Luuk
Novice Class
Posts: 43
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posted November 18, 2008 08:02 PM
 Edited By: admin on 19 Nov 2008 04:29
Gearing - 16/43?
So I mostly ride street...but most of the guys I ride with are on GSX-R 600/750's and 1 is on a GSX-R 1000...all are 2008's.
We enjoy going in and out of the twisties (even though it's challenging for me to hang...I think I do a good job!), but I've never even taken my 2008 zx-14 over a buck 40. I really don't have any desire to do 180+, etc.
So I've been considering going to 16/43 gearing (It seems Driven is the best choice of sprockets? I hear Vortex wears out too fast?). My only fear is that the gear indicator will not work properly in 6th gear (as it seems a lot of people have had this problem?). I see zx-bob saying that it works fine for his wife, Beth...but I see lot's of other posts saying it doesn't work properly..? If it doesn't work properly I was going to settle for 16/42 but I was curious how good the 16/43 would be for me? I still have stock chain with only 1200 miles on my bike and wanted to keep the chain if possible.
P.S. - Anyone know a good site to buy the speedohealer and Driven sprockets? I don't see any on eBay really and the cheapest speedohealer I've found is the $109, and the sprockets run about $100 for a set?
P.S.S. - How come it's been over a month and no one at zx14ninja.com has approved my forum registration? I even e-mailed the administrator. ugh~
Thanks!
  
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Luuk
Novice Class
Posts: 43
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posted November 18, 2008 08:05 PM
I'm not sure if it would help for me to post my current mods:
I ride a 2008 ZX-14 Special Edition (yes the fugly black and red that most of you hate, haha)
-Brocks carbon fiber streetsmart g3 exhaust w/ ceramic coated headers
-PC3 USB PC
-Flies in (One of the Kawi dealers that was going to take my flies out stripped one of the heads of the screws on this....so I was debating on taking it to another dealer and see if they would take it out?)
-Brocks street map for 2008 w/ flies in (my exhaust has a slight decel pop if I decel at higher RPMs)
My cosmetic mods are:
-Illumiglo gauges
-ZeroGravity Double Bubble Screen
-Ted's fender eliminator
-Removed the ugly reflector on front tire =)
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NinjaNick
Needs a job
'08 ZX14 (Blue)
Posts: 4558
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posted November 18, 2008 08:48 PM
Get the speedo healer. I'm going 16/43 soon too. 
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Smooth_G
Expert Class
Posts: 228
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posted November 18, 2008 11:05 PM
i went to 16/43 with the 43t driven sprocket on the rear 16t afam on the front, with no vulcanized rubber,,,the front whurrs,,i changed it back to 16/41, it seemd to low,,i weight about 230,,when i need a new chain i am putting the stock front sprocket on,,n a 44t rear,,i think this will be a perfect ratio for me,,instead of 16/43 = 2.69 u might want to try 17/45=2.65 or 17/46=2.71 with bigger sprockets the chain isnt turning as tight of turn,,less friction,,less resistence , better power transfere,,lasts longer,not as hard on the chain or sprockets,,more surface area to wear out,,
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kawboy81
Expert Class
Busa Eater
Posts: 273
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posted November 19, 2008 01:47 AM
well put.......i never thought of it like that but i just changed to 16/43 and i love it. it pulls like a raped ape and does decent on the highway too. i got the vortex rear and afam front lightened no rubber. so far so good. chain had 4k on it.
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07 LE bolt on bike
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Luuk
Novice Class
Posts: 43
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posted November 19, 2008 04:23 AM
I weigh about 215 and I guess my concerns are still about the gearing indicator?
Not one of you answered with how the gearing indicator works on 16/43 =P
I don't think I've heard anyone say it whurrs yet though? Maybe everyone else is using the rubber piece?
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fifth
Expert Class
The Magnificent Bastard
Posts: 303
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posted November 19, 2008 04:47 AM
I have 16/43 on a 7 inch stretched swingarm. I LOVE it... I am close to 370 lbs and it evens out the playing field with the new 1000's. Too quick of a twist in the throttle results in wheelies even with the limo'd wheelbase on my bike. I do have the speedohealer installed. The gear indicator reads 5th sometimes when I am in 4th, and 6th sometimes when I am in 5th. It bugged me at first, but I don't pay it attention anymore. One gets used to hearing the rpms of the motor at a certain speed and you know what gear you are in. The gear indicator has always shown true in 1st through 3rd for me, which is where I would worry about what gear I was in (i.e. setting up on a corner, etc)
The next gearing change for me will be a similar ratio except using a 17t front to see if it reduces the resistance caused by the chain.....
