16 Tooth Front Sprocket.

[Lost in the 60's]

I got it put on today. It was a real bear getting that nut off. When I tried to do it by myself the rear wheel moved before the nut would loosen no matter how hard I was pressing on the rear brake. I finally had to get my neighbor to help me. We took the bike off the center stand so the rear wheel was on the pavement. Then I applied as much pressure as I could to the rear brake while putting most of my weight on the back tire while he put all his weight on a 25 inch breaker bar and bounced up and down on it. Finally it came loose. I don't know what they torqued it to at the factory. They must have used an impact wrench. I found there was enough chain to accommodate the one additional tooth on the front sprocket and still have enough play in the chain. So far I've only taken it out on two short rides. The first was just 2 miles around my subdivision, just to see if everything held together. It did. I didn't noticed any difference in first gear starting off. It was fine. I thought I could notice a little difference in 2nd and 3rd but that may have been in my mind. After all, It's only a 6.67% increase in each gear ratio. My next ride I went out into traffic for 5 miles. I got it up to 55 in 4th at just a little over 4,000 rpms. I'm looking forward to getting out on the highway and see how it performs there. So far the fastest I have had the nerve to go is 75. With the 15 on the front I got up to that in 6th at 5000 rpms. With the 16 I should hit 80 at 5000. We shall see if I have the nerve for that. If I do then I'm thinking that I will try it out on the Interstate.

 

[Laserman]

Grats on getting it done! I think you'll find the bike feels so much less stressed at steady cruise with that taller gear ratio. Your bike definitely has the power to pull it, even a 17T if you wanted!

 

[Wayne]

Gjc,
I just put a 16 tooth, up one, my Meteor. Haven’t had it out yet.
My neighbor had a impact and that got it off. How many ft/lbs did you use going back on?
I am looking forward to a good long ride soon.

 

[Lost in the 60's]

Gjc,
I just put a 16 tooth, up one, my Meteor. Haven’t had it out yet.
My neighbor had a impact and that got it off. How many ft/lbs did you use going back on?
I am looking forward to a good long ride soon.

According to the specs it's supposed to be 107 ft. lbs. My torque wrench only goes to 80, so that's what I used.

I also flattened two sides of the washer that keeps it from turning like they did in this video.

 

[Lost in the 60's]

Grats on getting it done! I think you'll find the bike feels so much less stressed at steady cruise with that taller gear ratio. Your bike definitely has the power to pull it, even a 17T if you wanted!

According to Gear commander this will drop my rpms in my highest gear at 80 mph from about 5300 to an even 5000. https://www.gearingcommander.com/

Again, according to Gear Commander, the Kawasaki W800, a very similar bike, turns only 4500 rpms in high with stock gearing. Another similar bike, the Triumph T100, only turns about 4200 in it's highest gear at 80 mph. So even though I raised my overall gear ratios they are still relatively lower than those of both the W800 and the T100. Based on these comparisons I probably could have gone up to a 17 on the front. However that would most likely have meant that I would need a longer chain. I did not feel like going to that additional expense and effort. I might consider that option in the future when my sprockets and chain wear out and need to be replaced.

 

[Alan F.]

It appears that Himalayans and 650 twins use the same front sprocket so find your best deal.

 

[Jon_98]

I'm in the Blue Ridge Mountains and spend most of my time in the twisties in middle gears. The biggest difference for me after doing the swap is I can spend most of my time in 3rd gear, shifting much less. Fuel economy is marginally better also.

 

[Wayne]

Jon,
Is your bike the 350 Meteor?

 

[Jon_98]

Wayne,

No, INT650.

 

[JBacklund]

I'm considering riding my Interceptor from Rapid City to St. Paul in early September, a trip total of about 1300 miles over three days.

I plan to probably avoid our eastbound, 80 mph Interstate and ride eastward to Minnesota on the 65 mph secondary highways that cross South Dakota. I just ordered a 16 tooth engine sprocket from Hitchcock's to relax the highway revs a bit on that upcoming trip, even though I feel that the engine runs ok with it's stock 15 tooth sprocket at 65-70 (indicated, not the 60-65 it's actually going...you know, typical annoying speedometer error and all that).

If I take one route, I will need to ride that 80 mph Interstate for the initial 60 miles in order to then get on the best, eastward, 65 mph two- lane, and the 16 tooth sprocket would help nicely in that case, though I would probably still run the bike at a true 70 mph or so on I-90 and just watch my mirrors carefully for the inevitable overtaking traffic from behind.

I will be very interested in what my gas mileage will be out there on a more or less steady 'flatland' cruise of that distance, especially with the upcoming 'tall' re-gearing. My last fill-up (with stock gearing) netted 64 mpg (US) in local riding, which was a mix of probably 30/70 percent Interstate/rolling, curvy, Black Hills back roads.

If it wasn't for the relative chaos of Minneapolis/St. Paul traffic once I neared my destination, I would consider riding my new 350 Classic on that trip, and really making it an adventure as I 'putt-putted' across the sparce interior prairies of western and central South Dakota.

Depending on the weather outlook when I'm ready to go, and my adventurous spirit at the moment , I might still run the 350 instead of the 650.

I figure that I could run the 350 along at an actual 50-55 mph, watching my mirrors carefully, and be ready to use it's four-way flashers, and road shoulder, to avoid being run over by cattle trucks and farm tractors hurtling up from behind.

We'll see how it goes when the time comes.

 

[Lost in the 60's]

I'm considering riding my Interceptor from Rapid City to St. Paul in early September, a trip total of about 1300 miles over three days.

I plan to probably avoid our eastbound, 80 mph Interstate and ride eastward to Minnesota on the 65 mph secondary highways that cross South Dakota. I just ordered a 16 tooth engine sprocket from Hitchcock's to relax the highway revs a bit on that upcoming trip, even though I feel that the engine runs ok with it's stock 15 tooth sprocket at 65-70 (indicated, not the 60-65 it's actually going...you know, typical annoying speedometer error and all that).

If I take one route, I will need to ride that 80 mph Interstate for the initial 60 miles in order to then get on the best, eastward, 65 mph two- lane, and the 16 tooth sprocket would help nicely in that case, though I would probably still run the bike at a true 70 mph or so on I-90 and just watch my mirrors carefully for the inevitable overtaking traffic from behind.

I will be very interested in what my gas mileage will be out there on a more or less steady 'flatland' cruise of that distance, especially with the upcoming 'tall' re-gearing. My last fill-up (with stock gearing) netted 64 mpg (US) in local riding, which was a mix of probably 30/70 percent Interstate/rolling, curvy, Black Hills back roads.

If it wasn't for the relative chaos of Minneapolis/St. Paul traffic once I neared my destination, I would consider riding my new 350 Classic on that trip, and really making it an adventure as I 'putt-putted' across the sparce interior prairies of western and central South Dakota.

Depending on the weather outlook when I'm ready to go, and my adventurous spirit at the moment , I might still run the 350 instead of the 650.

I figure that I could run the 350 along at an actual 50-55 mph, watching my mirrors carefully, and be ready to use it's four-way flashers, and road shoulder, to avoid being run over by cattle trucks and farm tractors hurtling up from behind.

We'll see how it goes when the time comes.

Sounds like a great adventure. I'm actually envious. As for the 16 tooth sprocket, I can't feel any difference when riding the bike. But I'm still glad I did it.

 

[CiscoGoodDog]

I have a 16T sprocket and lock washer on its way from Hitchcocks. It should be here sometime next week. Thanks for posting the video. I feel more confident installing it on my Meteor.

 

[Lost in the 60's]

Here's another youtube video on how to change the front sprocket.