almost nklr but not altogether; plus new bandit ride report

[Henry (Terry) Brigham]

I need some help with a sprocket question. I just installed a 14T countershaft sprocket on my Y2K KLR650 and now I am getting lots of rubber dust from what seems like abnormal wear on the upper run of the front chain guide. With the 15T sprocket, I didn't show any wear but with the new tighter bend of the chain, the chain seems to be rubbing a groove ( two grooves ) in the upper top run of the chain guide. I must mention that I have also installed the SHORT series 420 Progressive shock that I got from Dual Star. I cant tell if this change modifies the geometry of the sprocket vis-a-vis the swing arm. There was not any rubbing with just the short shock on until I installed the smaller sprocket. It looks like it might be wiser to install a 41-42T rear sprocket and return to the stock 15T countershaft sprocket. Anybody know if the stock 106 link chain will accept two more teeth from stock without having to install a longer chain?? By the way, I also installed stainless steed front brake line and that modification amazingly transforms the front brake. It now works !!! Highly worth the effort and minor expense. Many thanks for any help you can give. Yours, Terry

[Jim Hyman]

Terry, My A9 with the standard rear shock has no problem when running with the 14T sprocket. If you go with the standard 15T & want the same overall gearing change, you will need a 46T rear sprocket to get the same 7% gearing change that the 14/43 gearing gives. You will need a longer chain, (110 or 112 links) or using 2 master links with a short section (3-5 links) of new chain. If you go the latter route, DON'T mix brands of chain. There are minor differences in chain componets from different manufacturers (pin diameter & pin length) even with the same 520 chain. Professor A9 Federal Way, WA. [USA] --- "Henry \(Terry\) Brigham" wrote:

> I need some help with a sprocket question. I just installed > a 14T countershaft sprocket on my Y2K KLR650 and now I am > getting lots of rubber dust from what seems like abnormal > wear on the upper run of the front chain guide. With the 15T > sprocket, I didn't show any wear but with the new tighter > bend of the chain, the chain seems to be rubbing a groove

( two grooves ) in the upper top run of the chain guide.

> I must mention that I have also installed the SHORT > series 420 Progressive shock that I got from Dual Star. I > cant tell if this change modifies the geometry of the > sprocket vis-a-vis the swing arm. There was not any rubbing > with just the short shock on until I installed the smaller > sprocket. > It looks like it might be wiser to install a 41-42T rear > sprocket and return to the stock 15T countershaft sprocket. > Anybody know if the stock 106 link chain will accept two more > teeth from stock without having to install a longer chain?? > By the way, I also installed stainless steed front > brake line and that modification amazingly transforms the > front brake. It now works !!! > Highly worth the effort and minor expense. Many thanks for > any help you can give. > Yours, Terry

[Mark Weaver]

> Now home, have a glass of XP Ale from Bear Republic Brewery (good > stuff, eh, Mark?)

mmmmm, XP, mmmmm. beer and new scoots, that's about as good as it gets. i almost went to bear republic for dinner last night, after riding all day saturday and all day sunday up in mendocion nat'l forest (middle creek and stonyford) on my new klx 300. unfortunately, the ministress of finance says i have to pay off at least one of my current bikes before i can buy another one. thinking deeply about an '01 bandit or fazer 1000. -sparkymarky