16 tooth sprocket swap.

[Savage]

A KLR bud had the socket.
Got the 16t installed and rode it back to him.
The one thing I'm not too happy about is the offset of the sprocket. Lying them on my bench and they weren't perfectly inline. Did you guys notice this? Is it an issue?

With the 15t my rpms were 4k at an indicated 65 mph. 3k at 50mph. I'm running a 130/90 17 rear tire, so it's taller which lowers the rpms as well.
Now with the 16t the rpms are around 300 lower. Not a huge change, but for me, it feels perfect. Time will tell if I really like, but I don't forsee me changing my mind.

[Spec]

Originally Posted by Savage

A KLR bud had the socket.
Got the 16t installed and rode it back to him.
The one thing I'm not too happy about is the offset of the sprocket. Lying them on my bench and they weren't perfectly inline. Did you guys notice this? Is it an issue?

With the 15t my rpms were 4k at an indicated 65 mph. 3k at 50mph. I'm running a 130/90 17 rear tire, so it's taller which lowers the rpms as well.
Now with the 16t the rpms are around 300 lower. Not a huge change, but for me, it feels perfect. Time will tell if I really like, but I don't forsee me changing my mind.

It's been awhile since I've had my front sprocket off (it's a Primary Drive). Doesn't one side have a thicker shoulder? I think that that side goes towards the motor. Shouldn't matter much which side is out, the chain has some lateral play.

[APJ757]

I know this is an old thread, but had to yell,, after 3 years on my 09' KLR650. I decided I'd give the 16 ago, (thanks to this thread) since I'm more of a 90/10 driver,,and my 10 is normally hard packed fire trails, Lil back ground I'd done the .22$ mod, as well as a few other mods,, anyway after a week of trial runs ( all under 100 miles) the difference for me is HUGE. Not sure why some are only getting a 300 rpm difference,, mine is a 700-900 rpm difference minimum,, I use to be at 5000 rpm at 70mph. Now I'm running 4300 all day long,, 75 /4500. And I'm not winding out 3 gears through an intersection any longer I'm thinking run a 14 front if you wanna go more dirt. And 16 for more street, Btw. I'm 180 lbs so might be the main rpm difference,,, and yeah breaking the nut loose took 2 peeps for me. One footing the brake, and me with a breaker bar on the other side,, tried solo but way to awkward for me.

[JHP]

For me commuting to work and riding with no load on the bike the 16 was OK. I weigh in at 190 by the way. But on long trips with camping gear on the bike not so good. I felt there just was not enough motor at times. Strong headwinds and long hills on the slab had me wanting more ponies all the time. I was also downshifting all the time. Then a failed crank bearing at 29K. May not be related but... I think it better to run the motor at higher RPMs then lugging.

That said I still think the higher gearing is good for some folks and it is cheap to try. I comute to work and never get out of 55 MPH or lower zones so stock gearing is plenty high.

[Rustydust]

I too had the 16 tooth sprocket on my 2008 and went back to the 15 tooth. I do not tour on my KLR (I have a GL1800 for that) so I don't have a need for highway speeds much. It seemed as though I was always downshifting trying to keep the engine happy. My KLR is much happier now and has a lot more snap with the stock gearing.

My 2006 has a 14 tooth countershaft sprocket on it and just riding around town or some light fire road riding that is what I like the best. At 260 lbs I am no lightweight so having gearing to match my heft is what I want.

[APJ757]

I'll definitely keep ahold of my 15 pretty easy to swap,
I have to do a lot of 70ish to go anywhere, (interstates) would really like to
Try a 14 in the trails as well.

[Rtowne]

Where's a good place to buy the 16t sprocket? I've seen several for sale on eBay.

[APJ757]

eBay is where I picked mine up, just for the record I did go back to the 15t after a few hundred mile of trying it out