The cheapest character change available
Changing final drive gearing is one of the least expensive ways to alter how a bike feels. Shorter gearing sharpens acceleration and makes first and second more usable; taller gearing lowers revs at cruising speed.
Neither is free. Shorter gearing raises revs on the motorway and costs fuel. Taller gearing softens response and can make town riding less pleasant.
Post what you did
Code:
Model and year:
Standard gearing (from your manual or the parts you removed):
What you changed to:
Chain: reused, or new and what length:
Why you changed it:
What improved:
What got worse:
Effect on consumption:
Did the speedometer reading change?Two things people forget
- Chain length. A significant sprocket change may require a different chain, and adjuster range is finite.
- Speedometer accuracy. Gearing changes usually shift the reading. Worth knowing before you rely on it.
Take your standard sprocket sizes from your own manual or the parts you removed — not from another model or from memory. If you post a change, say where your baseline figure came from.