one down ?? up - Page 3

koozi · 06-13-2007, 03:40 PM

I get between 48 and 52 on every tank so far. Could be better but the thrill of running through 1st and 2nd gears is killing any chance of saving gas. 1st gear tops out at 49mph and 2nd at about 78. It is too much fun to run hard into second and then shift up and ride off all sedate like.

FZ6-KEP is right this mod is not "necessary" but it is a great bang for the buck upgrade. Far better than slip-ons at only a quarter of the price. I am not sure what other mod would compete.

I would probably NOT do it if I rode on the interstate. So far I have been abale to avoid that.

2000ktm · 08-05-2009, 09:27 AM

Just finished my 520 conversion on my FZ6 what a difference, quicker acceleration and smooth shifting, keep stock gearing

Gigot2000 · 08-05-2009, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2000ktm

Just finished my 520 conversion on my FZ6 what a difference, quicker acceleration and smooth shifting, keep stock gearing

Ain't the 520 just lighter than the 530? I don't understand how this change could help you accelerate faster and change gear smoother...
Changing #teeth on sprockets will help with acceleration but a 520 chain?
Dunno...

2000ktm · 08-10-2009, 07:46 AM

less rotating mass gives quicker acceleration, similar to removing fly wheel weight

DefyInertia · 08-10-2009, 09:32 PM

take a 3 foot string and spin it around. slow down and speed up.

now do the same with a fat 3 foot chain.

rennsport · 08-11-2009, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DefyInertia

take a 3 foot string and spin it around. slow down and speed up.

now do the same with a fat 3 foot chain.

Call me from Missouri. Even though I understand the theory, I would rather see actual DATA. I doubt the change is that drastic.

I am not a fan of the BUTT dyno. The thing is rarely ever calibrated and no two are the same...

Butterfingerz · 08-11-2009, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff d

I've considered going the opposite way (Up in front and/or down in back) for increased fuel efficiency.

Anyone done that? If so what kind of MPG increase did you see?

If I could spend $20 or so for a 1 tooth larger front sprocket and get 8-10 more MPG that would pay for itself pretty quickly being that I'm a commuter.

I have +1 in the front, stock rear. I get at least 50mpg for pretty much any type of riding. Don't think its much improvement over stock though, my guess is around 53-54mpg max I've gotten.

FIZZER6 · 08-11-2009, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dagdowell

Not necessarily a wheelie bike but quicker off the line and in traffic. The motorists here in Idaho suck and I'd like to know that I could blow by the idiot that wants to race me in his geo metro if I had to! Will I need a new chain if I go one down or one down two up?

Unless you weigh over 200 lbs...the bike will do this stock. I ran an 11.5 second 1/4 miles the first time to the drag strip, bone stock. It helps that I'm 150 lbs in all my gear.

RJN2112 · 08-11-2009, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2000ktm

less rotating mass gives quicker acceleration, similar to removing fly wheel weight

Over 120 links, how much mass are you losing? Even with lighter sprockets, the total change from 530 to 520 is probably on the order of 2-3 lbs at most.

Rotating mass affecting acceleration? Don't both wheels/tires, the entire mass of the transmission, and the engine have to accelerate? It's not a change in centripital force we're talking about... purely speeding up and slowing down.....

OEM tires and wheels (and brake rotors) have to weigh near 20 lbs each, all 6 pairs of gears in the transmission (and shafts, and clutch) must weigh in excess of that, every rotating part in the engine -- and anything driven by those rotating parts.... that's what, near another 40-50 lbs? The cams would be affected, right? The alternator, too.

All in all, I'd think nearly 1/2 of the entire MC's weight is accelerating with every motion of the rider's wrist.

I just don't see where losing a couple of pounds of chain weight is going to have any affect on acceleration that you can feel.

2000ktm · 08-17-2009, 07:37 AM

the stock chain on FZ 6 is 630 I don't know where every one is getting this 530 from. In response to the chain weight a couple of onces makes a difference if it did not we would still be ridding a round with steel wheels. even a change from steel to aluminum sprockets make differnce in rotating mass thats why Vortex is in business. dirt bikers add fly wheel weights of only 6-9oz and it makes a huge difference in traction as it slows down the burst of power you get with a 2-stroke. i am very pleased with my 520 conversion in terms of smoothness and accelaeration, I am waiting to see with the longevity of the 520 chain.

rennsport · 08-17-2009, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2000ktm

the stock chain on FZ 6 is 630 I don't know where every one is getting this 530 from. In response to the chain weight a couple of onces makes a difference if it did not we would still be ridding a round with steel wheels.

No, they quit using steel wheels because at the time, all of them were also spoke rims, and spoke rims have other disadvantages than weight, when compared to cast aluminium rims.

Quote:

even a change from steel to aluminum sprockets make differnce in rotating mass thats why Vortex is in business.

Vortex is in business because they are selling merch. to customers, because they (the customer) think they need it.

wavex · 08-17-2009, 12:45 PM

+1 on thinking you can't feel the difference using your butt dyno... now dropping a tooth in the front will definitely make a big improvement in acceleration...

If you'r trying to save a 1/10 of a second around a track such a weight change (lighter chain, sprocket etc...) may help if you're good enough, but most of us would not be able to tell...

RJN2112 · 08-17-2009, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2000ktm

the stock chain on FZ 6 is 630 I don't know where every one is getting this 530 from. In response to the chain weight a couple of onces makes a difference if it did not we would still be ridding a round with steel wheels. even a change from steel to aluminum sprockets make differnce in rotating mass thats why Vortex is in business. dirt bikers add fly wheel weights of only 6-9oz and it makes a huge difference in traction as it slows down the burst of power you get with a 2-stroke. i am very pleased with my 520 conversion in terms of smoothness and accelaeration, I am waiting to see with the longevity of the 520 chain.

To each, their own..... if you want to think there's a difference, no one is going to change your mind. I'm glad you're pleased with your change.

I can see an argument for aluminum sprockets, if the goal is to reduce unsprung mass, and improve traction..... but even that is a weak argument, if nothing has been done to the suspension to take advantage of it.

There's that adage that 4lbs equals about 1 HP.... if you make the bike lighter it accelerates harder-- that's not the same thing as rotating mass.

The amount of weight you lose making the change to aluminum sprockets, and the lighter chain? That's no more than a tank of gas and a happy meal. There's a lot of us that would be better off pushing ourselves away from the table a lot sooner, in the quest for acceleration.

There's a reason Rossi is such a tiny person..... the same reason jockeys are 5 feet tall and weigh as little as possible.

rennsport · 08-17-2009, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2000ktm

the stock chain on FZ 6 is 630 I don't know where every one is getting this 530 from.

According to the 2004 owner's manual, it is a 530 chain...

Gigot2000 · 08-17-2009, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Vortex is in business because they are selling merch. to customers, because they (the customer) think they need it.

I wouldn't say that Vortex sprockets are useless as that. For a racer that has the money to change his sprockets every race and for whom every fraction of a second counts, I think they are great, mainly because he needs to take out those extra pounds. Dunno if you l ever compare a steel vs aluminum sprocket, but it's big.
But for probably most FZ6 riders, this is a waste of money (or, like you said, think they need it). I know, I did the change. Changed the rear sprocket for a +2 Vortex. The added teeth are simply great, but the aluminum sprocket lasted 6000 miles which is less than a set of tire. Let me tell you that I changed it for a steel one! I kept the added teeth though...

I'm now riding with -1/+2 and still 530 and quite happy with it. I'm not even sure there's a real difference in fuel consumption.