smokinrider wrote:
It's always best to get it set up what you think you want with a 13 on the front. 13/50 is probably standard. But TBH you probably wouldn't notice 1 tooth on the rear either way trailriding.
Then if you need to do a lot of road work a quick swap to a 14 front, spin the axle blocks through 180 degrees and your good to go with higher gearing, no need to readjust the chain as the axle blocks rotate to be worth 1 tooth or 1/2 a link of chain length.
+1 tooth front = -3 teeth off the rear. And -1 front = +3 rear. Approximately.
Smaller front or larger rear give snappier acceleration but at the expense of outright speed or lower revs cruising speed.
Bigger front or smaller rear gives more top speed but faster speed in 1st on tick over.
13 tooth front gives more clearance between sprocket and clutch slave cylinder. Handy if it's gonna be clogged up with mud or bog!
make sure your chain length is capable of taking the extra tooth on the front if you're going to want to use the 13/14 interchangeable front sprocket option.
Be aware that some rear sprocket combinations used for the 13/14 combo (usually 47,49,51 and 53 rears) will leave you with too little chain adjustment when using the 13f and taking a link out of the chain will then brings wheel too close to the shock mudflap when using the 14f, especially with AC10s and other MST tyres. (One full chain link = 2 sprocket teeth)
When using AC10s or MST tyres they will have the effect of raising the gearing till they wear down a bit as their overall diameter/circumference is bigger when new.
Ktms are notorious for chain slap. Don't compensate for this by over tightening it. It's caused by worn out guides. Over tighten the chain and it will break sooner or later or wear the output shaft bearing.
In an ideal world you should adjust your chain with the shock off and the swing arm straight with the output shaft, swing arm bolt and wheel axle in a dead straight line!
Use the correct DID x ring slim chain. All other chains are a mm or so wider and will wear out your split link potentially causing the chain to break.
On that point check the split link every ride. Mine get replaced as soon as the clip starts looking sharp. Reckon 3 split links are used over the life of a chain.
Sorry over complicated answer to a simple question but written for others who may benefit from the extra info.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Brilliant reply, many thanks.