OK.... I know this is subtle but I am highly in tune with my bike,
I am liking this 16/35 combo on my KZ1000.... but after a 75mile ride today with my bride on back, I just realized that is almost the stock factory ratio!!!
35/16 = 2.188:1
1977 KZ1000 stock:
33/15 = 2.2:1 LOL
My previous gearing for many years has been 15/35 which is 2.33:1
My favorite "get it on" set up is the 35 rear with a 14 tooth counter shaft sprocket at 2.5: 1.
I originally used that 14T with the stock 33T too, which was 2.36:1 and very good but I've been warned for years about faster chain wear using the 14T counter shaft .... hence the 35/15 set up, which I'll be going back to with the new chain.
Speaking of which always worried me a bit as the rear axle was all over the place with these different sprocket configurations!
Thinking more about this.... I am a little doubtful that the 14T made that much difference in chain wear as long as the chain was not too tight and clean and not running it for 5,000 to 8,000 miles.
If I was ambitious, I'd pull the rear wheel and pop that 35 off and put my old 33 on and see how that feels with the 16T counter shaft... 33/16 = 2.06:1. Wow....
I might hate it in the city but I bet it feels good at these crazy 75mph to 85mph freeway speeds I've been riding lately.
Discuss....
