Help settle a sprocket debate

sumdood
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9/4/2019 12:57pm Edited Date/Time 9/5/2019 2:00pm
Poll

Does a 13 tooth front sprocket wear out chains faster than a 14 tooth front sprocket ?

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9/4/2019 1:31pm
Marginal. Unnoticable. Irrelevent.

Does accelerating out of corners in 2nd gear wear tyres faster than accelerating out of corners in third gear? (less wheelspin?)
loftyair
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9/4/2019 1:34pm
1/13th quicker.
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Phantom 661
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9/4/2019 1:37pm
Marginal. Unnoticable. Irrelevent.

Does accelerating out of corners in 2nd gear wear tyres faster than accelerating out of corners in third gear? (less wheelspin?)
Not on a CR500. kidding aside, I imagine throttle input is a factor here.

The Shop

sumdood
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9/4/2019 1:38pm
One buddy says absolutely the chain wears quicker with 13-48 because of the tighter turns, the other buddy says no way because the chain hits more teeth with 14-51, other buddy says yeah but the chains longer so it’s the same.... That’s a math equation that’s over my head Laughing
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sumdood
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9/4/2019 1:47pm
It came up because I bought a 500EXC that was geared to the moon (and maybe halfway back), it was way tall. So I swapped the stock 14 front for a 13. One buddy says I'm gonna wear out chains quicker and I should put the 14 back on and experiment by changing the rear sprocket. But the bike already blew the budget and I don't feel like experimenting with expensive rear sprockets.... lol
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Zeke27G
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9/4/2019 1:50pm

This has been the magic combo on my previous KX450 as well as my current KX500:

DID X-Ring chain.

Ironman Dirt Tricks rear sprocket.

Renthal (or equivalent) front sprocket.

The Renthal front sprockets will wear first, the X-Ring chain second, and then finally the Dirt Tricks rear sprocket. Most times I'll wear our 2 or 3 countershaft sprockets, and 2 chains before I'll put any noticeable wear on the rear sprocket!

And for what it's worth, I'm running 14-49.

Good luck dood!

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Ingjr1
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9/4/2019 1:51pm
As has already been said, very little difference but there is a difference in wear.
Falcon
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9/4/2019 2:45pm
Contact with more teeth would provide less wear per chain link given the same engine output. I'm going to go ahead and say there won't be an appreciable difference in wear.
sumdood
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9/4/2019 4:12pm Edited Date/Time 9/4/2019 4:13pm
kkawboy14 wrote:
Go with a 13, 53!
Stock was 14-45, I guess to pass Ca. smog bs at 35mph it's supposed to do like 12 rpm or some shit lol. Going to test out the 13-45 combo tonight. (SBK Corsa bike night at pizza 900 in Lake Forest) 6-9 if anyone around that area is bored and needs a reason to go for a ride LaughingCool It's my buddy's shop. Yes the same guy who says a 13 wears quicker than 14 Tongue

What bike are you running 13-53 ?

ledger
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9/4/2019 4:37pm
All I know is...I should have stayed in school, lol.
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Johnny Depp
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9/4/2019 4:59pm Edited Date/Time 9/4/2019 5:05pm
There is a bigger question, and it is the difference in the geometric shape of the chain and sprockets and it's result on chain torque. The smaller the c/s sprocket, the more squat the rear suspension will create on acceleration. Whether that is a good thing or not depends on what you are after, but it is real. Old guys will remember the ATK's, and the Boyeson add on swingarm sprocket device (parrallelogram?) designed to eliminate squat, also the BMW's with the counter shaft through the swingarm pivot.

https://motocrossactionmag.com/forgotten-motocross-tech-eyvind-boyesens…

Seat Bounce or throttle blip lift off of jumps is easier with a smaller sprocket. Bigger c/s sprockets have much less of that effect.
FortyHat
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9/5/2019 6:17am
If you choose your gearing based on chain wear, I got some bad news for you.
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kb228
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9/5/2019 6:56am
dirt and whacking on the gas is what wears out chains. 13 vs 14 tooth sprockets are the least of your worries.
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smezmx
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9/5/2019 7:02am

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Mark3380
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9/5/2019 7:13am Edited Date/Time 9/5/2019 7:15am
The difference would be small but it's more the distribution of the torque over less teeth than the radius that would affect longevity in my mind. The more teeth, the more the load is spread out and less force per tooth. I don't think going from 14 to 13 would make a noticeable change in longevity
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sumdood
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9/5/2019 8:10am
I wasn't worried about it so much as curious, the easier seat bounce and squatting more under acceleration with the 13 aspect was interesting... good thing I'm not trying to seat bounce doubles on it cause after last nights test ride the 14 is going back on Laughing It lost too much top end speed with the 13
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skyrebel88
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9/5/2019 8:19am
i dont think it matters. By the time my steel rear sprocket wears out chain needs replacing anyways.
WoodsRacer
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9/5/2019 8:56am
Chains and sprockets are like wheel bearings. What I mean is the loads put through them are tiny compared to the capability of the system. The main driver for fatigue and failure then is debris, not loading.
MelonFan123
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9/5/2019 11:02am
I run 14-48 on my 500 EXC, works perfect for me. If using the stock chain you'll have to move the rear axle pretty far forward to account for the 3 extra teeth. 1st gear is low enough for tight single track. Looks like you use yours on the street though? I don't, I ride mine 99% on dirt but the one time i was on a highway i did 65 no prob, 70 it started to humm a little more than i'd like

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Deployer78
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9/5/2019 2:00pm
Less teeth = More wear. Higher pressure on each tooth the smaller the sprocket. BMX used to have 16 tooth freewheels, then when people started using 9 tooth cassette hubs you could see the wear much quicker.

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