2006-2015 Yamaha FZ1 17T to 16T Front Sprocket Swap, Before/After Rides & How To Set Chain Tension!!

[@renaissanceengineering-lee4210]

Damn, I just wrapped up my 16t install on my 2006 and I'm pissed that I didn't find your video until AFTER I spent a ton of time tracking down torque specs and pictures.. Anyway, this is a fantastic video dude! At least I used it to double check my work and I did everything correctly, I can't wait to go test it out in the warm weather!

[@ShawnMartinNCBIRDMAN]

@Renaissance Engineering - Leeman Stevens thanks for the comment and sadly that happens a lot with the rotor upgrade video I made people don't find it til after their rotor explodes! But hey, at least it's a confidence booster knowing you did the sprocket job right on your own! Make sure to check out my full "FZ1 Mods" KZbin playlist!!

[@marcfletcher4980]

If you slide shift arm boot down. There's a little allen bolt. Only have to undo bottom end of shift rod. Rod then slides into hole in the frame 👍

[@ShawnMartinNCBIRDMAN]

@Marc Fletcher, I'm trying to wrap my head around this process.

[@germanshepherdlover2613]

Great video. Does the speedo read faster than you are doing or slower than you are doing after you switch to the 16T front sprocket?

[@ShawnMartinNCBIRDMAN]

@germanshepherdlover2613 I share that when I fix it with my speed healer here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qqeTcqdvmsqbbqcsi=eRgjseAjoCWpUmZe

[@westondifranco9313]

I don't even own a gen 2 and I'll be watching this. Stock gearing is crazy long. Part of the fun of an inline 4 is revving it to the point where it screams and doing 95mph in 1st makes it tough to semi legally do that.

[@ShawnMartinNCBIRDMAN]

@Westin DiFranco sometimes it's just fun seeing how things are done on a bike you wish you had!! Gen 2 FTW!! LOL. Thanks for checking the videos out.

[@westondifranco9313]

@@ShawnMartinNCBIRDMAN It's basically the same as my trusty 2003. So it's good practice for when I need to do mine.

[@aniruddhagujar4119]

hey what if you go 2 down and 4 up in the rear on your FZ1, will it be too much or what, and i am thinking of +2 -2 on my street triple 675 ?

[@ShawnMartinNCBIRDMAN]

@aniruddhagujar4119 that would be too much IMO. -1 in the front is the biggest gain only changing one tooth, enough to make my.speedometer 7% off. Doubling that and also increasing the rear by 4 would make the bike whine in higher rpms at almost any normal riding speed. I think -1/+2 would be sufficient if I wanted just a little more umph on the throttle pull.

[@paulvelez9688]

Great video as I’m planning a chain and sprocket change (stock). But I thought the front sprocket nut was 32mm, it’s 30?

[@ShawnMartinNCBIRDMAN]

@Paul Velez it's def 30, 32 is the rear axle nut size. Thanks for watching and the comment, glad to help!

[@paulvelez9688]

I also like that you showed explicitly removing the shift linkage. Good job.

[@ShawnMartinNCBIRDMAN]

@@paulvelez9688 no problem! Nothing worse than watching a video that skips steps!

[@HereticLoyalist]

😮. Mine is 36mm

[@ShawnMartinNCBIRDMAN]

What year is yours?

[@vicpnut1]

Wait….is there a specific spot on swing arm to measure from ? Think I misunderstood travel distance numbers…I thought we’re suppose to get a measured amount of travel ( like chain should move within a certain amount of distance ,ie:moves 3/4”-1” , not measure 2.25-2.5” from a specific spot ) …I know both equal same travel distance but what I mean is I didn’t know there’s a specific / marked spot on swing arm for measuring.thought it was more or less middle between front and back sprockets where most chain travel occurs but could be one way or another on swing arm depending where rear tire was set at ….if that makes any sense ….I’m not saying you’re wrong just trying to be certain for myself . If not clear I’m new to wrenching my own bike 😂

[@vicpnut1]

Wish you put pre and post change numbers up ,together / side by side …I don’t have the short term memory to recall numbers from beginning of vid lol

[@ShawnMartinNCBIRDMAN]

@Vic Soboleski the manual I opened shows the location but it's the same location I show in the video for measuring chain slack is about hallway down the bottom of thswing arm, which is pretty much the middle between the center of the front and rear sprockets. Technically you want the very center of the chain sag/slack spot to be where you are measuring from. And I saw your other reply about having images side by side with the before and after readings but really that's just a quick reference as I mention in the video and description I need to install my DRD Speedo Healer to show the true speeds after the install because the speeds are now off due to the sprocket change...that video will be available once I can do the install.