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street racer
Expert Class
Posts: 141
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posted November 19, 2008 05:47 AM
I have a 16/43 on my 06 and the gearing indicator works perfectly. Never been an issue.
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06redzx14
Pro
Posts: 1022
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posted November 19, 2008 06:11 AM
quote:
I have a 16/43 on my 06 and the gearing indicator works perfectly. Never been an issue.
x2
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06 alien head, no flies, PC+hub, 16/45 44 43, air shifter, dry shot
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Shane661
Needs a life
Posts: 11494
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posted November 19, 2008 07:06 AM
My gear indicator works fine with 16/45...even with the speedo showing about 50 mph at 150 actual...
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Luuk
Novice Class
Posts: 43
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posted November 19, 2008 08:03 AM
Awesome - I'm excited to hear this!
What brand sprocket do you guys recommend? Driven?
Is there any place in particular I should buy from?
Thanks!
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Shane661
Needs a life
Posts: 11494
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posted November 19, 2008 08:17 AM
Get the Kawasaki 16T for the old Zephyr 1100. It has rubber on it, and it is nice and quiet. A Black Hard Coated aluminum Vortex rear sprocket will do the job. If you are really worried about wear that much, get a steel rear sprocket. Aluminum will wear faster. Yes, the steel is heavier...but the weight is carried on the hub of the wheel and is not as critical.
After that, just a speedohealer and you are done.
Shane
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Smooth_G
Expert Class
Posts: 228
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posted November 19, 2008 09:12 AM
the driven sprocket works great,,i dont believe a bike with this much h.p. and torque should have aluminum sprockets
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KZScott
Needs a life
high on speed
Posts: 7235
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posted November 19, 2008 09:23 AM
quote:
the driven sprocket works great,,i dont believe a bike with this much h.p. and torque should have aluminum sprockets
you are joking right? you think all the turbo guys run steel sprockets when they race?
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01 ZX-12R 8.84 @ 156.3 no bars, DOT tires. Pump Gas, NA.... turbo 8.47 @ 164.
00 ZX-12R 8.62 @ 165.2 no bars, slicks, Pump Gas, 55 shot.... turbo 8.32 @173
00 ZX-12R Fastest NA Kawasaki in the world 1: 222.046 1.5: 226.390 Loring AFB
00 ZX-12R street turbo 1: 227.9 1.5: 234.1 Loring AFB
00 ZX-12R LSR turbo 1: 263.1 1.5: 266.5 Loring AFB Worlds fastest ZX-12R
CMG Racing RCC Turbos
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street racer
Expert Class
Posts: 141
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posted November 19, 2008 10:08 AM
quote:
Get the Kawasaki 16T for the old Zephyr 1100. It has rubber on it, and it is nice and quiet. A Black Hard Coated aluminum Vortex rear sprocket will do the job. If you are really worried about wear that much, get a steel rear sprocket. Aluminum will wear faster. Yes, the steel is heavier...but the weight is carried on the hub of the wheel and is not as critical.
After that, just a speedohealer and you are done.
Shane
The part number for the dampened 16T front sprocket is 13144-1317.
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Smooth_G
Expert Class
Posts: 228
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posted November 19, 2008 11:20 AM
no,,the aluminum sprockets r light,,less unsprung weight,,will work well,,but dont last,,for street bike use,,i believe the steel is better,,i ride these bikes alot of miles, n i have changed a lot badly woren aluminum sprockets,,,i guess it would depend on what u r using this bike for
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Red1
Expert Class
Posts: 442
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posted November 19, 2008 12:03 PM
Edited By: Red1 on 19 Nov 2008 20:04
quote:
Get the Kawasaki 16T for the old Zephyr 1100. It has rubber on it, and it is nice and quiet. A Black Hard Coated aluminum Vortex rear sprocket will do the job. If you are really worried about wear that much, get a steel rear sprocket. Aluminum will wear faster. Yes, the steel is heavier...but the weight is carried on the hub of the wheel and is not as critical.
After that, just a speedohealer and you are done.
Shane
Shane has anyone actually tried the Zephyr 1100? The reason I ask is I ordered that sprocket and my mechanic couldn't get it to fit. He said it didn't line up properly. Before anyone says get a new mechanic...my mechanic is an professional oval track racer and the best mechanic in the metroplex!!
I tried a 16T from Driven since I have used several of their rear sprockets over the years and it didn't fit either. I ended up going with a steel sunstar without the rubber...can't really hear it anyway with Brock's SMEG!!
