Chain length -44T rear 15/16T front

I would appreciate a bit of advice about replacing my chain please as it's a job I've never done before :confused

I have a brand new DID chain to go on with a 44T rear sprocket. I also have the choice of either a 15T or 16T front sprocket. I've currently got the 16/44 combo on with a knackered chain and the combination is alright, but I'd like to try the smaller front sprocket to see how the acceleration is and see if I can live with the higher rpm whilst cruising. I don't use the bike everyday, only on high days and holidays and trackdays.

My question is about the length of chain really. As I may not like the 15T front, can I put the 16T on and get the correct chain length (number of links?)for that, and then put the 15T to try? I was thinking that if I set the chain length for the 15T, it may not be long enough to go around the 16T if I decide to change back in the future :dunno

I got the chain and sprockets from RSVR.net and the rear is a 2 piece tri-metal sprocket with aluminium centre and steel outer. Anyone got any experience of these? I currently have a talon on the rear which looks good in gold but even though it has been treated, I can't believe an aluminium sprocket can be very long lasting?

All help much appreciated :thumbup

It nice that we know that you have a golden sprockets, but how long is the chain?

If its 108 links(standard) than it wont even go 16/44, it will, but barely. If its 110 links, then its oke for 16/44, would also be oke for 15/44 but when it will strech you will have quite long wheelbase.

What he said exept that when I went 15/44 the chain that came with it from Renthal was 110

If you go 15 I doubt you will ever want to go back to 16

i doubt i will want to go back to 16T, but you never know. might plan a trip to germany or switzerland or brno one day so would probably change it for that.

i don't have the chain in front of me to check, but the rsvr.net website says it's a 110 but presumably i could take a link out to 108 if necessary?

having never done a chain before, do i need a tool to join it up? :dunno

thanks for your advice :thumbup

littlescrote said:

I got the chain and sprockets from RSVR.net and the rear is a 2 piece tri-metal sprocket with aluminium centre and steel outer. Anyone got any experience of these? I currently have a talon on the rear which looks good in gold but even though it has been treated, I can't believe an aluminium sprocket can be very long lasting?

All help much appreciated :thumbup

Click to expand...

If this is a Stealth rear sprocket, then yes,they are good.

I'm using one on the Sv1000s and would fit one to the Mille as well had it not had new chain & sprockets when I bought it.

Generally alloy sprockets are designed for race bikes where saving weight takes precedence over long life.

The Stealth are the ideal compromise,steel teeth for longevity & light alloy mounting for weight saving.

Looks nicely bling as well. :thumbup

Yes you need the riveting tool, you can do it even without, but I dont recomend it so Im not writing how

If its 110links then its oke. I have 16/44 on my bike, will probably go for 15/44 next time, it all depends where you ride, for the street go with 16/44, casual trackdays go for 15.

i ride partly on the street, mostly a and b roads, not motorway, and some track days.

i'm really looking forward to testing it out. i'll see if i can borrow a riveting tool or get a local workshop to do it.

Im running 16/44 with a new 108 chain fitted by Griff....it was a tight fit to start but after a couple of hundred miles its perfect. Not tried 15/44 but am thinking about it so surely if a tooth coming off & with the 108links, the rear wheel will need to go back so with a 110 it will be right back. Or have I got that back to front???

you've got it the right way around. i guess there will be a tolerance and each bike will be slightly different anyway. i'll just have to try it with 110 and see where the adjusters end up

fitted these over the last few evenings and am well pleased with the results.

with a 15T front and 44T rear, a 110 chain would tension up but only with about 5mm of adjustment left. so i decided to take out a link (or does that count as 2 if you take 1 outer and 1 inner?) so that it's closer to the front of the adjusters.

can't yet say what difference it has made as i have only been 20 miles up the very wet road to the MOT station and back. i did 1 junction of the m4 and 100mph is 7000rpm. that is quite high, but similar to my vfr750 so it doesn't bother me unduly. yet. let's see how i feel about it in the dry after some good long trips. hopefully tuesday evening will be nice and i might go to poole quay.


i got a cheap laser branded link tool which worked, but probably won't go again many times as it has already bent one of the pins and cracked the head on an anvil. buy cheap, buy twice i guess.