KX Riders

Maintenance & Technical => KX500 Original => Topic started by: slow600 on May 16, 2009, 08:47:00 AM

Title: 16t sprocket
Post by: slow600 on May 16, 2009, 08:47:00 AM
anybody ever fit a 16t front sprocket and was able to keep/modify the case saver? thanks
Title: Re: 16t sprocket
Post by: RoostDaddy on May 16, 2009, 09:54:57 AM
Not too sure if you can fit it with the case saver, but I know you can fit up to a 17 on the front with minor filing of the case for chain clearance.
Title: Re: 16t sprocket
Post by: Polar-Bus on May 16, 2009, 11:03:28 AM
anybody ever fit a 16t front sprocket and was able to keep/modify the case saver? thanks

Won't fit. The two case guard mounts hit the sprocket. I tried a 16T for my ice prep.

If you want I have a brand spankin' new one for sale ! (i'll even throw in a hacksaw to ensure the sprocket fits)     :)
Title: Re: 16t sprocket
Post by: dsrtrider on May 16, 2009, 11:06:59 AM
team green used to run 16/42 geaing for baja but i belive ii read they removed the guard
Title: Re: 16t sprocket
Post by: JustinSB on May 18, 2009, 01:08:05 PM
Wow, that bike must have been mutha fuggen fast!!! What was the top speed on the bad boy?
Title: Re: 16t sprocket
Post by: slow600 on May 18, 2009, 01:28:03 PM
geared 15/43 now. seems like i still gotta shift gears awfully fast on the street. i want to keep my case guard, guess ill have to stick with current gearing for now. only smaller rear sprockets im aware of are custom units.
Title: Re: 16t sprocket
Post by: stewart on May 18, 2009, 02:15:29 PM
i thought sidewinder made down to a 38
Title: Re: 16t sprocket
Post by: RoostDaddy on May 19, 2009, 11:44:17 AM
Check Sprocket Specialist or Rebel gears. I know one of them ( if not both ) has the 38 and somebody even makes a 37.  Not sure who, but maybe CBX will help out with this.  I believe he has a 37.
Title: Re: 16t sprocket
Post by: slow600 on May 19, 2009, 01:39:21 PM
thanks for the tips. i went ahead and got a 16t coming, gonna see first hand how the fit is. i sent a couple emails requesting prices/turn-around time on a custom rear sprocket.
Title: Re: 16t sprocket
Post by: stewart on May 19, 2009, 02:16:31 PM
did you run your motor yet
Title: Re: 16t sprocket
Post by: slow600 on May 19, 2009, 02:39:34 PM
sure did, runs awesome. ive never had a motard that would burn the rear tire off exiting a turn or just straight line ripping until now. if only i could stay out of the pipe, this thing loves to drink gas at an alarming rate. small price to pay i suppose :-D
Title: Re: 16t sprocket
Post by: stewart on May 19, 2009, 02:48:22 PM
takes fuel to make power
Title: Re: 16t sprocket
Post by: DoldGuy on May 20, 2009, 01:16:43 AM
Slow600,
Sounds as you have your K5 running good. You posted else where that you had problems with the 450's hanging on the straights (quick search did not find it). If you are now looking for more gear & spinning the tire you found the solution? I read you switched to the PC2 & the VF2 anything else?? :-D
Title: Re: 16t sprocket
Post by: Polar-Bus on May 20, 2009, 04:29:58 AM
geared 15/43 now. seems like i still gotta shift gears awfully fast on the street. i want to keep my case guard, guess ill have to stick with current gearing for now. only smaller rear sprockets im aware of are custom units.

I know when I geared my shifter kart to my local track, they tell you to try to just touch peak rpm's 3/4 way down your longest straight. How long of a road course are you racing on? If you PM me your email address, I can send you my Excel based gearing caculator program (you do need to know what peak rpm's are on your engine).
Title: Re: 16t sprocket
Post by: stewart on May 20, 2009, 04:54:03 AM
Slow600,
Sounds as you have your K5 running good. You posted else where that you had problems with the 450's hanging on the straights (quick search did not find it). If you are now looking for more gear & spinning the tire you found the solution? I read you switched to the PC2 & the VF2 anything else?? :-D
it was not keeping up before i went clear thru his motor ,,,but i bet it will now
Title: Re: 16t sprocket
Post by: PowerFiend on May 20, 2009, 05:46:17 AM
Slow600,
Sounds as you have your K5 running good. You posted else where that you had problems with the 450's hanging on the straights (quick search did not find it). If you are now looking for more gear & spinning the tire you found the solution? I read you switched to the PC2 & the VF2 anything else?? :-D

When I was running my 97 CR500 in SM trim with a tired stock topend and only a VF2 and PC pipe, I never had any problems with 450's on the straights. The hardest part of running the big smoker was corner speed, if he was getting past on the straights it was probably due to poor drive out of the corners.
Title: Re: 16t sprocket
Post by: Polar-Bus on May 20, 2009, 07:27:48 AM
Slow600,
Sounds as you have your K5 running good. You posted else where that you had problems with the 450's hanging on the straights (quick search did not find it). If you are now looking for more gear & spinning the tire you found the solution? I read you switched to the PC2 & the VF2 anything else?? :-D

When I was running my 97 CR500 in SM trim with a tired stock topend and only a VF2 and PC pipe, I never had any problems with 450's on the straights. The hardest part of running the big smoker was corner speed, if he was getting past on the straights it was probably due to poor drive out of the corners.

