Gearing change or stay OEM?
 

So after realizing that my chain on my '98 is at the end of it's life my sites are set on replacing it and the sprocket set very soon. Naturally, I'm toying with a gearing change. Folks at Sprocket Center said a common gearing change for 600's is 15/45. Particularly, the 530-series RK Brand (steel, of course) geared 15/45.

Anyone make the change to this configuration and if so, how did it change the personality? My mission for this bike is some long stretches of super slab sport touring as well as a good amount of spirited backroad - - you know... railing sweepers and twisties plus an occassional track day. Pretty much multi-mission.

Keep it stock?

I'm not big into lower gearing ratios. If you are in to stunting then sure, go for it. But for highway speeds the lower gearing tends to get buzzy. As long as your bike pulls ok in 5th then stock gearing is optimal all round.

Never hurts to have another set for track days when you'll never see anything longer than an 1/8 mile straight.

I count 14/43 on this 1998 model. This is stock?

I don't need buzzy on the highway..I can road trip my Sportster if I want vibes and tooth filling-loosening high-reving highway RPM's.........

The info I've seen says stock is 15/43 ... so if you are at 14/43 then you're running a bit lower already. If you went with 15/45 you'd be a smidge higher than what you've got now, but a 15t front is much more chain friendly than a 14t.

From your description of riding style, I would go for the OEM-stock gearing (15/43,
I believe). Honda got it right on the balance of HP to mpg, with their factory settings.

Ern

I might mention that the stock size for your chain is a 525, not a 530. No need to add the additional weight of a 530. I prefer the stock gearing, in fact I find myself looking for a 7th gear on the highway when cruising.

yeah, typo on my part - it's the 525 kit I'm going with. And bring it back to stock gearing.

I went from stock gearing down 1 tooth in front this spring to a 14,43. Its really buzzy anything faster than 70, but I like the torqueiness for the twisties.