Ithas come time to change sprockets and chain. I have looked at all of the gearing calculators and what not and websites say that a change of 8% or more is not good for the bike. they say that dropping down one tooth in the front puts too much wear on the chain. I want to go to the smaller 520 but am not sure what tooth sprocket to use. I want to feel the change and can afford 10-15mph top-speed. I like 15/43 which will change ratios by 9% would a 16/45 be out of order for a 7.14 difference????

 

a 15 tooth should not cause undo stress to the chain. lots of people run 15 tooth sprocket without any issues. i personally have a 15/42 set up and love it. i just did it, and wish i would have done it at mile 1. the bike is much more friendly around town and has better pull all over, in any gear. not sure where you heard that a change of 8% or more will 'hurt' the bike. the only way i can see you hurting it is if you gear it so tall you are constantly at 9k rpm, even then you still probably would not really hurt it.
a 16/45 is basically equal to a 15/42, and a 520 chain you can buy 13 tooth sprockets for so that should tell you something.
the 15/42really did not hurt top end much either since i can now pull redline in 6th gear. speedo indicated about 188 take a 7% reduction and it still pulls about 175, which is pretty muchludicris on the street.

 

a good chain like a did erv3 520 can take anything and everything your bike will throw at it and ask for more.

i have had one and a 15/43 combo on my blade for 4000 miles and had to adjust it once.

 

Thanks for the opinion's fellas. I went with the 15/43 by driven and a mvxz520. I will lose some top end but gain better nutz from 0-60 as if it didnt have enough already. Oh well. I went with a black sprocket and chain. I have the two-tone silver 06 1k. Every bike i see has too much chrome on it so i decided that my bike would have none. every aftermarket part i have bought has been black or grey. Screw that chrome doo doo. for this bike anyway. sorry for the ramble. laterz