Thanks,
Red
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Red12/Blue14
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Shane661
Needs a life
Posts: 11494
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posted November 19, 2008 12:05 PM
Edited By: Shane661 on 19 Nov 2008 20:07
quote:
quote:
Get the Kawasaki 16T for the old Zephyr 1100. It has rubber on it, and it is nice and quiet. A Black Hard Coated aluminum Vortex rear sprocket will do the job. If you are really worried about wear that much, get a steel rear sprocket. Aluminum will wear faster. Yes, the steel is heavier...but the weight is carried on the hub of the wheel and is not as critical.
After that, just a speedohealer and you are done.
Shane
Shane has anyone actually tried the Zephyr 1100? The reason I ask is I ordered that sprocket and my mechanic couldn't get it to fit. He said it didn't line up properly. Before anyone says get a new mechanic...my mechanic is an professional oval track racer and the best mechanic in the metroplex!!
I tried a 16T from Driven since I have used several of their rear sprockets over the years and it didn't fit either. I ended up going with a steel sunstar without the rubber...can't really hear it anyway with Brock's SMEG!!
Thanks,
Red
I have it on my bike. It fits, and I ordered and installed it.
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gilberjj
Needs a job
Friend of Fast
Posts: 3196
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posted November 19, 2008 03:29 PM
I think I need to get a 16t.
I have a question though. I was thinking about this and could somebody make a speedo healer read like 5% of actual speed, and would that make the mileage only count 5% of what the bike is actually doing. If this is possible it makes it scary to buy a used bike. Please tell me Kawasaki did not hook the odometer to the speedo.
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NINJA12
Needs a job
Posts: 3310
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posted November 20, 2008 08:50 AM
Miles don't hurt car/bikes up to a point, lack of maintence and abuse does.
I buy used as a first choice.
My logic is it's only new for the very first ride, after that you just paying for that ride.
I bought a 2005 f350 with 190K, and drove it 600 miles home.
It's a oil change away from going anywhere in the lower 48.
My brother has a 92 gas Chevy with over 300K, highway ready.
You see bikes with 5k miles that are trashed and 30K mile daily rides.
My point is miles are a small part of true worth or future service.
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Luuk
Novice Class
Posts: 43
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posted November 21, 2008 04:44 AM
Another question (since I'm a newbie and full of questions) -
I hear lots of people saying they're using 87 pump gas...but the sticker on the bike recommends 91 octane. With the BMC race filter and PC3 USB / brocks exhaust, should I be running less than 91 octane? What is optimal?
Thanks!
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Red1
Expert Class
Posts: 442
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posted November 21, 2008 03:01 PM
Edited By: Red1 on 21 Nov 2008 23:03
Anyone tried 16/40 with stock wheelbase. I think I'm going to try this for the 1/4 mile.
Thanks,
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Red12/Blue14
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bigdtd
Needs a job
Interceptors
Posts: 4209
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posted November 21, 2008 05:29 PM
quote:
Another question (since I'm a newbie and full of questions) -
I hear lots of people saying they're using 87 pump gas...but the sticker on the bike recommends 91 octane. With the BMC race filter and PC3 USB / brocks exhaust, should I be running less than 91 octane? What is optimal?
Thanks!
race only 87 is ok, lugging it around on the street go at least 89, just my 2 cents. i use 93 most of the time and 89 if i'm blasting, this is street riding only for me,.
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2006 Black ZX-14,6 inches over,16/42, flies out,BMC Street Filter,Brock's Street Meg,Brock's Radial Mount Strap,PClll with Race map,Dynojet LCD w/Techmount, ZX-14 fender eliminator,Pilot Power2CTs,Speedohealer,Pazzo Levers,Cox Radiator Guard, Garmin Nuvi 265WT
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NinjaNick
Needs a job
'08 ZX14 (Blue)
Posts: 4558
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posted November 21, 2008 08:12 PM
Edited By: NinjaNick on 22 Nov 2008 04:15
quote:
Anyone tried 16/40 with stock wheelbase. I think I'm going to try this for the 1/4 mile.
Thanks,
Stock is 17/41, knowing that, I would guess there's not going to be much of a difference at all since you're almost creating a state of equilibrium in relation to the stock set-up being that you're dropping in the rear too. It would be different, but hardly a change at all. I'd just stick with the stock 41rear if you want to drop to a 16 front. Just my $.02 
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kawboy81
Expert Class
Busa Eater
Posts: 273
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posted November 21, 2008 11:45 PM
i was thinking the exact same thing hahaha but i have 16/43 on a stock wheelbase bike...... i like it, lots of fun......it really dont wheelie anymore than stock because it goes through the rpms so fast..... i have beaten several guys on stretched busas and i can leave pretty hard on it actually. though i am buying me a trac arm soon as i catch a good deal.
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07 LE bolt on bike
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