change will improve one aspect of performance while reducing another. When changing from stock you can make about a half a gear change taller or shorter and almost anything in between. I have not had a issue holding 55 mph except for steep hills with stock gearing so I would suggest that you go ahead and wear out your stock sprockets and chain to see if the performance at 55 mph improves as the bike breaks in. You can use the gearing calculator to detemnine the rpm's that a gearing change would give you at 55 mph then see what speed that is with stock gearing. If you ride the bike with stock gearing at that speed you will get a pretty good feel for the rpms / vibration that you will have with the new gearing. PS: Air pressure in your tires will effect your ability to hold high speeds. Make sure you don't have a tire low on air.



Brad

 

[darnold87]

For me, the 14/50 stock ratio is good all around. I would think you'd be happy with 14/47.



I have a dual sprocket setup allowing 14/50 & 14/47. The 14/47 easily gets you a comfortable 60mph but starts to kill more difficult offroad trails.

Also, I installed aluminum Renthal ATV HI handlebars and it made high speeds more comfortable due to less engine vibration transfer into your hands/arms.

Good luck!