klr650 2001 rear sproket

[Jim Hyman]

KLR stock sprocket setup has been 15 tooth c/s (counter shaft) & 43 tooth rear and I assume that the 2001 is the same. Changing to a 44 tooth rear sprocket amounts to about 2-1/2% change, which would be barely noticeable. I change to a 14 tooth c/s sprocket for off road use. This is equivalent to a 3 tooth increase on the rear sprocket and about a 7% gearing change. I prefer to change my 16 tooth "road" sprocket to my 14 tooth "dirt" sprocket for off road use. The 14 tooth sprocket can be used on the road, but chain/sprocket life will be a bit less with the smaller front sprocket. 1995 & earlier KLR front sprocket changes are easy, later KLRs require unbolting the large, high torque c/s sprocket nut. Chain length is not an issue with installing a smaller c/s sprocket. I prefer the 16 tooth sprocket for road riding. Engine rpm at any given speed is about 7% less than the stock 15 tooth sprocket. This works out to 5000 rpm @ 80 mph (130 kph). Wtih a 14 tooth sprocket 5000 rpm would be about 12 mph less. My stock 15 tooth srocket makes a nice paper weight. Professor A9 Federal Way, WA. [USA] +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ --- halvor.dan.jon@j... wrote:

> I noticed that in a lot of off road situations I would like > to be going a bit slower with plenty of power. I found with > the stock rear sproket that the torque is not there at slow > speeds. A motocross friend of mine suggested adding a rear > sproket with one more tooth. > What do you think about this suggestion. Maybe two more. > What about the chain length and highway driving?