I could have sworn there was an existing thread on that, but I can't find it or my coffee today.
I'm walking out in the garage to take some long over-due pictures of various things. One such picture will be of my very well-worn rear sprocket, and I was going to kind of use it to show how two considerations should be made when choosing your sprockets:
1. Material - Aluminum wears like a mofo, steel is heavy
2. Odd # sprockets vs. Even # sprockets to reduce wear - As shown in the picture, the wear pattern on these sprockets is from a combination of even number tooth front sprocket AND even number tooth rear sprocket. (14/40). Notice every other tooth is worn the heck off, and the others are fish hooked. I remember reading that odd # front paired with odd # rear is supposed to be the best for wear, then odd/even or even/odd, and lastly the "even/even" combination.
[picture to be posted when i get back in from the garage]
Picture now posted:
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_4iYlZ1m8UEM/TWMaF6o5rfI/AAAAAAAAGAI/neA-fJT46HY/s800/IMG_0245.jpg)
SuperSprox steel outer and aluminum inner [thumbsup]
I want to blame my 14/41 for the quick chain wear, but I think it's my riding [roll]
The Ducati steel sprockets have lasted two chains, or more...
Trying 15/44 next, but I'm not expecting much.
I put on a 43T aluminum quickchange and have about 10k on it. It's an AFAM and the aluminum is just now peeking out from under the hard ano, but no fish-hooking yet. Bike's a low-HP Monster and I clean the chain & sprox religiously, and never ride in the rain. I do ride hard. It's a pretty good sprocket. I'll just get another one when it wears out.
i have knackerd 2 Ducati steel sprockets in 17000 miles each one was 39 only lasted 7000 miles the 43 lasted 11,000 miles now fitted a Renthal Aluminium 43 much lighter so far 4000 miles no wear seen.
Once the hard anodizing wears through the wear happens very quickly.
Those alloy inner/steel outer sprockets seem like a good idea, but are expensive due to them being a two piece jobbie. If you hate the weight of steel they at least give some longevity.
I like the light AFAM front sprockets with lightening holes.
If I got the full alloy rear sprockets cheap enough I would use them though.
With four daughters, I hate anorexia: but I'm a motorcycle anorexic. Light is right.
I like to run the larger 15 on the front as I've raised the rear ride height, so I'm running 15/39 which is stock for an old M900 down here in Oz (the old belt 900 SS is 15/37 here). A tuned 900 engine pulls 15/39 quite well.
(http://img13.werkenntwen.de/photo14/29f066154e4e21c7a9907b95e2f039c1/p/0/p07ko62dfefixnvzmniy2uooot8.jpg)
lightweight steel sprocket
I went with a Renthal rear in aluminum. I haven't heard much about the ratios and how they increase or decrease wear but I would like to know more about it. Nonetheless, I went with a 15/40
(http://i784.photobucket.com/albums/yy130/rappevan/DSC02568.jpg)
(http://i784.photobucket.com/albums/yy130/rappevan/DSC02562.jpg)
Quote from: Raux on February 20, 2011, 08:20:07 AM
(http://img13.werkenntwen.de/photo14/29f066154e4e21c7a9907b95e2f039c1/p/0/p07ko62dfefixnvzmniy2uooot8.jpg)
lightweight steel sprocket
Thanks for the picture Raux. They have really gone to town lightening that sprocket. A great compromise to longevity without the costly two piece manufacturing process. That could be the solution to my next rear sprocket choice.
Renthal alu rear, no excessive wear really, + 10 k km's.
15/41, no strange/uneven wear neither.
Even causes less wear than odd, is that really a fact?
Other way around. Odd causes less wear than even, or so I remember reading - sorry if I was unclear.
Any link or so?
Would be interesting to read more,
this is a new one f me.
I am searching for it - the topic dealt with inner v. outer links on the same sprocket teeth because of even numbers, even/even wearing worse than even/odd, odd/odd wearing the best.
google 'hunting tooth sprockets'
that's right! The name had escaped me. Before defunct VeeTwo had gotten rid of all their cool stuff, I had picked up a few sets of their lightweight primary gear kits, which also have the hunting tooth ratio. Tipped off to this from the Desmoquattro performance handbook by Falloon.
First post updated to show picture I mentioned, which shows excessive wear on the 'other' teeth.
I discovered this where when pulling the rear axle out and loosening everything up to put in some Motorize.de billet aluminum axle adjusters for the M900/888/851 aluminum swingarm (VERY NICE), and shipping the 17mm rear axle off to TPO for measurements (so we can get a lightweight version available hopefully). The fine folks at Yoyodyne did not care to sell me a 17mm Ti rear axle as shown in their catalog when I called inquiring about brake seals (the axle listing says 'call for price and availability', but also lists it at $225... so I called and asked about pricing and availability)
As far as the wear goes, I had been monitoring it regularly while doing my post-ride chain clean 'n' lube, but I must admit, the change from negligible wear to lots of wear was rather abrupt (I clean n lube approx. every 500 mi). Chain is ERV3 520, and I'm still very happy with it. So happy I bought another one to put on the fixxer upper M900.
I ordered up 39T Driven hybrid sprocket this time so I can enjoy the life of the steel sprocket. Price doesn't seem that much more than a standard DSS Monster sprocket. (Its like $15 more? By my math, that's one nice pizza that that I shouldn't eat anyhow left uneaten and I'm there.)