It's the engine braking that the big 4 strokes have. I get my butt handed to me out on the ice oval, for this exact reason. Not from being out accelerated, but from being "out-braked" I also have a YZ450F that I set up this winter out on the ice, and wow, you can stick a 450F DEEP entering a corner (vs. my KX500)
Title: Re: 16t sprocket
Post by: DoldGuy on May 20, 2009, 08:51:58 AM
I don't want to Hijack this thread, but has anyone used a compression release (in the head / not like Accu setup). We used these in the old days (Flat Tracking) & they really helped the bike setup for the turn by allowing the rear end to step out in a controlled manner allowing you to run it in much deeper. It was very similar to the current 4 strokes (250F/450F) but not as much as the Yamaha TT500 when they came out. Just my thoughts.
Title: Re: 16t sprocket
Post by: kaw rider on May 20, 2009, 10:13:37 AM
I have a picture of one in the head. It would be alot easyer if stewart made a billet head and then machine the dome for it. Like this one is. Then you would have to machine your cylinder for the decompression valve.
Title: Re: 16t sprocket
Post by: jfabmotorsports.com on May 20, 2009, 11:10:57 AM
I don't want to Hijack this thread, but has anyone used a compression release (in the head / not like Accu setup). We used these in the old days (Flat Tracking) & they really helped the bike setup for the turn by allowing the rear end to step out in a controlled manner allowing you to run it in much deeper. It was very similar to the current 4 strokes (250F/450F) but not as much as the Yamaha TT500 when they came out. Just my thoughts.


What causes engine braking on a 4 stroke?
Why do 2 strokes and diesels not have it?
Title: Re: 16t sprocket
Post by: Motorrad on May 20, 2009, 11:34:41 AM
how would a compression release help engine braking into a corner??  Wouldn't this hurt it further...   You lost me on this one...
Title: Re: 16t sprocket
Post by: jfabmotorsports.com on May 20, 2009, 11:40:02 AM
how would a compression release help engine braking into a corner??  Wouldn't this hurt it further...   You lost me on this one...

Thats where I was heading. If you had a 2 inch hole in the head it would release a lot of compression and not slow the bike down. I would like the theory explained to me though, please.
Title: Re: 16t sprocket
Post by: DoldGuy on May 20, 2009, 12:18:25 PM
I will TRY to explain. Imagine going down a straight with an upcoming some what tight left hander, your in fourth or fifth gear with the motor tapped, what do you do, you grab a handful of brakes and MAYBE down shift a gear if it does not cause too much rear wheel hop. This is where the comp release comes into play, you use the downshift (or 2) to come in hot & let the motors gearbox be the Controlled engine braking (which feels much like a current F four stroke) and with a turn left, then right, the rearend steps out smoothly & controlled. If anyone has tried to go fast on an oval before will tell you, you have to be aggresive & smooth to have good lap times. Next time you go riding, try downshifting 2 gears with the clutch out & see how much engine braking is actually in a 2 stroke, it's just not smooth like a 4 stroke. I hope this gives some what of an explanation.
Title: Re: 16t sprocket
Post by: azracer19 on May 20, 2009, 12:22:28 PM
As far as compression release operation, When I first learned to ride, many years ago my Dad would take me to Bay.mar it was a TT track i was tought to hold the throttle open and pull the compression release going into the turn release it back onto the straright...  the entire time holding the throttle open this was on a 100 cc bike. it would be dangerous IMO to use this method on a 500. I was kinda like drifting thru corners I suppose
Title: Re: 16t sprocket
Post by: slow600 on May 20, 2009, 01:42:46 PM
the kx would lose in a straight line race to my 450 before. now that it got some love thanks to good ole stewart its a different animal. all the new-found power almost caused me to biff twice due to excessive tire spin coming out of a corner. around a course my 450 is definatly quicker due to several factors, but straight section is absolutly no contest. its almost humorous how fast it pulls away, the 450 is not stock at all either. sigh.....i hope i dont get too many tickets this summer.  :-D
Title: Re: 16t sprocket
Post by: alward25 on May 20, 2009, 03:53:49 PM
i thought sidewinder made down to a 38

That would be funny to have a rear sprocket almost the same size front sprocket.
Title: Re: 16t sprocket
Post by: Polar-Bus on May 20, 2009, 10:21:25 PM


What causes engine braking on a 4 stroke?
Why do 2 strokes and diesels not have it?