[@deegaw11]

Hey Shawn I recently bought a 16t vortex front sprocket and I noticed there isn’t any rubber cushion. Do you think I’ll be fine?

[@ShawnMartinNCBIRDMAN]

@deegaw11 it'll be fine but you'll probably hear more chain rattle than before if your previous sprocket was cusioned. As you can see mine was cushioned before and after the swap, so other than the gearing change it's identical to stock.

[@bainer66]

Hello, did you notice much difference in fuel range after changing down to the 16T?

[@ShawnMartinNCBIRDMAN]

@bainer66 good question, but I haven't really been in a situation where I've been riding hard with the 16T, since technically I can roll the throttle less with a 16T and achieve the same RPM as the 17T did. Just riding normal and shifting through the gears in the same amount of time I'd be wound up higher so that would make sense I should lose MPG. All traffic or all mountain roads? That I haven't been able to check. I just know it gets to it (RPM) quicker than before!

[@vicpnut1]

What size is that cortech bag ? I just it the 2.0 18L strap version ,didn’t know if I trusted magnet with the plastic tank trim possibly being in way …plus straps are what I’ve had in past …I get nervous magnet will lose power over time , but I’m overly nervous in general hehe

[@ShawnMartinNCBIRDMAN]

@Vic Soboleski I bought that tank bag before I flew up to PA to pick up my FZ1 from NC and ride it back home over 8 years ago. I've never used the straps and magnets have never lost strength. I'll have to take a look at the bag to see if it tells me what size it is...I just grabbed one that was minimal enough but can still hold small stuff like my phone, wallet, paperwork, or even a GPS in the clear cover on top, which is what it did riding home when I bought my FZ1.

[@tallcool1ify]

I notice some front sprocets don't have rubber. Your thoughts?

[@tallcool1ify]

Did I miss your review of the new sprocket some where?

[@ShawnMartinNCBIRDMAN]

@tallcool1ify the rubber helps to isolate/damper the chain to lessen chain rattle. The stock 17T sprocket was rubber cushioned and my replacement 16T is rubber cushioned. I do a post-ride with the new sprocket and give a little review of the feel of the change, but I was in a rush and didn't do a long ride. I still haven't been able able get out just for fun I was doing another mod and rode for that mod to fix the speedometer being off most recently.

[@germanshepherdlover2613]

I thought the front sprocket nut was 36mm?

[@ShawnMartinNCBIRDMAN]

@germanshepherdlover2613 I think I added a note in the description, 2008 and older gen 2's had a different size nut than mine. Totally random but true.

[@stevewill3572]

So what did u think of the sprocket, more torque?

[@ShawnMartinNCBIRDMAN]

@stevewill3572 definitely more torque, faster through the rpm curve means same throttle roll is further chain travel. Zoom Zoom!

[@stevewill3572]

Also I think your chain is too tight, it was good the first time you checked, the force needed to make it an inch after is too much.

[@ShawnMartinNCBIRDMAN]

@stevewill3572 I'm not sure if something was missed in editing, but this is how the manual shows checking chain tightness, maybe somehow it looks off, but when I walked through it it was spot on. Exactly how it's supposed to be. Just don't push hard on the chain to make a tight chain REACH the desired range!! Light pressure top to bottom for proper range.

[@j.k.2617]

Hinterhofpfuscher ! Ich habe 18/38 Z. Wieso soll Ich im 6.Gang, 20Km/H fahren wollen ? Und die Kette ist zu straff gespannt !

[@ShawnMartinNCBIRDMAN]

@J. K. we don't have the same bike or the same gearingso the chain tension won't be the same from one brand of motorcycle to the next you need to check your own manual. If your sprockets are 18/38 compared to my 16/45, we're not even close to the same gearing. What is it you want to know?