Chain and sprockets

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stangn99

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Anyone got recommendations on where to buy chain and sprockets? I'm looking to change the stock configuration on my Street Triple from 16/47 (525) to 16/49 (520).

From my understanding going +2 on the rear will yield slightly better off the line acceleration without having to worry about the frontend coming up, which apparently happens more often when going -1 in the front.

I've been looking at conversion kits on SprocketCenter.com, but it gets quite costly after currency conversion.
 
stangn99 said:
Anyone got recommendations on where to buy chain and sprockets? I'm looking to change the stock configuration on my Street Triple from 16/47 (525) to 16/49 (520).

From my understanding going +2 on the rear will yield slightly better off the line acceleration without having to worry about the frontend coming up, which apparently happens more often when going -1 in the front.

I've been looking at conversion kits on SprocketCenter.com, but it gets quite costly after currency conversion.
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It's a great mod. Every Duc i have owned has benefited greatly by going down one on the front. Allows you to use 2nd around town where the bike wasnt happy in 1st or 2nd before. If your chain and rear are in good shape, a front sprocket change won't hurt imho.
 
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stangn99 said:
Anyone got recommendations on where to buy chain and sprockets? I'm looking to change the stock configuration on my Street Triple from 16/47 (525) to 16/49 (520).

From my understanding going +2 on the rear will yield slightly better off the line acceleration without having to worry about the frontend coming up, which apparently happens more often when going -1 in the front.

I've been looking at conversion kits on SprocketCenter.com, but it gets quite costly after currency conversion.
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I'd ordered mine from GP bikes through the phone, got it pretty quickly. (both the chain and sprocket)

They also do triumph so they should be able to give general guidance if needed.
 
Wingboy said:
It's a great mod. Every Duc i have owned has benefited greatly by going down one on the front. Allows you to use 2nd around town where the bike wasnt happy in 1st or 2nd before. If your chain and rear are in good shape, a front sprocket change won't hurt imho.
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So you went -1 in the front? I checked on gearingcommander.com (and other forums), and i'm reading mixed reviews about going -1 in the front. Some people were suggesting RPMS were annoyingly high cruising on the highway with -1 in the front.

Since I do about 60/40 (city/highway), I figured going +2 in the rear won't be as extreme as going -1 in the front, and will keep rpms a little lower on highway cruises.

I've also done the Speed Triple 1050 throttle tube mod, so I figured that along with +1 or +2 in the rear sprocket should be sufficient.
 
LePhillou said:
I'd ordered mine from GP bikes through the phone, got it pretty quickly. (both the chain and sprocket)

They also do triumph so they should be able to give general guidance if needed.
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I did check on their site but they don't seem to do 520 conversion kits. I've got about 30k on the bike and planning to change both sprockets and chain. The bike comes stock with 525 chain/sprocket. For convenience and correct chain length I'm more interested in conversion kits.
 
stangn99 said:
So you went -1 in the front? I checked on gearingcommander.com (and other forums), and i'm reading mixed reviews about going -1 in the front. Some people were suggesting RPMS were annoyingly high cruising on the highway with -1 in the front.

Since I do about 60/40 (city/highway), I figured going +2 in the rear won't be as extreme as going -1 in the front, and will keep rpms a little lower on highway cruises.

I've also done the Speed Triple 1050 throttle tube mod, so I figured that along with +1 or +2 in the rear sprocket should be sufficient.
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-1 on the front is roughly the same as +3 on the rear. Most bikes are geared way too high from the factory for noise compliance. Not sure about your bike, but it meant about 400rpm on the top for me at 120.
 
I'm new to modern chains going from a shaft drive to a Tracer GT, but why would you want to move from a 525 chain to a 520. Does any cost advantage get outweighed by reduced chain life?
 
@Wingboy Thanks. I do find that on the Street Triple (mine is a 2015) first gear is excessively tall. I don't know if this has changed in 2017+ models, but in DVP traffic it gets pretty annoying because first gear isn't exactly smooth when feathering the throttle, and second gear drops the RPMS too, forcing me to go back into first. I've had this bike for 6 years now and have been annoyed by this for the past 30,000kms. It's probably the only thing that bugs me on this bike, aside from the damn ticking noises the engine makes (earplugs fix that)

@ReSTored I'm don't know much about chains/sprocktets, but read that with 520 you get more variety/flexibility for purchasing. I also don't ride as much as I used to (maybe 3,000km a season), so I'm not too concerned about reduced chain life. I also clean and lube every 2nd fill up. My bike has 30k on it with stock chain and sprockets and they look brand new. I really believe lubing every 500-600 drastically extends the life of these components.
 