A 4 stroke engine has a much longer and complete compression stroke vs a piston port type 2 stroke. Also the fact that the engine has to turn over 4 times vs. 2 times for every power stroke also causes a lot of stored inertia that takes longer to decellerate. It took me a LONG time to acclimate to hitting jumps with my YZF vs. my 2 stroke. If you slightly "chop" the throttle off the face of a jump with a 4 stroke, the engine braking causes your front end to dip, and then you will most likely be taking a dirt nap..   :( 

This is my crude comparasin of 2s vs. 4s, i'm sure there is someone here who can explain the details far more precise than me..
Title: Re: 16t sprocket
Post by: oic0 on May 21, 2009, 02:22:39 AM

As for diesels, this page explains how a jake brake works and why they don't have engine breaking to begin with. http://www.jakebrake.com/products/how-the-jake-brake-works.php

I fail to see how a standard four stroke is different than a diesel though? Maybe both of them have big ol pumping losses, just a diesel is usually pulling a much larger weight so it isn't enough and they need the extra hit from a jake brake?
Title: Re: 16t sprocket
Post by: jfabmotorsports.com on May 21, 2009, 04:18:07 AM
I will TRY to explain. Imagine going down a straight with an upcoming some what tight left hander, your in fourth or fifth gear with the motor tapped, what do you do, you grab a handful of brakes and MAYBE down shift a gear if it does not cause too much rear wheel hop. This is where the comp release comes into play, you use the downshift (or 2) to come in hot & let the motors gearbox be the Controlled engine braking (which feels much like a current F four stroke) and with a turn left, then right, the rearend steps out smoothly & controlled. If anyone has tried to go fast on an oval before will tell you, you have to be aggresive & smooth to have good lap times. Next time you go riding, try downshifting 2 gears with the clutch out & see how much engine braking is actually in a 2 stroke, it's just not smooth like a 4 stroke. I hope this gives some what of an explanation.

Thats an awsome explination of why you would want engine braking. Now, how is a compression release going to slow the engine down? Were the slipper clutches designed to get rid of the engine braking that 4 stocks have so that you could use the rear brake with more controle?
Title: Re: 16t sprocket
Post by: slow600 on May 23, 2009, 02:43:46 PM
well i got the traction issue under control this morning. i swear the distanzia's feel d**n near like slicks. every kx owner should get to experience a power wheelie while still coming out of a turn. my 16t front is not here yet, but i almost decided im not gonna use it. i cant bring myself to get rid of the case saver. im waiting on a completion of a pmp 40 tooth rear. hopefully this will keep me in the "meat" of the power for longer.
Title: Re: 16t sprocket
Post by: kaw rider on May 23, 2009, 04:17:54 PM
if you went with a 16T then you could run a 3 points highter rear gear for the same ratio.
Title: Re: 16t sprocket
Post by: slow600 on May 23, 2009, 04:49:24 PM
im wanting to gear higher, not stay the same. the 16 should be here sometime this week, not sure on an eta for the rear.
Title: Re: 16t sprocket
Post by: cbxracer30 on May 24, 2009, 12:42:12 AM
I'm sorry, I'm so late to the show. The 37 tooth rear sprocket I run came from Chris's. I will try and get a Phone # for you I can't seem to find them on the net. Also we run a 17 tooth front when we go run 1/4 mile asphalt , that sprocket is off of a yamaha banshee but you do have to remove the case saver and grind that little bump down on the cases in front of the sprocket.CBX
Title: Re: 16t sprocket
Post by: Polar-Bus on May 24, 2009, 01:14:03 AM
im wanting to gear higher, not stay the same. the 16 should be here sometime this week, not sure on an eta for the rear.

Slow600 are you running a flywheel weight? If not, I think you would LOVE the "drivability" you gain S/M road racing..
Title: Re: 16t sprocket
Post by: slow600 on May 24, 2009, 05:33:45 AM
my bike has the e-line add on stator and flywheel, definantly makes take-offs much smoother.
Title: Re: 16t sprocket
Post by: DoldGuy on May 24, 2009, 04:24:41 PM
Slow 600,
Sounds like you have this K5 tagged for the street?? I would love to learn more about your setup for Legal applications such as headlight, brake lights, etc, but most important DMV paper work.
Title: Re: 16t sprocket
Post by: slow600 on May 24, 2009, 05:18:07 PM
yep, she is street legal in missouri. ever since i found out how easy it was to convert a bike in mo i have done 3 bikes for myself and helped several buddies "see the light". all that is required in my state is a headlight w/ high/lo beam, a taillight/brake light, a horn(ive used squeeze bulb horns to pass inspection), and one mirror. i even converted a 1990 xr100, almost just to see if it could be done.....answer is yes. makes a normal street bike seem almost boring.