stangn99 said:
@Wingboy Thanks. I do find that on the Street Triple (mine is a 2015) first gear is excessively tall. I don't know if this has changed in 2017+ models, but in DVP traffic it gets pretty annoying because first gear isn't exactly smooth when feathering the throttle, and second gear drops the RPMS too, forcing me to go back into first. I've had this bike for 6 years now and have been annoyed by this for the past 30,000kms. It's probably the only thing that bugs me on this bike, aside from the damn ticking noises the engine makes (earplugs fix that)
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Hah! That's kinda funny. I had a '97 Daytona T595 and it had the same problem - looks like the gear ratios are exactly the same, sprockets aside. Stop and go traffic was a huge pain because "idle" was still somewhere between 20-40kph lol

Edit: Whoops, misread "Street Triple" as "Speed Triple" ... not the first time I've mixed them up. Completely different transmission of course
 
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TwistedKestrel said:
Hah! That's kinda funny. I had a '97 Daytona T595 and it had the same problem - looks like the gear ratios are exactly the same, sprockets aside. Stop and go traffic was a huge pain because "idle" was still somewhere between 20-40kph lol
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yes, exactly. It's really frustrating in traffic. On open roads it's not a problem at all.
 
stangn99 said:
yes, exactly. It's really frustrating in traffic. On open roads it's not a problem at all.
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Not sure if you are doing the chain swap yourself or going to a shop, but the EK screw type link are easier to install than the rivet type.
 
stangn99 said:
@Wingboy Thanks. I do find that on the Street Triple (mine is a 2015) first gear is excessively tall. I don't know if this has changed in 2017+ models, but in DVP traffic it gets pretty annoying because first gear isn't exactly smooth when feathering the throttle, and second gear drops the RPMS too, forcing me to go back into first. I've had this bike for 6 years now and have been annoyed by this for the past 30,000kms. It's probably the only thing that bugs me on this bike, aside from the damn ticking noises the engine makes (earplugs fix that)

@ReSTored I'm don't know much about chains/sprocktets, but read that with 520 you get more variety/flexibility for purchasing. I also don't ride as much as I used to (maybe 3,000km a season), so I'm not too concerned about reduced chain life. I also clean and lube every 2nd fill up. My bike has 30k on it with stock chain and sprockets and they look brand new. I really believe lubing every 500-600 drastically extends the life of these components.
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The SuperSprox chart shows that your bike has a 530 chain (5/8"x3/8"), not a 525 (5/8"x1/4") and stock sprockets are 18/43.
You can go down one on the front (17) or up 2 on the rear (45) without having to go custom made.
Going to a 520 might compromise longevity as well as making it very difficult (as you're discovering) finding replacements.
The 1050 is a heavy street roadster, not a high maintenance race bike - unless there is some very compelling reason otherwise stick with stock or close to it.
 
TK4 said:
The SuperSprox chart shows that your bike has a 530 chain (5/8"x3/8"), not a 525 (5/8"x1/4") and stock sprockets are 18/43.
You can go down one on the front (17) or up 2 on the rear (45) without having to go custom made.
Going to a 520 might compromise longevity as well as making it very difficult (as you're discovering) finding replacements.
The 1050 is a heavy street roadster, not a high maintenance race bike - unless there is some very compelling reason otherwise stick with stock or close to it.
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I think you're referring to the Speed Triple, which I don't own.
My bike is a 2015 Street Triple Rx. I do wish I had the Speed though.
 
shanekingsley said:
Not sure if you are doing the chain swap yourself or going to a shop, but the EK screw type link are easier to install than the rivet type.
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+1 love the screw type links, the later version of them barely look any different from a rivet link. However last EK chain I bought I gave up tracking down the screw link (which did theoretically exist!) and just riveted it
 
shanekingsley said:
Not sure if you are doing the chain swap yourself or going to a shop, but the EK screw type link are easier to install than the rivet type.
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I was planning on doing it myself using one of those single use Sealey chain tools from Amazon.
TK4 said:
Oops, my bad - check this chart out....

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All good.

I already checked AllBalls from your first link for the Street Triple, but they don't carry a 49t 520.

I think i'm just going to order from SprocketCenter.com since it's so difficult to find a Canadian Retailer that has a decent site with decent selection and products in stock.

I'm thinking of ordering this: 520 Conv. Kit - DRIVEN RACING Steel Sprocket Set with Choice of Chain - 675 Daytona / 675 Street Triple - SprocketCenter.com

With 16/49 and the RK 520 MAX-Xring
 
I installed a one tooth smaller engine sprocket on my '02 Vstrom that had tall gearing.

Made for a great torquer in all gears but threw my speedo out of whack by about 15%.
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